Gusto
Gusto is a cloud-based payroll, HR, and benefits platform purpose-built for small and mid-sized businesses in the US. Founded in 2011 as ZenPayroll and rebranded in 2015, Gusto serves 400,000+ businesses with full-service payroll (including multi-state, contractor, and prevailing wage), automated federal/state/local tax filing, benefits administration (health, dental, vision, 401k, workers comp), employee onboarding, time tracking, scheduling, compliance tools, and HR reporting. It integrates natively with QuickBooks and Xero and offers a developer API for embedded payroll. Construction trades, HVAC, plumbing, and electrical contractors use Gusto to pay mixed W-2 and 1099 crews, automate new-hire reporting, and push labor costs to their accounting software.
Use Cases
- Running weekly payroll for field crews with multiple pay rates
- Paying and filing 1099s for subcontractors automatically
- Administering workers comp and benefits for small contractor teams
- Syncing labor costs to QuickBooks for accurate job costing
- Onboarding new hires with digital I-9/W-4 and state new-hire reporting
- Tracking employee time by project for accurate payroll and billing
- Complying with prevailing wage requirements on public construction projects
Capability Matrix
| Feature | Status | Depth |
|---|---|---|
| Payroll | Yes | Advanced |
| Time Tracking | Yes | Standard |
| Scheduling | Yes | Standard |
| Reporting Dashboard | Yes | Standard |
| QuickBooks Sync | Yes | Advanced |
| API Access | Yes | Advanced |
| Zapier Integration | Yes | Standard |
| Safety Checklists | Partial | Basic |
| Job Costing | Partial | Standard |
| Invoicing | No | Basic |
| Estimating | No | Basic |
| CRM / Customer Management | No | Basic |
| Proposals & Quotes | No | Basic |
| Dispatch | No | Basic |
| Route Optimization | No | Basic |
| GPS Tracking | No | Basic |
| Inventory Management | No | Basic |
| Asset Management | No | Basic |
| Pricebook | No | Basic |
| Flat Rate Pricing | No | Basic |
Alternatives to Consider
ServiceTitan
All-in-one field service management platform built for residential and commercial trades.
Jobber
Field service management software designed for small to mid-size home service businesses.
Housecall Pro
Housecall Pro is a cloud-based field service management platform built for residential home service contractors. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in San Diego, CA, it serves 45,000+ businesses across HVAC, plumbing, electrical, cleaning, roofing, painting, landscaping, and 50+ other trades. The platform covers the full job lifecycle — scheduling, dispatching, estimating, invoicing, payments, GPS fleet tracking, CRM, online booking, and marketing automation — delivered via web and native iOS/Android apps. Operated by parent company Codefied Inc., it also runs subsidiaries BuildBook and Trade Academy.