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Payroll/Best of

I use Gusto

Best payroll software for landscaping companies

Landscaping payroll isn’t office payroll. Crews grow every spring and shrink every fall, many companies shut down for winter, pay changes with the job, and summer weeks run into overtime. The right payroll software makes those swings cheap and quick instead of a monthly headache. I run a seasonal landscaping crew myself, so these picks are weighed against what a real season looks like.

Shanin Drucquer

Shanin DrucquerPrices checked September 2026

  1. 1GustoBest for most landscaping companies$49 + $6/person
  2. 2Square PayrollCheapest, with free off-seasons$35 + $6/person
  3. 3OnPayBest for crews in more than one state$49 + $6/worker
  4. 4QuickBooks PayrollBest if you already use QuickBooks$50 + $7/employee
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What’s different about landscaping payroll

Most payroll reviews assume a steady office team. A landscaping crew isn’t one. These are the things that actually shape what you’ll pay and how much work payroll takes.

  1. 1

    Your crew size swings with the seasons

    I run 20 to 25 people in summer, 8 to 10 in fall, and shut down for winter. Payroll services charge per person, so you want to stop paying for people who aren’t working, then bring them back fast in spring.

  2. 2

    Lots of part-timers

    Per-person pricing hits harder when some people only work a few hours a week. With a part-time-heavy crew, the per-person fee matters more than the base price.

  3. 3

    Different pay rates on the same crew

    I pay more when someone’s driving the trailer. You need payroll that handles more than one rate per person without workarounds.

  4. 4

    Overtime in the busy season

    Spring and summer weeks run long. Overtime is owed by the week, not the pay period, which is easy to get wrong on biweekly payroll.

    How overtime works on biweekly payroll
  5. 5

    Hours come from the field

    Crews clock in on the job, not at a desk. I track hours in Jobber and enter them in payroll, so it has to be quick to get hours in each pay period.

  6. 6

    Hiring happens all at once

    Spring means onboarding a lot of people in a few weeks. Self-onboarding, where new hires fill in their own tax and bank details, saves hours.

The picks

For most landscaping companies, Gusto is the best payroll software: dismiss your seasonal crew when jobs stop, re-add them in spring, and it files every payroll tax. Square Payroll is the cheapest and free during the off-season.

Best for most landscaping companies

1.Gusto

From $49 + $6/person

It’s how I pay my crew. When we shut down for winter I dismiss the seasonal crew so I’m not paying for them, then re-add them in spring. Onboarding new hires is easy, and it files every payroll tax on its own. That’s why I’ll never switch.

Best for
Seasonal crews that hire, lay off, and rehire every year.
Watch out for
Every person costs the full per-person fee, even part-timers working a few hours a week. Paying people in more than one state needs Plus ($80 + $12/person).
Start with Gusto

My Gusto reviewGusto pricing

Cheapest, with free off-seasons

2.Square Payroll

From $35 + $6/person

The lowest base fee here, and Square doesn’t charge during inactive seasons. Federal and state tax filing, overtime calculations, and multiple pay rates are included.

Best for
Smaller crews watching every dollar, especially if you already take payments with Square.
Watch out for
Standard deposits take four business days; two-day pay is by application. Support is weekdays, 6 am to 6 pm PT.
Visit Square Payroll

Best for crews in more than one state

3.OnPay

From $49 + $6/worker

Multi-state payroll, local tax filing, multiple pay rates, and phone support are all in the one base plan, with no setup fees.

Best for
Companies that send crews across state lines.
Watch out for
Time tracking with overtime calculations is an add-on ($15/mo + $4/worker).
Visit OnPay

Best if you already use QuickBooks

4.QuickBooks Payroll

From $50 + $7/employee + QuickBooks Online Simple Start

Payroll inside the accounting software you already run, so wages and taxes land in your books without a sync. Next-day deposit is on every plan.

Best for
Landscaping companies whose books already live in QuickBooks Online.
Watch out for
You also pay for QuickBooks Online, from $38/mo, and time tracking needs the Premium plan.
Visit QuickBooks Payroll

Gusto vs QuickBooks Payroll

What each costs at your size

Drag to your team size. Entry plans, list prices checked September 2026.

  • Square PayrollFull-service payroll$167/mo
  • GustoSimple$181/mo
  • OnPayPayroll Essentials$181/mo
  • QuickBooks PayrollWorkforce Payroll+ QuickBooks Online Simple Start$242/mo

Required products are included in the total. Add-ons aren’t.

What matters for a landscaping crew

Starting price

Gusto
$49 + $6/person
Square Payroll
$35 + $6/person
OnPay
$49 + $6/worker
QuickBooks Payroll
$50 + $7/employee

Off-season

Gusto
Dismiss and rehire; dismissed people aren’t billed
Square Payroll
Free inactive seasons
OnPay
Not listed
QuickBooks Payroll
Not listed

Different pay rates (e.g. drivers)

Gusto
Every plan
Square Payroll
Included
OnPay
Included
QuickBooks Payroll
Not listed

Overtime

Gusto
Overtime columns; automatic with time tracking
Square Payroll
Calculated automatically
OnPay
With Time Tracking add-on
QuickBooks Payroll
Not listed

Onboarding new hires

Gusto
Self-onboarding, offer letters, e-sign
Square Payroll
Employee self-onboarding
OnPay
Offer letters, e-sign I-9 and W-4
QuickBooks Payroll
Premium and Elite

Multi-state crews

Gusto
Plus and Premium
Square Payroll
Included
OnPay
Included
QuickBooks Payroll
Not listed

Needs other software

Gusto
No
Square Payroll
No
OnPay
No
QuickBooks Payroll
QuickBooks Online

A check marks the best option in that row. “Not listed” means the company’s pricing page doesn’t say, not that the feature is missing. Prices checked September 2026.

How I picked

I run a landscaping company with 20 to 25 people in summer, 8 to 10 in fall, and a shutdown in winter. So I weighed what matters for a crew like mine: the real cost at a summer crew size, handling seasonal layoffs and rehires, different pay rates for drivers, overtime, and how fast a new hire gets onboarded during the spring rush. I compared each option on those points using its current pricing and help documentation, checked September 2026.

Shanin Drucquer · How we research

Common questions

What is the best payroll software for a landscaping company?

Gusto, for most. It handles seasonal layoffs and rehires, multiple pay rates, and all payroll tax filing, from $49 + $6/person. Square Payroll is cheaper and free during inactive seasons; OnPay suits crews in more than one state.

How do I handle seasonal employees in payroll?

In Gusto, dismiss seasonal employees when the season ends so you’re not billed for them, then re-add them in spring. Skipping them on a payroll isn’t enough: skipped people still count on your invoice. Square Payroll doesn’t charge during inactive seasons.

Can I pay a different rate for driving the trailer?

Yes. Gusto, OnPay, and Square Payroll all support more than one pay rate per employee. In Gusto you enter hours for each rate when you run payroll.

Do I pay full price for part-time employees?

Usually, yes. Payroll services charge per person paid, whether they work 40 hours or 4. With a lot of part-timers, the per-person fee matters more than the base price, so check the cost chart at your crew size.

Does payroll software calculate overtime?

You enter overtime hours in their own column, or let time tracking calculate it: Gusto does it automatically on Plus and Premium, Square Payroll includes it, and OnPay does it with its Time Tracking add-on.

Sources: Gusto pricing, Gusto: run a regular payroll, Square Payroll pricing, OnPay pricing, QuickBooks Payroll pricing.

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Best payroll software for small business →

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What a crew your size costs

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