QuickBooks® Payroll pricing
Published pricing Verified . See the pricing page ↗
QuickBooks Payroll publishes its prices. Simple Start already covers multi-state payroll. Enter your headcount to see which plan you'd be on and what you'd pay this year.
Plans
| Simple Start | Essentials | Plus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base fee | $88/month source | $125/month source | $203/month source |
| Per employee | $6.50 per employee/month source | $6.50 per employee/month source | $10 per employee/month source |
| Per contractor | Billed like an employee source | Billed like an employee source | Billed like an employee source |
| Per payroll run | None source | None source | None source |
| Additional states | None source | None source | None source |
| W-2 forms | Not published source | Not published source | Not published source |
| 1099 forms | $0 per form source | $0 per form source | $0 per form source |
| Monthly minimum | None source | None source | None source |
| One-time setup | None source | None source | None source |
What's included on each plan
| Simple Start | Essentials | Plus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employees in more than one state | Not stated on QuickBooks Payroll's pricing page | Not stated on QuickBooks Payroll's pricing page | Not stated on QuickBooks Payroll's pricing page |
| 1099 contractor payments | Included | Included | Included |
| Files federal and state payroll taxes for you | Included | Included | Included |
| Time tracking | Not available | Not available | Included |
| Health benefits administration | Not stated on QuickBooks Payroll's pricing page | Not stated on QuickBooks Payroll's pricing page | Not stated on QuickBooks Payroll's pricing page |
| Workers comp administration | Not stated on QuickBooks Payroll's pricing page | Not stated on QuickBooks Payroll's pricing page | Not stated on QuickBooks Payroll's pricing page |
| HR tools (documents, onboarding) | Not available | Not available | Included |
| Next-day direct deposit | Included | Included | Included |
| City or local payroll tax filing | Not stated on QuickBooks Payroll's pricing page | Not stated on QuickBooks Payroll's pricing page | Not stated on QuickBooks Payroll's pricing page |
| Tipped employees | Not stated on QuickBooks Payroll's pricing page | Not stated on QuickBooks Payroll's pricing page | Not stated on QuickBooks Payroll's pricing page |
| Accountant access | Not stated on QuickBooks Payroll's pricing page | Not stated on QuickBooks Payroll's pricing page | Not stated on QuickBooks Payroll's pricing page |
Before you choose QuickBooks Payroll
- Payroll is sold bundled with a QuickBooks accounting plan, so it’s the natural pick if you already keep your books in QuickBooks.
- Intuit’s introductory discount lasts three months. We rank on the regular price you’ll pay after it ends.
- QuickBooks calculates, files and pays your federal and state payroll taxes. Its site doesn’t say whether every plan covers employees in other states or local taxes, so confirm before you buy if you need them.
Worked examples
1 employee, 1 state
$1,134/year on Simple Start. Simple Start is the entry plan and covers everything you need.
Medium confidence: QuickBooks Payroll doesn’t say what it charges for W-2 forms, so this total doesn’t include it. Your actual cost may be higher.
5 employees, 1 state
$1,446/year on Simple Start. Simple Start is the entry plan and covers everything you need.
Medium confidence: QuickBooks Payroll doesn’t say what it charges for W-2 forms, so this total doesn’t include it. Your actual cost may be higher.
10 employees, 2 states
QuickBooks Payroll’s pricing page doesn’t say which plan includes multi-state payroll, so there’s no total to show you. Ask QuickBooks Payroll before you sign up.
25 employees, 1 state
$3,006/year on Simple Start. Simple Start is the entry plan and covers everything you need.
Medium confidence: QuickBooks Payroll doesn’t say what it charges for W-2 forms, so this total doesn’t include it. Your actual cost may be higher.
Compare QuickBooks Payroll
Other payroll providers
Frequently asked questions
Does QuickBooks Payroll publish its pricing?
Yes. QuickBooks Payroll Simple Start: $88/month + $6.50 per employee/month. Every figure on this page links to the page it was read from and shows the date we last checked it.
What does QuickBooks Payroll cost for a business with 5 employees?
About $1,446 a year on the Simple Start plan for 5 employees in one state paid biweekly, based on prices verified on October 22, 2026. Enter your own headcount in the calculator for a figure that matches your business.
Which QuickBooks Payroll plan do I need?
It depends on what your business requires. Multi-state payroll, contractor payments, time tracking and similar needs are only on some tiers. The calculator picks the cheapest plan that meets your requirements and tells you which requirement ruled the others out.