— Small business payroll
Small business payroll services, run by people who pick up the phone
One employee or sixty. California, Nevada, or both. Flat monthly fee with every payroll tax filing included — plus a Profit First setup so your own paycheck comes out of the cycle first instead of last.
What small business owners actually get stuck on
- Paying themselves last — or inconsistently
- 1099 contractors who legally should be W-2
- Missed 941 deposits and EDD/MBT deadlines
- Workers' comp audits priced off the wrong class codes
- Tip reporting that doesn't tie to the POS
- No idea what quarterly taxes will be until they're due
Two reads that fix most of this fast: quarterly estimated taxes and W-2 vs 1099 classification.
How onboarding works
- 01
20-minute payroll review
We look at your current cost, filings, classifications, and workers' comp codes and tell you what's leaking.
- 02
Setup & migration
We move year-to-date wages and deposits, register any missing state accounts, and set your pay calendar.
- 03
We run it
Payroll, filings, notices, and audits handled. You approve hours and get back to work.
Small business payroll FAQs
- How much should a small business pay for payroll?
- Between $149 and $299 per month is typical for a 1–25 employee California or Nevada business when tax filings and year-end forms are included. Per-employee-per-run pricing looks cheaper up front but usually costs more once filing fees, year-end W-2 charges, and amendment fees land.
- Can I run payroll myself instead?
- You can, and for a single-owner S-corp it's tempting. The risk isn't the math — it's deposit deadlines, EDD and MBT filings, and reasonable compensation documentation. One late 941 deposit penalty usually costs more than a year of service.
- What's the smallest business you take?
- One employee — usually the owner of an S-corp. That setup is where reasonable compensation, owner draws, and payroll taxes have to line up exactly.
- Do you handle W-2s and 1099s at year end?
- Yes, both are included in the flat fee, along with worker classification review so the 1099s you issue actually hold up.
- How fast can we start?
- Most small businesses are live within one to two weeks, including mid-quarter transfers from Gusto, QuickBooks Payroll, ADP, or Paychex.
— Founder story
Built by blue-collar, for blue-collar.
Profit First Payroll was founded by Matt Frechette, who brings 20+ years of hands-on experience in blue-collar environments. He's seen shops thrive — or unravel — because of poor cash flow, inconsistent owner pay, late crew checks, and workers' comp audit nightmares. PFP is built explicitly for trades and labor-heavy businesses: proper crew classification, project-based volatility, and protecting profit in high-risk industries.