ADP

ADP was founded in 1949 and has operated for over 75 years as the dominant payroll services provider globally, processing payroll for more than 40 million workers. For small businesses, the relevant product is RUN Powered by ADP — a cloud-based payroll and HR platform serving companies with 1 to 50 employees. The platform handles payroll calculation, federal, state, and local tax filing and remittance, direct deposit, pay cards, W-2 and 1099 year-end forms, new hire reporting, and workers compensation insurance administration. ADP’s deepest strength relative to newer competitors is compliance breadth. The platform can register with tax agencies in all 50 states directly, handles garnishments and wage levies, manages unemployment insurance claims, and carries decades of experience navigating changing regulations. 24/7 support from live payroll specialists is included on all plans — a differentiator from Gusto and QuickBooks which have more limited support hours. Where ADP creates friction is pricing opacity. Unlike Gusto and QuickBooks Payroll, ADP does not publish prices publicly and requires a quote from a sales representative. Most published estimates put the Essential plan at approximately $79 per month base plus $4-5 per employee per month — but the actual price depends on company size, payroll frequency, selected modules, and negotiated terms. ADP also charges per payroll run rather than a flat monthly fee — running payroll biweekly means 26 charges per year, and off-cycle correction runs add additional cost. Year-end W-2 filing costs approximately $55 plus $6.50 per form. Add-ons for time tracking, benefits administration, and HR tools add further cost. ADP is the right choice for growing businesses that need enterprise-grade compliance depth, multi-state payroll capability, and scalable HR infrastructure — and are willing to pay the premium for it.