Recommended Free Tools
Square Payroll is a U.S. payroll service that is most compelling for small businesses already using Square for point of sale, timecards, tips, or scheduling. Its published U.S. full-service price is $35 per month plus $6 for each person paid that month; contractor-only payroll is $6 per contractor paid, with fewer features and no full-service tax-filing service. Whether it is a good fit depends on your worker mix, state requirements, HR needs, and the total cost of add-ons—not just the base fee.
Square Payroll plans and pricing
Square’s U.S. pricing page lists two payroll plans. The listed rates are monthly and depend on the number of people paid; verify current terms and plan eligibility before enrolling.
| Plan or charge | Published U.S. price | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Full-service payroll | $35 per month plus $6 per person paid per month | Includes automated federal and state payroll tax payments and filings, along with employee-focused features. Square pricing |
| Contractor-only payroll | $6 per contractor paid per month | Does not include the employee-oriented functions or tax-filing service of the full-service plan. Square pricing |
| Mailed paper tax forms | $3 per employee or contractor per year | This charge applies if you choose mailed paper copies of W-2s or 1099s; digital delivery is listed among the payroll features. Square pricing |
For full-service payroll, the monthly bill rises with each person paid, even though Square lists unlimited pay runs without an additional per-run fee. For example, the listed formula is $35 plus $6 multiplied by the people paid that month; it is not a flat $35 subscription.
What the plan comparison means in practice
The official feature comparison lists unlimited payroll runs, direct-tip tracking and importing, overtime calculations, labor-cost reporting, full-service payroll tax filings, digital W-2 and 1099 delivery, QuickBooks Online integration, and employee app access. Check the comparison’s plan column for each item: contractor-only is not simply full-service payroll at a lower price. Health insurance and 401(k) benefits are presented as add-ons for full-service customers, not as benefits included in its base price. Square plan comparison
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →#1 Best Overall
- Tracks weekly hours, pay rates, taxes and other deductions
- Wire-o spiral binding allows book to lay flat so rows line up across the pages
- Summary page in back of book
- Blue and yellow printing designed to reduce eye strain
- Up to 20 employee capacity
What Square Payroll does
Square describes a workflow that can connect payroll to its existing business tools. Employers can set up workers in the Dashboard, import timecards from Square POS or the Square Team App, import direct tips, create schedules, and review labor-cost reports. Its Payroll features page says: “We calculate, withhold, and file federal and state payroll taxes on your behalf.” Square Payroll features
Square says it generates and files W-2s and 1099-NECs. New-hire reporting is described as available when requested during employee setup. Automated filings do not remove the employer’s need to enter accurate worker and business details or confirm what applies in each state and jurisdiction; Square’s tax coverage varies by plan and applies in jurisdictions where payroll is processed. Square Payroll features
Rank #2
- Made in USA - Proudly produced in Ohio by a Veteran-owned business
- Includes pages to record payroll by weeks and quarterly
- Pages to record Depository Payments by Month
- Pages to record yearly totals up to 50 employees
- Pages to record monthly totals Reorder SKU: LOG-104-7CW(Payroll)
Employee access and pay
The Square Team App lets employees access payroll details and pay stubs, clock in and out, and track hours. Eligible team members using Cash App may be able to receive Instant Deposit two calendar days before the original pay date, but availability depends on qualifying-state eligibility; it is not a universal early-pay feature. Square Payroll features
Accounting and benefits connections
Square lists QuickBooks Online integration. It also names SimplyInsured for medical, dental, and vision insurance and Vestwell for 401(k) retirement benefits. These are optional benefits connections and may have separate terms or costs; they should not be treated as included in the payroll subscription. Square pricing Square Payroll features
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallRank #3
- Payroll Record Book for Small Busines：This payroll record book is designed for small business owners contractors and offices to easily track employee payroll information helping simplify bookkeeping and payroll management
- Weekly and Daily Time Sheet Log Book for One Year：Designed as a weekly payroll record book and daily time sheet log book it tracks weekly hours pay rates taxes and deductions for up to 52 weeks providing full year employee payroll and time tracking in one book
- Large 8.5 x 11 Inches with 106 Pages：The payroll record book measures 8.5 x 11 inches with 106 pages offering ample space for detailed payroll records employee time tracking and work hours logs without overcrowding
- Tracks Payroll for Up to 20 Employees：This employee payroll record book and work hours log allows recording payroll data for up to 20 employees with clear columns making it suitable as an employee time tracking book for small teams
- Eye Friendly Design with Durable Spiral Binding：Blue green inner pages reduce eye strain during long bookkeeping sessions while the horizontal spiral bound design and laminated cover ensure durability and easy flat writing for daily payroll and time sheet logging
Pros and cons of Square Payroll
Potential advantages
- Published, straightforward pricing: The plan structure spells out a base fee and a per-person charge for full-service payroll, plus a separate contractor-only rate. Square pricing
- No listed per-run charge: Square lists unlimited payroll runs, which can be useful when a business needs to make additional payroll runs. Square pricing
- Tax filing in the full-service plan: Square describes automated federal and state tax payments and filings for that plan, subject to plan and jurisdiction details. Square Payroll features
- Links to Square time and tip workflows: Businesses already using Square POS or the Team App can import timecards and direct tips rather than treating payroll as a wholly separate workflow. Square Payroll features
- Employee self-service: Employees can view pay information and stubs through the app, alongside timekeeping functions. Square Payroll features
Potential drawbacks
- Contractor-only is narrower: It lacks the employee-focused features and full-service payroll tax filing service, so a business with employees should compare the full-service plan rather than assume the cheaper option covers the same needs. Square pricing
- Benefits are add-ons: Health insurance and 401(k) connections are not part of the base payroll price. Square pricing
- Support hours are limited: Square lists support availability on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pacific Time. Square Payroll features
- Advanced HR may be limited for complex organizations: TechRadar says the advanced HR feature set may not meet the needs of larger businesses with more complex requirements. This is that publication’s assessment, not a guarantee about every employer’s fit. TechRadar review
What independent reviews say—and what they do not prove
TechRadar describes Square Payroll as suited to smaller and some mid-sized businesses, with the strongest benefit for businesses already in the Square ecosystem. That is an editorial view, rather than a promise that the service fits every business in those size ranges. TechRadar review
G2 showed 4.2 out of 5 across 31 reviews on a page modified September 28, 2026. That small set of user-submitted reviews is directional feedback, not a representative measure of payroll accuracy or customer satisfaction. One owner reported straightforward setup and onboarding but also a withholding-rate issue; another reviewer described difficulty with direct-deposit banking information. Those accounts are individual experiences and do not establish how often such problems occur. G2 reviews
Rank #4
- Sold as 1 Each.
- Simplifies payroll record keeping.
- Quarterly and yearly summaries.
- Seven columns for deductions.
- Includes Calendar of Tax Form Due Dates and Explanation of Payroll Tax Forms.
The cited review evidence does not establish a population-level statistic for Square Payroll’s accuracy or reliability. This assessment is based on published product information and outside reviews, not hands-on testing.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Who should consider Square Payroll?
It may suit businesses already using Square
If your team already records hours or tips through Square, the ability to bring those workflows into payroll is a practical point of fit. Full-service payroll may also be worth considering if you want employee payroll and tax filing in a single service and the listed per-person pricing works for your headcount.
Best Value
- QUALITY PAYROLL RECORDS: Adams Payroll Record Books provides everything you need to account for your employees' compensation; it tracks hours worked, gross earnings, deductions and net pay
- TWO-PART CARBONLESS FORMS: 2-part carbonless design features white and canary copies to create clear records for employees and management
- WRAP-AROUND COVER: Fold the back cover between sets to keep forms neat and legible
- CONSECUTIVELY NUMBERED: Large 6-digit numbers in the upper right hand corner help you thumb through orders quickly
- 55 SETS PER BOOK: Stock up so you never run out; each books provide 55 carbonless sets
Compare alternatives if your needs are more complex
Before choosing, map your requirements against the actual plan and your state obligations. A business with demanding HR processes, multiple locations, unusual tax situations, or expectations for support beyond listed weekday hours should compare capability depth and total cost with other providers. The cited sources do not provide a complete apples-to-apples comparison of competitor prices.
Quick Recap
- Calculate the base fee plus per-person charges using the people you expect to pay in a typical month.
- Confirm whether you need employee payroll, contractor-only payroll, or both, and which plan covers that mix.
- Check federal and state filing coverage and verify your jurisdiction-specific responsibilities.
- List which Square timekeeping, scheduling, or tip workflows you will actually use.
- Include any benefits add-ons and paper-form mailing charges in your cost estimate if relevant.
- Check whether QuickBooks Online is the accounting integration you need and whether the HR functions meet your requirements.
- Make sure the listed support schedule works for your operating hours.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
