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PayAdvisors vs Gusto Solo for S Corp Payroll
Gusto Solo is a payroll app you set up yourself with guided steps, and then it runs automatically. PayAdvisors is a payroll team that sets up and runs your S corp payroll for you, including your state registrations.
At a glance
PayAdvisors: $149 a month, flat
Gusto Solo: $49 a month plus $6 per person
Done for you vs do it yourself
Prices checked October 22, 2026
In short
Which one fits you?
Choose Gusto Solo if you are comfortable setting up and checking your own payroll and want the lowest monthly price, plus extras like invoicing in the same account.
Choose PayAdvisors if you do not want to touch payroll at all: a team registers your state accounts, runs every payroll, files the returns and answers the notices, and your CPA keeps setting your salary.
Side by side
PayAdvisors and Gusto Solo compared
Prices and features as each company lists them, checked October 22, 2026.
| PayAdvisors S corp payroll package | Gusto Solo | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $149 a month, flat | $49 a month base plus $6 a month per payroll recipient; Gusto says most owners pay $55 a month |
| Who does the setup | Our team: $249 setup once, plus $249 per state tax account we register | You do, with guided steps; Gusto says most owners finish setup in under an hour |
| State payroll registrations | We register your state withholding and unemployment accounts | Gusto says it prepares any required state registrations, prefilled for your signature, and walks you through each step |
| Running payroll | A payroll team runs your salary every month. You never log in | Runs automatically after you set it up |
| Quarterly returns and W-2 | Included | Included |
| Your salary | Your CPA sets it, and we run it | Reasonable salary calculator and salary documentation in the app |
| S election | Not included. You arrive with your S election acceptance | Guided Form 2553 included |
| Extras | Payroll only | Optional tools such as invoicing, bill pay, contractor payments and a Solo 401(k) |
Over a year
What the monthly fees add up to
Twelve months of monthly fees: $1,788 with PayAdvisors, against about $660 with Gusto Solo at the $55 a month Gusto says most owners pay. PayAdvisors adds one-time setup fees.
The difference pays for a team doing the work: state registrations, every payroll run, the returns and the notices. With an app, you handle setup and check-ins yourself.
Who each is best for
Pick the one that matches how you work
Gusto Solo
Owners who are comfortable running their own payroll and want the lowest monthly price, with extras like invoicing and a Solo 401(k) in one account.
Either one
An S corp owner who works in the business needs a salary run through payroll, with deposits, quarterly returns and a W-2. Both cover that.
PayAdvisors
Owners who want payroll off their plate completely, including state registrations and notices, for $149 a month, flat.
Sources
Where these facts come from
Gusto is a trademark of its owner. PayAdvisors is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by Gusto.
- Gusto Solo: $49/mo base + $6/mo per payroll recipient, "Most owners pay $55/month", setup "in under an hour", features including "Reasonable salary calculator & documentation", and prefilled state registrations with guided steps (checked October 22, 2026)
- PayAdvisors S corp payroll package: $149 a month flat, $249 setup, $249 per state tax account (checked October 22, 2026)
This is general information, not tax advice. Confirm your situation with your tax professional.
Related
More for S corp owners
- S corp payroll package: $149 a month, flat. You keep your CPA.
- PayAdvisors vs Collective: Payroll only, or an all-in-one membership.
- S corp reasonable salary estimator: See what people in your line of work earn, using public BLS wage data.
PayAdvisors vs Gusto Solo questions
Is Gusto Solo cheaper than PayAdvisors?
Per month, yes. Gusto lists Solo at $49 a month plus $6 per payroll recipient and says most owners pay $55 a month (checked October 22, 2026). PayAdvisors is $149 a month, flat, because a payroll team does the setup, the state registrations and every payroll run for you.
Do I have to log in to run payroll with PayAdvisors?
No. You never set up or log into a payroll system. We run your salary monthly, on a fixed date you choose, by direct deposit from your business account.
Who registers my state payroll accounts?
With PayAdvisors, we do, at $249 per state tax account. Gusto's Solo page says it prepares any required state registrations, prefilled for your signature, and walks you through each step.
Who sets my salary?
Your CPA. We run the figure your CPA sets, every month, and keep the payroll record that documents it.
Can I move from Gusto to PayAdvisors mid-year?
Yes. We load your prior wages and year-to-date taxes so your W-2 covers the whole year. Switching is included in setup.
Where do the Gusto prices come from?
From Gusto's own Solo page, checked October 22, 2026. Prices change, so confirm them on gusto.com before you decide.
Next step
Rather not run payroll yourself? We will.
Bring your EIN letter, your S election acceptance and the salary your CPA sets. A payroll team handles the rest.