How much does payroll cost for 5 employees?

Payroll for 5 employees costs between $64 and $104 per month at entry-tier list prices as of November 2026, or $768 to $1,248 per year. The cheapest published price is Gusto at $79 per month (Simple). Quote-based providers (ADP, Paychex, Rippling) may beat these with first-year promotions.

Prices verified November 2026

All providers at 5 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 5 employees

With fewer than ten people, the base fee is most of your bill, so providers with low base fees (Paychex Essentials, OnPay, Gusto) win on list price. 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 5 employees?

Gusto at $79 per month is the cheapest published list price for 5 employees. Paychex Flex Essentials lists at $64 but adds quarterly and year-end fees, and ADP's quotes often include three free months.

How much is ADP for 5 employees?

ADP does not publish prices. Based on reported quotes, expect roughly $104 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 5 employees?

Paychex Flex Essentials is published at $64 per month for 5 employees. Select and Pro tiers, which add a dedicated specialist and HR tools, are quoted and typically run higher.