QuickBooks Payroll is now sold under the QuickBooks Workforce name, in three plans. Each one has a monthly base price plus a fee for every employee you pay, so the bill depends heavily on headcount. Here is what each plan costs and what it adds, from Intuit's US pricing pages at the time of our last update.
QuickBooks Payroll prices at a glance
| Plan | Base price per month | Per employee per month | Intro offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Workforce Payroll | $50 | $7 | $25 a month for 3 months |
| Workforce Premium | $88 | $13 | $44 a month for 3 months |
| Workforce Elite | $134 | $17 | $67 a month for 3 months |
The intro offer is 50% off the base price for three months; the per-employee fee is charged at the full rate from the start.
What each plan includes
Workforce Payroll covers the essentials:
- Full-service payroll with auto payroll and 1099 e-filing.
- Next-day direct deposit when you run payroll by 5 p.m.
- An employee portal, document storage and employee records.
- Options for health benefits, 401(k) and workers' comp, and Checkr background checks starting at $29.99 per report.
Workforce Premium adds:
- Same-day direct deposit when you run payroll by 7 a.m.
- Time tracking with the workforce app, schedules and reports.
- An expert review of your setup once you finish it.
- HR tools: hiring and onboarding, time off, recruiting, automated I-9 and five automated HR workflows.
Workforce Elite adds:
- Tax penalty protection: Intuit says it will pay "all penalty fees and interest up to $25,000/year" (terms apply).
- Full setup done for you by a payroll expert.
- Unlimited automated HR workflows, performance management and a personal HR advisor.
- Time tracking extras: geofencing, mileage tracking and estimates vs actuals.
What payroll costs for a small team
Monthly cost at list price, after the intro period:
| Employees | Workforce Payroll | Workforce Premium | Workforce Elite |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | $71 | $127 | $185 |
| 5 | $85 | $153 | $219 |
| 10 | $120 | $218 | $304 |
| 20 | $190 | $348 | $474 |
Base price + (per-employee fee × employees). Taxes and add-ons such as benefits or background checks are extra.
Monthly cost by number of employees
- Payroll
- Premium
- Elite
Show the numbers
| Payroll | Premium | Elite | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $57 | $101 | $151 |
| 5 | $85 | $153 | $219 |
| 10 | $120 | $218 | $304 |
| 15 | $155 | $283 | $389 |
| 20 | $190 | $348 | $474 |
For most small businesses, Workforce Payroll is enough. Premium earns its price if you need same-day deposits or track hourly staff, since time tracking is built in. Elite makes sense mainly for owners who want Intuit to own setup and carry the penalty risk.
Payroll plus accounting bundles
Intuit also sells payroll bundled with QuickBooks Online:
| Bundle | List price per month | Intro offer |
|---|---|---|
| Workforce Payroll + Simple Start | $88 + $6.50 per employee | $44 a month for 3 months |
| Workforce Payroll + Essentials | $125 + $6.50 per employee | $62.50 a month for 3 months |
| Workforce Premium + Plus | $203 + $10 per employee | $101.50 a month for 3 months |
Note the lower per-employee fees in the bundles. For comparison, QuickBooks Online on its own lists at $38 (Simple Start), $85 (Essentials) and $140 (Plus) a month. The checkout summary on the pricing page also mentions "+10% off annual price", but Intuit does not list annual totals, so confirm the figure before you commit.
Example: a business with 5 employees that needs Essentials pays $125 + 5 × $6.50 = $157.50 a month for the bundle, against $170 a month buying them separately: $85 for Essentials plus $50 + 5 × $7 = $85 for Workforce Payroll.
Cheaper ways to run payroll
If you do not use QuickBooks for accounting, payroll from your accounting provider may cost less. Xero Payroll (powered by Gusto) is listed at $36 a month plus $6 per person, and FreshBooks Payroll at $40 a month plus $6 per user. Both are add-ons that require a paid Xero or FreshBooks subscription, so compare them together with the accounting plan. See our comparison of QuickBooks alternatives.