📊 Data source: Manual research + official pricing page•🔄 Updated April 2026•✅ 76% confidence score

Project Management

Gusto True Cost Calculator

Payroll, benefits, and HR platform for small businesses. Base at $40/mo + $6/person/mo, but benefits administration, state tax registration, and contractor payments add hidden per-person costs.

Advertised Price

$40

/month

Estimated True Cost

$90

/month (typical usage)

Surprise Factor

2.3×

more than expected

Confidence

76%

Data source: manual

Calculate Your Exact Cost →

Hidden Fees & Gotchas

What the pricing page doesn't tell you

Per-Person Fee Scaling

Simple plan: $40/mo + $6/person. Plus: $80/mo + $12/person. Premium: $180/mo + $22/person. A 25-person team on Plus = $380/mo. Premium = $730/mo.

Trigger: employees > 1

+$6

/monthly

Benefits Administration Add-On

Health insurance, 401(k), and benefits administration are not included in Simple. Plus plan ($80/mo base) or benefits add-ons required, adding significant per-employee cost.

Trigger: benefits > 0

+$40

/monthly

State Tax Registration Fees

Registering for state taxes in new states costs $35-$100 per state as a one-time fee. Multi-state remote teams with employees in many states face hundreds in registration fees.

Trigger: stateRegistrations > 1

+$50

/one-time

Total hidden fees: +$50/mo on top of the $40 advertised price

Gusto Pricing Tiers

Plan	Monthly	Annual (per mo)	Key Limits	Overage Rules
SimplePOPULAR	$40	$40	Payroll: true Tax Filings: true Workers Comp: false Direct Deposit: true	$6/person over 0
Plus	$80	$80	Pto: true Payroll: true Workers Comp: true Time Tracking: true	$12/person over 0
Premium	$180	$180	Payroll: true Employee Surveys: true R And D Tax Credits: true Compliance Alerts: true	$22/person over 0