Retail payroll · September 20, 2026
Best payroll software for retail (2026)
Hourly crews, overtime, and a payday that files. A retail POS is not a substitute for tax deposits.
By Gregory GreensteinUpdated September 20, 2026Affiliate disclosure
Retail payroll is hourly: overtime, split shifts, and people who leave before the handbook is printed. The job is: hours that become a check, withhold, file. Inventory is a different ranking.
Gusto publishes a bill. Square wins when the register is Square. Homebase wins when the schedule is the leak. ADP RUN is a quote for boards that want the brand.
Prices as of September 20, 2026. This is not wage-and-hour advice.
The short list
Public list prices as of September 20, 2026. Promos change. Confirm on the vendor page before you buy.
| # | Product | Best for | Public starting price | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gusto | Shops that want published pricing without a POS lock-in | Simple $49/mo + $6/person; Plus $80 + $12; Premium $180 + $22. Contractor Only $35 + $6. Simple is single-state. | 8.4 |
| 2 | Square Payroll | Counters already taking cards on Square | Full-service $35/mo + $6 per person paid that month. Contractor-only $6 per contractor paid, no base fee. | 8.3 |
| 3 | Homebase | Shops whose leak is the schedule, then payday | Scheduling plans on joinhomebase.com/pricing. Payroll add-on $39/mo + $6 per employee paid. | 8.0 |
| 4 | ADP RUN | Owners who want a name a bank and auditor already recognize | Not published as a national self-serve rate card. Request pricing. | 7.3 |
01
Gusto
Shops that want published pricing without a POS lock-in
Public pricing: Simple $49/mo + $6/person; Plus $80 + $12; Premium $180 + $22. Contractor Only $35 + $6. Simple is single-state.
Gusto public pricing (gusto.com/product/pricing), reviewed September 20, 2026.
Skip if
Hours already live on Square. Square Payroll is the narrower buy. Or your broker already lives in ADP.
Why it ranks
- A owner can estimate ten associates on a napkin.
- Full-service US filings on standard plans.
- Benefits sit next to payday when you hire a manager.
- Pairs with QBO — where many shop books already live.
Watch-outs
- Simple is single-state. A second store in another state usually means Plus.
- Hours still have to get in. Pair a time clock.
- Not a POS. Square or Shopify is a different job.
- Overtime rules are on you.
02
Square Payroll
Counters already taking cards on Square
Public pricing: Full-service $35/mo + $6 per person paid that month. Contractor-only $6 per contractor paid, no base fee.
Square Payroll pricing, reviewed September 20, 2026.
Skip if
You are on Shopify POS or Lightspeed and do not plan to move. Do not buy Square to get payroll.
Why it ranks
- Hours can come from the same iPad that takes the card.
- Published $35 + $6 vs Gusto $49 + $6.
- Seasonal associates only hit the bill in months you pay them.
- See Is Square Payroll worth it.
Watch-outs
- Multi-state and multi-EIN limits exist.
- Benefits are partner add-ons.
- Shopify-first shops should not dual-stack a register.
- Not inventory software.
03
Homebase
Shops whose leak is the schedule, then payday
Public pricing: Scheduling plans on joinhomebase.com/pricing. Payroll add-on $39/mo + $6 per employee paid.
Homebase official pricing, reviewed September 20, 2026.
Skip if
You already have a roster that works and only need tax filing.
Why it ranks
- Shift swaps and a phone schedule are why hourly retail stays.
- Payroll rides along once the roster is honest.
- Ranks first on employee scheduling for the same reason.
- A known floor tool when you hire from another shop.
Watch-outs
- Budget scheduling + payroll.
- Not a POS.
- Predictive scheduling laws are on you.
- If Square already holds time, adding Homebase is a second login.
04
ADP RUN
Owners who want a name a bank and auditor already recognize
Public pricing: Not published as a national self-serve rate card. Request pricing.
ADP RUN package pages (adp.com), reviewed September 20, 2026.
Skip if
You want transparent online pricing. ADP sells RUN through a conversation.
Why it ranks
- ADP has filed US payroll taxes longer than most SaaS brands have existed.
- Useful if a broker or lender is already in the ADP universe.
- Package ladder from payroll to light HR.
- See Paychex vs ADP if you are choosing between quotes.
Watch-outs
- No quote, no comparison to Gusto.
- The sales motion is a tax on an owner’s time.
- Switching off later is not a weekend.
- Do not expect Gusto’s onboarding vibe.
How we picked
The job is US retail payday for shops under ~50. We scored published prices and POS/schedule adjacency. OnPay is a fine extra — see Gusto vs OnPay. Inventory is a sibling page.