Gusto

Pros

Gusto is so easy! My business uses Gusto and managing payroll and benefits is so simple

Cons

I tried the Gusto Checking account and I feel like it is very lackluster and pales in comparison to a regular checking account. This isn't their main offering so it doesnt bother me

Pros

Gusto is impressively versatile — it can be used as a hub for both documents and hours tracking!

Cons

The only things I don't like:
1. How quickly access would time out, and how long the app often takes to load a new screen (~15+ seconds at times).
2. Some quirks affecting ease of entry for tracking hours (e.g. not being able to adjust the clock-out time to a future time, the requirement to enter a note before you can save a shift). Some companies it might make sense to have those requirements in place, but that could be better customizable.

Pros

I like the quirky personality and fun images. Finance and Payroll is a very serious area of business. It is refreshing to have a program like Gusto add a little spice to things. They have a decorated, prancing pig as a logo. :)

Cons

I came very close to damaging my vocal cords at the end of our first year. The State of Wisconsin sent me a letter directly saying that we owed $16,000 in back payroll taxes plus over a thousand dollars in interest and penalites. I called Wisconsin myself and quickly determined what the problem was. It was a simple error Gusto made when filling out our annual gross pay and withholding report. The first 3 months were compliled by me. We started with Gusto in November. The 4th quarter number Gusto sent to the State was a total of all 3 of my quarters PLUS the total for the 4th quarter. We had approx. $4,000 in taxes due to the State each quarter. All money was paid, by myself for 3 quarters and Gusto for the 4th quarter. However, the man who signed the form at Gusto entered $20,000 for the 4th quarter and $32,000 (3 qtrs X $4,000 plus $20,000) for the annual total. We had paid $16,000. This created a shortage of $16,000 according to the automated computer at the Wisconsin Department of Revenue. Hence, the letter filled with interest and penalties.

The lady Wisconsin DOR was very helpful and much to my surprise, I was able to correct the annual filing myself online with her help on the phone. The $16,000 was no longer due. However, everyone in the entire State of Wisconsin system was powerless to eliminate the interest and penalties.

I had to make well over 10 phone calls and emails just to talk to someone at Gusto who could help me. I explained that the immediate problem was cleared up by me. However, Gusto was responsible, per how ALL payroll companies sell their services, for the interest and penalties since Gusto was entirely to blame.

It was SO FRUSTRATING that the first people answering the phone acted as though they had NO IDEA that Gusto even processed government payroll reports. Once, while ON HOLD, and intermittently talking to a live person for 45 minutes, I asked this entry level phone answerer which office they were in: east coast or west coast? They said that they COULDN'T ANSWER!!! We went round and round with excuse after excuse why he couldn't answer. Starting with "I don't know" and ending up with "I'm afraid that you may buy an airplane ticket to my city, hunt me down and violently attack me." I was livid. But that wasn't why I screamed at the top of my lungs.

Finally, after 10 contacts and many failed promises to have a manager contact me, a top woman manager in the appropriate department came to the phone after another half-hour plus wait. We reviewed the situation. Again, this was a VERY SIMPLE SITUATION. An honest mistake that anyone who has ever filled out a government form, or a middle school math test, could easily have done and in hindsight would be able to see their error and admit that they made a mistake.

The Gusto manager said several times, which I remember like it happened yesterday: "I will get back to you after reviewing this situation, and IF Gusto made an error, we will remedy the situation." IF IF? IF GUSTO MADE AN ERROR?!?!?!?!?! IF I lost my cool demeanor. I am mild mannered and like to laugh and joke. Be a nice guy. Hence, wondering what the weather was like and which sports teams the man on hold would like to talk about. Except that he thought that I could possibly be a violent threat even though, east coast or west coast I was a long airplane flight away!! This manager said "IF" one too many times. I SCREAMED THE OBVIOUS! "GUSTO WAS UNDER CONTRACT TO FILE THE PAPERWORK. GUSTO PERSONNEL SIGNED THE PAPERWORK. I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT OTHER THAN I CLEANED UP THE MESS GUSTO CREATED. NOW GUSTO NEEDS TO PUT ON THEIR BIG GIRL PANTS AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR ERROR. THERE IS NO IF INVOLVED." {How can I make the word IF twice the size and bold so it stands out more? Standard text doesn't come close to how furious I was. First over 10 contacts I initiated. Then being told...'IF Gusto made a mistake" when the mistake was obvious.

Pros

Gusto has a pretty simple and easy UX and is quite easy to navigate around

Cons

gusto support wasn't great and it was hard to get help with a rep and the price skyrocketed out of nowhere

Alternatives Considered

Reasons for Switching to Gusto

Pros

The ease of time clock, company calendar and tax info all in one place

Cons

Wish it would give reminders of important dates on the calendar