We need a simple, affordable HR platform for a small business to manage payroll and time off.

For a small business needing a straightforward, budget-friendly way to handle payroll and time-off tracking without enterprise bloat, a few top-rated options stand out for their transparency and ease of use.

• Gusto : Widely considered the gold standard for small businesses. It handles full-service payroll, automatic tax filings (federal, state, and local), W2/1099 generation, and built-in PTO/time-off requests that sync right to payroll. Pricing is transparent with a base fee plus a small per-employee cost (the Simple plan starts around $49/month base plus $6/person/month).
• OnPay : Known for a single, straightforward flat-rate pricing model with no hidden fees or surprise upcharges. It offers full-service payroll, multi-state tax filing, and robust paid time-off (PTO) policies and tracking included out of the box, making it exceptionally popular for very tight budgets.
• QuickBooks Payroll : If you are already using QuickBooks for your business accounting, adding their integrated payroll is a seamless option. It allows you to manage time-off tracking, employee self-service portals, and payroll inside the same ecosystem you use for books, reducing platform switching.
• BambooHR : Excellent if you want a platform that leans a bit more into core HR and stellar time-off/PTO tracking first, with seamless payroll add-ons. It scales nicely if you plan to grow past a handful of employees and want a clean employee self-service app.

To help narrow down the best fit, tell me:

• How many employees do you have?
• Do you have employees working in multiple states?
• Are you currently using a specific accounting software (like QuickBooks or Xero)?

For a small business that mainly needs payroll + time off, I’d keep the shortlist very small:

Patriot is the clear budget option: its Full Service plan is currently $37/month plus $5 per worker and includes payroll tax filings; time & attendance and HR are inexpensive add-ons.

My recommendation: Gusto if you want the least hassle. Its $49 + $6 plan includes payroll, tax filings, employee self-service and basic PTO policies. If you also need actual clock-in/clock-out time tracking, Gusto's Plus plan is $80 + $12/employee and includes time tracking.

If keeping the bill as low as possible is the priority, I'd choose Patriot. If most employees are hourly and you need scheduling/time clocks as well as PTO, Homebase is worth a look.

If you tell me how many employees you have (e.g., 5, 10, 20) and whether they're mostly hourly or salaried, I can calculate the actual monthly cost of the best 2–3 options.

For a small business that mainly needs payroll + time-off management, I’d keep the shortlist very short:

My top pick: Gusto

gusto.com is probably the best fit if you want something simple and affordable without buying a big HR system.

• Simple plan: $49/month + $6 per person/month.
• Includes single-state payroll, unlimited payroll runs, automated tax filings, and basic PTO/holiday-pay policies.
• Employees can request time off and see their balances; managers can approve requests.
• If you also need time-clock/time tracking, Gusto's Plus plan is $80/month + $12/person, or Time & Attendance Plus can be added to Simple.

Worth considering: BambooHR

bamboohr.com is better if you expect to need more traditional HR functionality—employee records, onboarding, reporting, performance management, etc. Its Core plan starts at $10/employee/month for larger companies, but payroll and time/attendance are add-ons, so it can become more expensive for your particular use case.

What I'd choose

Bottom line: Unless you have unusual payroll requirements, I'd start with Gusto. It's payroll-first, has straightforward pricing, and avoids paying for a lot of HR functionality you may not need.

If you tell me roughly how many employees you have, whether they're hourly or salaried, and which state(s) you're in, I can narrow it down to the cheapest sensible option and estimate your monthly cost.

For a small business needing a straightforward, budget-friendly setup to handle both payroll and time off, a few stand out as the top user-friendly choices:

• Gusto - Widely considered the gold standard for US small businesses. It combines full-service payroll (automatic tax filing) with intuitive time-off policies, employee self-service, and benefits. It's famous for its clean, friendly interface and predictable tiered pricing. Check out their plans on the Gusto Pricing Page.
• OnPay - An exceptionally straightforward, transparent, and affordable single-tier payroll and HR provider. They don’t hide fees or push you into expensive upsells, and they include full HR, state/federal tax automation, and paid time off (PTO) tracking standard. Learn more via the OnPay Homepage.
• BambooHR - Excellent if you want a system that leans a bit heavier on core HR and time-off tracking while scaling cleanly. They offer integrated payroll add-ons that make managing leave requests and syncing them right to paychecks seamless. Explore options on the BambooHR Payroll Software Page.
• SurePayroll - Backed by Paychex, this is a no-frills, highly budget-conscious option designed strictly for smaller teams that want reliable payroll and basic time/leave tracking without paying for enterprise bloat. See details on the SurePayroll Website.

To help narrow down the best fit, tell me:

• How many employees do you have?
• Are they mostly salaried or hourly (do you need advanced time-tracking/clocks)?

For a small business that mainly needs payroll + time-off management, I’d focus on simple payroll-first platforms rather than a large HR suite. These are strong options:

My short recommendation:

• 1–25 employees, mostly U.S.-based, want simple payroll + PTO: start with Gusto.
• Hourly employees who need scheduling and clock-ins: consider Homebase.
• You mainly need HR files, PTO approvals, and employee management: look at BambooHR.

A few questions would narrow it down:

1. How many employees do you have?
2. Are they hourly, salaried, or both?
3. What country/state are you running payroll in?
4. Do you need benefits (health insurance, 401(k), etc.) or just payroll and PTO?

For a small business needing straightforward payroll and time-off tracking without enterprise bloat or confusing pricing, a few standout platforms hit the sweet spot of simple, powerful, and affordable.

Top Recommendations

• Gusto: Widely considered the gold standard for small teams. It combines full-service payroll (automatic tax calculation and filing) with intuitive time-off requests and employee self-service. Pricing is transparent, typically starting with a base fee plus a low per-person monthly cost. You can check out their options directly on the Gusto Official Website.
• OnPay: A fantastic, highly-rated alternative known for flat, transparent pricing and no hidden fees. They offer a single, comprehensive tier that includes unlimited monthly payroll runs, built-in HR tools, and straightforward paid time off (PTO) management. Learn more via the OnPay Official Website.
• Patriot Software: If absolute lowest cost is your primary driver, Patriot is an exceptional budget-friendly choice. It provides basic, highly reliable full-service or self-service payroll with optional time-and-attendance add-ons, making it very gentle on a lean startup budget. See the breakdown on the Patriot Software Official Website.
• QuickBooks Payroll: If you already use QuickBooks for your accounting, adding their native payroll syncs your ledgers automatically and cuts down on double data-entry, keeping time-tracking and paydays under one roof. Explore features on the QuickBooks Payroll Official Website.

To help narrow down the ideal fit, could you let me know:

• How many employees you currently have?
• Whether they are salaried, hourly, or a mix of both?

For a small business looking for a straightforward, budget-friendly way to handle payroll and time off without enterprise bloat, a few standout platforms balance ease of use with low cost.

• Gusto stands out as the premier all-in-one choice for small US-based teams. It features an intuitive, modern interface that handles full-service payroll, automatic tax filings (federal, state, and local), and built-in PTO/time-off requests. Pricing starts with a base fee of about $49/month plus roughly $6 per person monthly, making it exceptionally transparent and predictable. You can explore their plans directly on the Gusto Pricing Page.
• Patriot Software is the budget champion if you want no-frills, highly cost-effective US payroll and basic HR recordkeeping. Their full-service payroll starts around $37/month plus $5 per worker, though time and attendance/tracking features are offered as modular add-ons. It’s praised for top-tier, US-based customer support and straightforward functionality. Check out the details on the Patriot Software Payroll Page.
• OnPay is a favorite for straightforward, flat-rate pricing with excellent support for multi-state payroll and free setup assistance. They charge a single predictable base fee plus a per-person rate that includes unlimited monthly payroll runs and built-in HR/PTO tools. Learn more at the OnPay Overview.
• Homebase is ideal if your small business relies heavily on hourly or shift-based workers. It combines free or low-cost employee scheduling, robust GPS time tracking, and smooth syncing directly into payroll. You can check out their options at the Homebase Scheduling and Payroll Hub.

To help narrow down the ideal fit , let me know:

• Roughly how many employees you have (and if they are W-2 or 1099)
• Whether your team is salaried or hourly (needing advanced time-clock features)
• If you operate in a single state or multiple states

I can give you a tailored recommendation and cost estimate.

For a small business that mainly needs payroll + time-off management without a lot of HR complexity, I’d shortlist these:

*Current listed pricing; it can vary by plan and configuration.

My pick: Gusto

For your requirements, Gusto's Simple plan is probably the sweet spot. It includes full-service payroll, unlimited payroll runs, federal/state/local tax filings, basic PTO policies, holiday pay, and time-off requests/approvals.

For example, 10 employees would be about $109/month on Simple before optional add-ons ($49 + 10 × $6).

If you also need employee time clocks/timesheets, Gusto's Plus plan adds time tracking and costs $80/month + $12/person.

When I'd choose Homebase instead

If you have an hourly workforce—retail, restaurant, trades, etc.—Homebase may actually be the better fit because scheduling and time tracking are central to the product. Payroll is $39/month + $6 per active employee, and its Plus plan includes PTO/time-off controls.

When BambooHR makes sense

I'd pick BambooHR if "HR platform" means you also want employee records, onboarding, workflows, reporting, and more formal HR management. Its Core plan includes time-off management, but it's substantially more expensive for a very small company: companies with 25 or fewer employees start at a $250/month flat rate.

Bottom line:

• Simplest/most affordable all-around: Gusto
• Hourly employees + scheduling/time clocks: Homebase
• Growing company that wants a fuller HRIS: BambooHR

If you tell me roughly how many employees you have, whether they're hourly or salaried, and what state(s) you're paying employees in, I can narrow this down to the cheapest/best option for your situation.

For a small business that mainly needs payroll + time-off management, I’d shortlist these:

My pick: Gusto. Its Simple plan is specifically aimed at small businesses, includes unlimited payroll runs, automatic tax filings/payments, and basic PTO policies. If you also need employee time clocks/time tracking, its Plus plan is $80/month + $12/person, or you can add Time & Attendance to Simple for $6/person/month.

Homebase is worth considering if you have a lot of hourly employees or run a restaurant/retail/service business. Its scheduling and time-tracking tools are particularly strong, and payroll is currently $39/month + $6 per active employee. PTO controls are included in the $70/month Plus tier.

BambooHR is more HR-centric and polished, with time-off management included in every plan, but it's harder to call it the "affordable/simple" option for a very small company. For 25 or fewer employees, its HR software starts at $250/month before payroll and other add-ons.

Bottom line: If you tell me roughly how many employees you have, whether they're hourly or salaried, and what state you're in, I can narrow this to the cheapest 2–3 options and estimate your monthly cost.

For a small business needing a simple and affordable tool to manage both payroll and time off, Gusto is widely considered the top choice. It combines full-service payroll, automatic tax filing, and built-in time-off/PTO tracking into an intuitive platform designed specifically for lean teams.

Top Affordable Platforms for Small Businesses

• Gusto: Best overall for US-based small businesses. It automates federal, state, and local payroll taxes and lets employees request time off directly through a self-service portal that syncs with pay schedules.
• Zoho People: Best strict budget option. It features robust, modular leave and attendance tracking with a free tier for up to 5 users and very low-cost per-user pricing for scaling features.
• Homebase: Best for hourly or on-site teams. It specializes in connecting employee time-tracking, shift scheduling, and team communication directly with streamlined payroll processing.
• OnPay: Best transparent flat-fee structure. It offers full payroll, multi-state capabilities, and basic HR/PTO tools without hidden surcharges.

If you can share how many employees you have and whether they are salaried or hourly , I can help narrow down the most cost-effective platform for your specific team size.