HR and Payroll Services: Top 9 Companies Serving Small Teams

HR and Payroll Services: Top 9 Companies Serving Small Teams

DianaHR Team

Dec 7, 2005

Workers toggle between apps all day. Harvard Business Review notes people switch screens about 1200 times daily and lose almost nine percent of their working year. Running HR & payroll services in separate tabs causes missed deadlines and payroll mistakes

Owners waste time on tax portals, onboarding emails, and manual entries. Modern HR & payroll services act as one system of record. Small business payroll solutions now protect you from liability instead of pushing forms at you. 

DianaHR steps in with hands-on payroll management and HR support so you don’t chase notices or compliance updates alone. You can manage onboarding, time and attendance tracking, benefits administration, and workers’ compensation in one place. That shift saves hours every month.

Top HR & Payroll Companies to Check Out

You want tools that save time, reduce stress, and protect your business from compliance mistakes. Each option below covers HR & payroll services with different strengths, so you can pick what matches your team and workflow without juggling apps.

1. DianaHR

DianaHR gives small teams real HR support without hiring full-time staff. Clients cut HR costs by up to 60 percent, save 15 to 20 hours per week, and maintain compliance across 40-plus U.S. states with direct help and accurate work.

Key Features:

  • Real-time notice handling with government agencies

  • State tax registrations managed from start to finish

  • Automated onboarding, document tracking, and policy templates

  • Compliance monitoring across teams in multiple states

Industry Served: Tech startups, healthcare clinics, agencies, construction, retail, professional services, nonprofits

Why Teams Choose DianaHR: They get answers from people who fix issues directly instead of pointing to a help article.

2. Rippling

Rippling brings HR & payroll services and IT together in one place. You get automated payroll management and HR support plus device setup from the same dashboard. This works well for remote teams that want fewer tools and faster onboarding.

Key Features:

  • Central control for HR & payroll services

  • Automated tax filing and compliance monitoring

  • Time tracking, direct deposit, and benefits administration

  • Instant onboarding with laptop shipping and app access

Industry Served: SaaS companies, e-commerce brands, agencies, IT services, finance

Why Teams Choose Rippling: They want automation that covers hiring, access, and payroll in a single workflow.

3. Gusto

Gusto makes HR & payroll services simple for small teams. The platform handles payroll management and HR support with clear onboarding steps, automated tax filing, and direct deposit so owners don’t spend all week checking forms and spreadsheets.

Key Features:

  • Built-in compliance monitoring for payroll runs

  • Auto Pilot payroll with reminders

  • Employee self-service portal with onboarding documents

  • Integrated benefits administration and workers’ compensation

Industry Served: Professional services, retail, agencies, freelancers, nonprofits

Why Teams Choose Gusto: They want an easy setup with smart automation that keeps payroll accurate throughout the year.

4. BambooHR (with Payroll Add-on)

BambooHR delivers HR & payroll services with a focus on people data and performance. The platform works for teams that want small business payroll solutions plus HR tools such as onboarding software and employee self-service without jumping between different systems.

Key Features:

  • Central records for HR & payroll services

  • Time and attendance tracking with direct deposit

  • Performance reviews and goals built into the workspace

  • Benefits administration and automated tax filing support

Industry Served: Consulting firms, tech startups, creative agencies, education, nonprofits

Why Teams Choose BambooHR: They want an integrated HR platform with payroll inside the same dashboard and clean reporting for managers.

5. ADP Run

ADP Run offers HR & payroll services built for growth. It supports integrated HR platforms with automated tax filing, workforce management, and compliance monitoring for teams that plan to hire across multiple states and handle complex pay rules.

Key Features:

  • Reliable HR & payroll services with direct deposit

  • Time and attendance tracking plus onboarding software

  • Benefits administration and workers’ compensation setup

  • Built-in alerts for payroll errors and wage compliance

Industry Served: Healthcare, construction, franchises, professional services, finance, retail

Why Teams Choose ADP Run: They want a proven system with strong support for multi-state payroll and long-term expansion.

6. Paychex Flex

Paychex Flex provides HR & payroll services with strong support for hourly teams and shift-based work. It works well for small business payroll solutions that need fast onboarding, direct deposit, and reliable help when payroll issues come up at odd hours.

Key Features:

  • Mobile time and attendance tracking tied to HR & payroll services

  • Automated tax filing and compliance monitoring

  • Workers’ compensation setup and benefits administration

  • Onboarding software with document storage for new hires

Industry Served: Restaurants, retail, hospitality, healthcare, franchises, service companies

Why Teams Choose Paychex Flex: They want experienced payroll support available any time rather than waiting for a ticket response.

7. Justworks (PEO)

Justworks combines HR & payroll services with a co-employment model that gives small teams access to large group health plans. This integrated HR platform handles compliance monitoring, onboarding software, and automated tax filing inside one workspace.

Key Features:

  • PEO structure with full HR & payroll services

  • Medical, dental, and vision benefits administration

  • Time and attendance tracking with direct deposit

  • Support for workers’ compensation and contractor payments

Industry Served: Startups, professional services, marketing agencies, nonprofits, remote teams

Why Teams Choose Justworks: They want benefits access and payroll handled together without juggling multiple vendors.

8. QuickBooks Payroll

QuickBooks Payroll delivers HR & payroll services inside the accounting system many small teams already use. It supports payroll management and HR support with direct deposit, automated tax filing, and fast reconciliation for payroll entries in the general ledger.

Key Features:

  • Integrated HR & payroll services and accounting

  • Automated tax filing with compliance monitoring

  • Onboarding software and employee self-service

  • Workers’ compensation and benefits administration options

Industry Served: Freelancers, agencies, consultants, retail, service providers

Why Teams Choose QuickBooks Payroll: They want payroll and bookkeeping handled in the same platform without exporting files.

9. OnPay

OnPay delivers HR & payroll services with simple pricing for small teams and niche sectors. It supports small business payroll solutions with automated tax filing, contractor payments, and compliance monitoring without extra fees or hidden add-ons.

Key Features:

  • Guided HR & payroll services setup

  • Direct deposit and time and attendance tracking

  • Benefits administration and workers’ compensation support

  • Onboarding software with built-in document collection

Industry Served: Nonprofits, farms, churches, agencies, restaurants, family-owned businesses

Why Teams Choose OnPay: They want a predictable cost structure with clear features and no surprises at billing time.

Below is a concise table you can use as a quick glance. It highlights core value, ideal use case, and standout features for all nine HR and payroll services.


Conclusion 

Many teams count on HR and payroll services to keep hiring and payments on track. Issues start when small tasks pile up: late direct deposit, missing documents, confusing benefit updates, or tax filing questions with no clear answer. 

These problems slow hiring decisions and create extra admin work at the worst times. Payroll delays push employees to worry about money. Filing mistakes trigger notices that take hours to resolve. 

DianaHR gives a safer way to handle daily work. Our platform combines automation with expert payroll management and HR support so files stay current and tasks stay organized. 

FAQ

1. What is the average cost of HR and payroll services?

Most HR and payroll services charge a base fee and per-employee rate. Small teams pay around 40 dollars plus 6 to 12 dollars per worker for payroll management and HR support with automated tax filing and direct deposit.

2. Can I switch payroll providers mid-year?

Yes. Leading HR and payroll services offer guided setup to move pay history, onboarding data, time and attendance tracking, and benefits administration without gaps. DianaHR can assist with registrations and compliance monitoring for a smooth handoff.

3. Do services handle contractor payments?

All major HR and payroll services support contractor payments and 1099 creation. You get direct deposit, worker profiles, and integrated HR platforms that store documents, manage approvals, and track workforce management in one place.

4. Do HR and payroll services help with multi-state compliance?

Modern HR and payroll services track state tax rules, registrations, workers’ compensation, and benefits administration across multiple locations. DianaHR supports compliance monitoring in 40-plus states with automated reminders and payroll management and HR support built in.

5. Can HR and payroll tools integrate with accounting software?

Yes. Many integrated HR platforms connect with QuickBooks, Xero, and similar tools. This keeps HR and payroll services data aligned with invoices, contractor payments, and general ledger updates without exporting files or fixing manual entries later.



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Get expert HR and compliance updates delivered monthly—simple, practical, and built for growing teams.

Stay Compliant. Stay Ahead.

Get expert HR and compliance updates delivered monthly—simple, practical, and built for growing teams.

Partner with DianaHR and make compliance effortless—so you can focus on growth, not regulations.

Contacts

Tel : (+1) 650 534-0325

Mail : info@getdianahr.com

DianaHR,

2261 Market Street
STE 10534
San Francisco, CA
94114

© 2025 Diana Intelligence Corp, All rights reserved.

Disclaimer: DianaHR does not provide legal, tax, accounting or other professional advice. Our blog and all other materials that we make available on or via our website are for general informational purposes only, and are not intended to be relied upon as advice for any reason, whether legal, tax, accounting or otherwise. The blog and our other materials are not a substitute for obtaining advice from qualified professionals, and the information on our website should not be used as a reason to act or to refrain from acting. Instead, you should consult your own tax, legal and accounting advisors before making any decisions or taking (or not taking) any actions that may be related to any of the matters discussed in our blog or anywhere else on our website.

Partner with DianaHR and make compliance effortless—so you can focus on growth, not regulations.

Contacts

Tel : (+1) 650 534-0325

Mail : info@getdianahr.com

DianaHR,

2261 Market Street
STE 10534
San Francisco, CA
94114

© 2025 Diana Intelligence Corp, All rights reserved.

Disclaimer: DianaHR does not provide legal, tax, accounting or other professional advice. Our blog and all other materials that we make available on or via our website are for general informational purposes only, and are not intended to be relied upon as advice for any reason, whether legal, tax, accounting or otherwise. The blog and our other materials are not a substitute for obtaining advice from qualified professionals, and the information on our website should not be used as a reason to act or to refrain from acting. Instead, you should consult your own tax, legal and accounting advisors before making any decisions or taking (or not taking) any actions that may be related to any of the matters discussed in our blog or anywhere else on our website.

Partner with DianaHR and make compliance effortless—so you can focus on growth, not regulations.

Contacts

Tel : (+1) 650 534-0325

Mail : info@getdianahr.com

DianaHR,

2261 Market Street
STE 10534
San Francisco, CA
94114

© 2025 Diana Intelligence Corp, All rights reserved.

Disclaimer: DianaHR does not provide legal, tax, accounting or other professional advice. Our blog and all other materials that we make available on or via our website are for general informational purposes only, and are not intended to be relied upon as advice for any reason, whether legal, tax, accounting or otherwise. The blog and our other materials are not a substitute for obtaining advice from qualified professionals, and the information on our website should not be used as a reason to act or to refrain from acting. Instead, you should consult your own tax, legal and accounting advisors before making any decisions or taking (or not taking) any actions that may be related to any of the matters discussed in our blog or anywhere else on our website.