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Payroll software review

SurePayroll

Online payroll from a Paychex company: $29 a month plus $7 per worker, unlimited payroll runs, and year-end forms and multi-state payroll billed apart.

By SurePayrollParent company: Paychex, Inc.

RTC SCORE

6.3

#9 of 22 with enough data

Our verdict

A low published price for small teams that don't need a POS link, with clear add-on fees. Count the year-end form fees in your yearly cost and check the minimum wage make-up for tipped staff.

What we like

  • Published price: $29 a month plus $7 per worker, with unlimited payroll runs and no setup fee listed.
  • Files federal, state and local payroll taxes, and its agreement says it pays penalties caused by its own breach.
  • No minimum term and no early termination fee.
  • Pays W-2 employees and 1099 contractors and handles cash tips.

What to watch

  • Year-end forms cost $50 plus $5 per form, and local taxes and extra states cost more.
  • Phone support only Monday to Friday.
  • No POS integration, and the tip credit is only mentioned in marketing.
  • Included direct deposit takes two days.

How the score breaks down

RTC Score6.3out of 10

Methodology v0.1.0

Data completeness89%

We could verify 89% of the scoring data

Strongest points
12-month payroll cost (reference restaurant), Who files payroll taxes, Published pricing
Weakest point
POS integrations

Score by criterion

  • 12-month payroll cost (reference restaurant)Weight 19%Strongest8.9 out of 10

    $1,789 over 12 months

  • Who files payroll taxesWeight 7%Strongest10.0 out of 10
  • POS integrationsWeight 6%Weakest0.0 out of 10
  • Published pricingWeight 5%Strongest10.0 out of 10
  • Tip credit and minimum wage make-upWeight 5%3.0 out of 10
  • Tips imported from POS systemsWeight 5%0.0 out of 10
  • 2026 W-2 ready for No Tax on TipsWeight 5%0.0 out of 10
  • Initial termWeight 5%10.0 out of 10
  • Live support hours a weekWeight 5%3.3 out of 10
  • Payroll in all 50 statesWeight 4%10.0 out of 10
  • Time trackingWeight 4%4.0 out of 10
  • FICA tip credit (Form 8846)Weight 3%5.0 out of 10
  • Tip pooling and tip-outsWeight 3%No data
  • Early termination feeWeight 3%10.0 out of 10
  • Unlimited pay runsWeight 3%10.0 out of 10
  • Fastest direct deposit includedWeight 3%6.0 out of 10
  • Tax penalty guaranteeWeight 3%10.0 out of 10
  • Year-end W-2 and 1099 formsWeight 2%5.0 out of 10
  • Accounting integrationsWeight 2%No data
  • Notice to avoid renewalWeight 2%10.0 out of 10
  • Garnishments and new-hire reportingWeight 2%No data
  • Declared cash tipsWeight 2%10.0 out of 10
  • State and local minimum wages built inWeight 2%No data
  • Dedicated specialistWeight 2%No data
  • Paying 1099 contractorsWeight 1%10.0 out of 10
  • Early pay for employeesWeight 1%No data

All the data, with sources

Each value links to its source. "Not published" means the vendor doesn't disclose it; "Unconfirmed" means we looked and couldn't confirm it. Data points we have for fewer than four vendors are left out until we can compare them.

Pricing
Data pointValue
Base fee$29/moSource: SurePayroll (opens in a new tab)The price calculator uses $29; the page also shows a block starting at $39 (the household plan, with one employee, starts at $39 too).
Per employee$7Source: SurePayroll (opens in a new tab)
Who counts as an employeeUnconfirmedSource: SurePayroll (opens in a new tab)SurePayroll charges per worker a month, without saying whether a worker not paid that month counts.
Per contractor (1099)$7Source: SurePayroll (opens in a new tab)SurePayroll prices per worker and pays both W-2 employees and 1099 contractors.
Published pricingPublishedSource: SurePayroll (opens in a new tab)
Setup fee$0 one-timeSource: SurePayroll (opens in a new tab)No setup fee is listed.
Year-end forms fee$50/yrSource: SurePayroll (opens in a new tab)
Each extra state$9.99Source: SurePayroll (opens in a new tab)A flat monthly charge for multi-state payroll.
Other feesLocal taxes carry a separate fee in areas that require them (amount not published). Accounting software integration is $4.99 a month and time clock integration starts at $5 a month plus $3 per employee.Source: SurePayroll (opens in a new tab)
Taxes and forms
Data pointValue
Who files payroll taxesThe provider calculates, files and pays federal, state and local payroll taxesSource: SurePayroll (opens in a new tab)Local taxes carry a separate fee.
Payroll in all 50 statesYesSource: SurePayroll (opens in a new tab)The price calculator lists all 50 states.
Year-end W-2 and 1099 formsPrepared and filed for an extra chargeSource: SurePayroll (opens in a new tab)
Paying 1099 contractorsIncluded in payroll plansSource: SurePayroll (opens in a new tab)
Tax penalty guaranteePays penalties caused by its own errorsSource: SurePayroll (opens in a new tab)From the payroll service agreement SurePayroll publishes on its enrollment site (Rev. 3/13); the version you accept at sign-up may be newer.
Garnishments and new-hire reportingUnconfirmedSource: SurePayroll (opens in a new tab)New-hire reporting is included; SurePayroll doesn't say how it handles garnishments.
Paying your team
Data pointValue
Pay schedulesUnconfirmedSource: SurePayroll (opens in a new tab)Not documented: SurePayroll's pricing, restaurant and tax pages don't mention it (checked October 1, 2026).
Unlimited pay runsYesSource: SurePayroll (opens in a new tab)
Fastest direct deposit includedTwo business daysSource: SurePayroll (opens in a new tab)
Early pay for employees (earned wage access)UnconfirmedSource: SurePayroll (opens in a new tab)Not documented: SurePayroll's pricing, restaurant and tax pages don't mention it (checked October 1, 2026).
Tips
Data pointValue
Imports tips from these POS systemsSource: SurePayroll (opens in a new tab)SurePayroll documents time clock integrations for hours, not a POS connection for tips.
Tip pooling and tip-outsUnconfirmedSource: SurePayroll (opens in a new tab)Not documented: SurePayroll's pricing, restaurant and tax pages don't mention it (checked October 1, 2026).
Tip credit and minimum wage make-upClaimed, without documented mechanicsSource: SurePayroll (opens in a new tab)It mentions minimum wage alerts, without documenting how the make-up works.
FICA tip credit (Form 8846)Gives you a report for itSource: SurePayroll (opens in a new tab)It says it supports FICA tip credits, without detail; its restaurant guide (July 15, 2026) sends Form 8846 to your tax adviser.
Declared cash tipsYesSource: SurePayroll (opens in a new tab)
2026 W-2 for No Tax on Tips (code TP and tipped occupation code)Not confirmedSource: SurePayroll (opens in a new tab)Its No Tax on Tips article (Nov 20, 2025) doesn't commit the product.
2026 W-2 for qualified overtime (code TT)Not confirmedSource: SurePayroll (opens in a new tab)The same article covers overtime without saying how SurePayroll's 2026 W-2 reports it.
Service charges paid as wagesUnconfirmedSource: SurePayroll (opens in a new tab)Not documented: SurePayroll's pricing, restaurant and tax pages don't mention it (checked October 1, 2026).
State and local minimum wages built inUnconfirmedSource: SurePayroll (opens in a new tab)It mentions minimum wage alerts, without saying whether state and local minimums are built in.
Integrations and time tracking
Data pointValue
POS integrations (hours or sales data)Source: SurePayroll (opens in a new tab)No POS integration is documented.
Time trackingOnly through an integrationSource: SurePayroll (opens in a new tab)A paid integration with time clock software.
SchedulingUnconfirmedSource: SurePayroll (opens in a new tab)Not documented: SurePayroll's pricing, restaurant and tax pages don't mention it (checked October 1, 2026).
Accounting integrationsUnconfirmedSource: SurePayroll (opens in a new tab)Accounting software integration costs $4.99 a month; the pricing page doesn't name the programs.
Payroll engineThe vendor itselfSource: SurePayroll (opens in a new tab)SurePayroll runs its own payroll; it belongs to Paychex.
Benefits and insurance
Data pointValue
Health benefitsThrough a partner brokerSource: SurePayroll (opens in a new tab)
Workers' compensationThrough a partnerSource: SurePayroll (opens in a new tab)Not available in North Dakota, Ohio, Washington or Wyoming.
Contract and exit
Data pointValue
Initial termMonth to monthSource: SurePayroll (opens in a new tab)No minimum term; billed monthly.
Automatic renewalMonth to monthSource: SurePayroll (opens in a new tab)No renewal term.
Notice to avoid renewal30 daysSource: SurePayroll (opens in a new tab)From the payroll service agreement SurePayroll publishes on its enrollment site (Rev. 3/13); the version you accept at sign-up may be newer.
Early termination feeNoneSource: SurePayroll (opens in a new tab)From the payroll service agreement SurePayroll publishes on its enrollment site (Rev. 3/13); the version you accept at sign-up may be newer.
Early termination clauseNo early termination fee. The service agreement asks for 30 days' prior written notice; you can also cancel the subscription in your account.Source: SurePayroll (opens in a new tab)From the payroll service agreement SurePayroll publishes on its enrollment site (Rev. 3/13); the version you accept at sign-up may be newer.
Right to raise pricesSurePayroll can change its terms and fees at any time. It tries, without being obliged, to give 30 days' notice of material changes; if you don't accept, you can end the service before the change takes effect.Source: SurePayroll (opens in a new tab)From the payroll service agreement SurePayroll publishes on its enrollment site (Rev. 3/13); the version you accept at sign-up may be newer.
Your records when you leaveUnconfirmedSource: SurePayroll (opens in a new tab)The agreement doesn't say what access you keep after you leave.
Support
Data pointValue
Support 24/7NoSource: SurePayroll (opens in a new tab)
Live support hours a week55Source: SurePayroll (opens in a new tab)Phone support Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central time; help articles are available at any hour.
Dedicated specialistUnconfirmedSource: SurePayroll (opens in a new tab)Not documented: SurePayroll's pricing, restaurant and tax pages don't mention it (checked October 1, 2026).
Language
Data pointValue
Employee app in SpanishUnconfirmedSource: SurePayroll (opens in a new tab)SurePayroll doesn't say whether its employee app works in Spanish.
Owner's dashboard in SpanishUnconfirmedSource: SurePayroll (opens in a new tab)Not documented: SurePayroll's pricing, restaurant and tax pages don't mention it (checked October 1, 2026).
Pay stubs in SpanishUnconfirmedSource: SurePayroll (opens in a new tab)Not documented: SurePayroll's pricing, restaurant and tax pages don't mention it (checked October 1, 2026).
Support in SpanishUnconfirmedSource: SurePayroll (opens in a new tab)The contact page doesn't publish a Spanish line.
Contract or terms in SpanishUnconfirmedSource: SurePayroll (opens in a new tab)We only found the agreement in English.
Website in Spanish for the USNoSource: SurePayroll (opens in a new tab)No Spanish version or language selector on the site.

More about SurePayroll

How we score