Patriot Payroll
Affordable payroll software for small businesses.
About Patriot Payroll
Patriot Payroll handles payroll processing and tax filing for businesses with straightforward payroll needs. On the basic plan at $17/month plus $4 per employee, you run payroll and manage direct deposit yourself. Upgrade to full-service at $37/month plus $4 per employee and Patriot calculates, files, and pays federal, state, and local payroll taxes on your behalf — not just generating forms for you to submit. That distinction matters for accounting practices managing payroll for smaller clients who want the entire function handed off. The software fits sole proprietors through companies with roughly 100 employees. The employee self-service portal lets staff access pay stubs and W-2s without calling you. Time tracking is available as an add-on and feeds directly into payroll runs, reducing manual entry. The interface is plain and functional — you won't spend time hunting for where to run a payroll cycle. The integration list is short: QuickBooks, Xero, Excel export, and Zapier. If your practice runs on a stack beyond those — think Bill.com, Gusto's ecosystem, or deeper HR platforms — Patriot will create manual work. There's no free trial tier, so you're committing before you've tested it against your actual client data. Compared to ADP Run or Paychex Flex, the reporting depth is thin and the HR add-on is basic, but those platforms cost significantly more and carry features most sub-50-employee clients never touch.
Best for
Small businesses wanting affordable payroll with optional tax filing service
Key Features
- Full-service payroll processing with tax calculations
- Automated tax filing and compliance
- Direct deposit and employee self-service portal
- Time tracking with payroll integration
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Full-service plan files and pays federal, state, and local payroll taxes directly — not just prepares forms for client review
- Starts at $17/month plus $4 per employee, undercutting ADP Run and Paychex Flex by a meaningful margin for small client rosters
- Direct deposit included on both plan tiers without a separate per-transaction fee structure
- Employee self-service portal gives workers access to pay stubs and W-2s, reducing inbound requests to the accountant or employer
- Time tracking add-on integrates directly with payroll, eliminating a manual import step for hourly workforces
- QuickBooks and Xero integrations allow journal entry sync after each payroll run without manual export
Cons
- No free trial — you pay before testing the software against real client payroll data or edge cases like multi-state employees
- Integration ecosystem is limited to QuickBooks, Xero, Excel, and Zapier; practices using other practice-management or AP tools will hit manual workarounds
- Reporting is thin compared to ADP Run or Paychex Flex — custom payroll reports require exporting to Excel and building them yourself
- HR features are an add-on and cover only basics like document storage and onboarding checklists; not a replacement for a dedicated HR platform
- Per-employee pricing adds up faster than it appears at the base rate once a client roster grows past 20 employees
- Smaller user community means fewer third-party guides, accountant forums, or peer troubleshooting resources compared to Gusto or QuickBooks Payroll
Ledger Brief Take
A straightforward payroll processor that focuses on getting the basics right at a lower price point than ADP or Paychex, though you'll trade off the extensive third-party integrations those platforms offer. The tax filing service is genuinely full-service rather than just compliance software, making it appealing for practices that want to outsource the entire payroll function for smaller clients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions accountants ask about Patriot Payroll.
What is the difference between Patriot's Basic and Full-Service payroll plans?
Basic at $17/month plus $4 per employee runs payroll and handles direct deposit, but you are responsible for filing and paying payroll taxes. Full-Service at $37/month plus $4 per employee has Patriot file and pay federal, state, and local taxes on your behalf. For accounting practices managing payroll for clients, Full-Service eliminates the compliance filing step entirely.
How does Patriot Payroll integrate with QuickBooks and Xero?
Patriot connects directly to QuickBooks Online and Xero, syncing payroll journal entries after each pay run. The integration covers wage expenses, tax liabilities, and direct deposit entries. It does not support QuickBooks Desktop. If your client books are in Desktop, you'll export to Excel and import manually.
Is Patriot Payroll a good fit for an accounting practice managing multiple small business clients?
It works for practices that want to run payroll for clients with under roughly 100 employees and straightforward single-state or simple multi-state setups. There is no accountant partner portal or bulk client-switching dashboard like Gusto Pro offers, so managing more than a handful of client accounts becomes administratively repetitive.
How does Patriot Payroll compare to Gusto for small businesses?
Patriot costs less — Full-Service runs $37/month plus $4 per employee versus Gusto's Plus tier at $80/month plus $12 per employee. Gusto has a broader integration library, a built-in accountant partner program, and stronger HR tools. Patriot wins on price for simple payrolls; Gusto wins if you need deeper integrations or want a multi-client management interface.
Can employees access their own pay stubs and tax forms in Patriot?
Yes. The employee self-service portal is included on both plan tiers. Employees log in to view pay stubs, download W-2s, and update direct deposit information without contacting the employer or accountant. Mobile access works through a browser; there is no dedicated native mobile app for employees.
Is there a free plan or trial period for Patriot Payroll?
No. Patriot does not offer a free tier or a self-service trial against live data. There is a demo available, but you will not be able to run a test payroll cycle with your actual employee and tax data before paying. This is a real limitation if you want to evaluate edge cases like garnishments or multi-state employees before committing.