Here are affordable payroll options that are a good fit for U.S. startups, with quick price snapshots (current as of Sep 3, 2025), who each is best for, and key pros/cons so you can pick what matches your needs.

Summary note: prices, promos and features change frequently — the items below link to vendor pages and reviews I checked on Sep 3, 2025. Use those links to confirm any promo/discount before signing up.

1. Gusto — Best all‑around payroll + HR for small startups

• Pricing snapshot: plans start around $49/month base (promotions often reduce this) + ~$6/employee/month (Gusto runs periodic discounts).
• Best for: startups that want easy full‑service payroll plus basic benefits and HR tools.
• Pros: full-service tax filings, employee self‑service, benefits admin and hiring/onboarding tools. Cons: slightly higher per‑employee fees than the cheapest “no‑frills” providers. (gusto.com)

2. OnPay — Simple, transparent and budget‑friendly full service

• Pricing snapshot: about $40–49/month base + $6/employee/month (single plan; all features included).
• Best for: very small teams that want full tax filing and HR add‑ons at a predictable price.
• Pros: clear pricing, unlimited payroll runs, good support; Cons: fewer advanced HR bells & whistles than large HCM suites. (onpay.com, forbes.com)

3. Square Payroll — Cheap and flexible, especially if you already use Square

• Pricing snapshot: ~$35/month base + $6/employee/month for full‑service payroll; contractor‑only option charges per contractor (no base fee for contractor‑only in some cases).
• Best for: very small businesses or retail/restaurant startups already in the Square ecosystem and those with lots of contractors.
• Pros: simple pricing, easy integration with Square POS/timecards; Cons: fewer advanced HR features than Gusto/Rippling. (squareup.com)

4. Patriot Payroll — Lowest‑cost/no‑frills option for tight budgets

• Pricing snapshot: Basic payroll from about $17/month + ~$4/worker; Full‑Service payroll from about $37/month + ~$5/worker (Patriot often runs discounts).
• Best for: startups that want the cheapest, straightforward payroll and can accept a simpler UI.
• Pros: low starting cost, essential payroll features; Cons: fewer HR integrations and a more basic experience than mid‑tier providers. (patriotsoftware.com)

5. QuickBooks Payroll — Best if you already use QuickBooks accounting

• Pricing snapshot: plans start in the ~$50/month base range + per‑employee fees (QuickBooks runs bundled promotions frequently).
• Best for: startups that want tight integration with QuickBooks accounting and scalable payroll features.
• Pros: strong accounting integration, payroll tax filing and payroll add‑ons (time, HR); Cons: can be pricier when you add premium features. (quickbooks.intuit.com)

6. SurePayroll (by Paychex) — Affordable with long trial/promotions

• Pricing snapshot: No‑tax‑filing plans from about $20/month + low per‑employee fee; Full‑service plans around $29–30/month + per‑employee fee (trial offers sometimes available).
• Best for: very small teams who want predictable pricing and are open to Paychex’s ecosystem.
• Pros: long trial offers in some periods, solid tax‑filing support; Cons: extra add‑on fees possible for integrations. (surepayroll.com)

7. Deel / Remote (global) — If you hire international contractors or need EOR

• Pricing snapshot (global/contractor-focused): contractor management often starts ~$29–49/contractor/month; global payroll or EOR services start higher (EOR often ~$599/employee/month depending on country).
• Best for: startups hiring contractors or employees outside the U.S. who need local compliance/EOR services.
• Pros: handles cross‑border payments, local compliance and contracts; Cons: noticeably more expensive for full EOR services vs. US‑only payroll. (businessnewsdaily.com, remote.com)

How to choose quickly (practical checklist)

• Headcount & growth speed: small teams (1–10) often favor Patriot, Square, OnPay or SurePayroll; growing/hires + benefits needs point to Gusto or QuickBooks. (patriotsoftware.com, gusto.com)
• Contractors vs W‑2 employees: need contractor‑only support? Square and Gusto have contractor plans; for many international contractors consider Deel/Remote. (squareup.com, gusto.com, remote.com)
• Multi‑state payroll & compliance: choose providers that advertise multi‑state support (Gusto, QuickBooks, OnPay, Remote). (gusto.com, quickbooks.intuit.com, onpay.com)
• Integrations: if you use QuickBooks accounting, pick QuickBooks Payroll; if you use Square POS, Square Payroll is easiest. (quickbooks.intuit.com, squareup.com)
• Budget sensitivity: compare base fee + per‑employee fee and any add‑ons (benefits, time tracking, multistate filing). Patriot and SurePayroll are among the lowest starting costs. (patriotsoftware.com, surepayroll.com)

If you want a quick, actionable next step:

• Use the pricing formulas above (base fee + per‑employee) to estimate monthly cost for your current headcount. For example, for 5 employees: OnPay ≈ $40 + 5×$6 = $70/month; Square ≈ $35 + 5×$6 = $65/month (examples from vendor pricing pages). (onpay.com, squareup.com)

Want me to make a one‑line recommendation?

• If you need a single pick for most U.S. startups: Gusto (best overall balance of features, compliance, benefits and startup‑friendly UX). If your top priority is lowest price and simplicity: Patriot or SurePayroll. (gusto.com, patriotsoftware.com, surepayroll.com)

Would you like a short cost comparison for your exact headcount, contractor count, and whether you need benefits/multi‑state support? If so I can calculate monthly and annual costs for the top 3 vendors that best match your situation.