How much does payroll cost for 20 employees?

Payroll for 20 employees costs between $139 and $200 per month at entry-tier list prices as of November 2026, or $1,668 to $2,400 per year. The cheapest published price is Gusto at $169 per month (Simple). Quote-based providers (ADP, Paychex, Rippling) may beat these with first-year promotions.

Prices verified November 2026

All providers at 20 employees

* Estimate from publicly reported quotes. Excludes promotions (often 3 months free at ADP and Paychex), setup fees and year-end form fees.

What drives the price at 20 employees

Around this size the per-employee fee overtakes the base fee. A $2 difference in per-employee rate is worth $40 per month, so negotiate that number first. Pay frequency matters most at ADP, which bills per run.

Add-ons that change the number

Time tracking (included at Gusto Plus, QuickBooks Premium and Rippling; $15 + $4 per worker at OnPay), multi-state (included at OnPay; Gusto Plus required), health benefits (broker fees vary), year-end forms (free at Gusto and OnPay; often charged by ADP and Paychex) and setup fees (about $200 at Paychex unless waived).

Cost by team size

• Payroll cost for 1 employee
• Payroll cost for 2 employees
• Payroll cost for 3 employees
• Payroll cost for 5 employees
• Payroll cost for 8 employees
• Payroll cost for 10 employees
• Payroll cost for 15 employees
• Payroll cost for 20 employees
• Payroll cost for 25 employees
• Payroll cost for 30 employees
• Payroll cost for 40 employees
• Payroll cost for 50 employees
• Payroll cost for 75 employees
• Payroll cost for 100 employees

Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest payroll service for 20 employees?

Gusto at $169 per month is the cheapest published list price for 20 employees. Paychex Flex Essentials lists at $139 but adds quarterly and year-end fees, and ADP's quotes often include three free months.

How much is ADP for 20 employees?

ADP does not publish prices. Based on reported quotes, expect roughly $179 per month on biweekly payroll before add-ons, and more on weekly payroll since ADP bills per pay run. Request a written quote.

How much is Paychex for 20 employees?

Paychex Flex Essentials is published at $139 per month for 20 employees. Select and Pro tiers, which add a dedicated specialist and HR tools, are quoted and typically run higher.