HR & Payroll that founders are proud to use.

Run payroll correctly, keep people ops compliant, and give your team a smooth experience from day one. You don’t need another manual checklist—you need a system that makes hiring, paying, and reporting dependable every month. We set up and operate a founder‑friendly HR and payroll rhythm on top of your Xero books, coordinate filings, and explain what changed and why in plain English. If you’re searching for startup payroll, Gusto specialists, or 401(k) setup with Guideline in Chicago or nationwide, this page is for you.

We take the guesswork out of your people operations.

HR and payroll should feel fast and organized. We start by reviewing your entity, compensation plan, and state footprint, then coordinate payroll, benefits, and compliance so the first cycle runs cleanly. New hires receive clear invites, direct deposit is verified, and tax accounts are matched to the correct jurisdictions. If you’re moving from another provider, we map earnings codes, PTO balances, and deductions so year‑to‑date numbers land accurately. During the first month we run a supervised payroll, confirm filings, and document your approval steps so the cadence is repeatable. If you’re an S‑Corporation owner establishing reasonable compensation, we align your salary, payroll frequency, and withholdings to avoid year‑end surprises. By the end of the first cycle, responsibilities are clear, self‑service is turned on for employees, and leadership knows exactly how payroll, benefits, and retirement contributions flow through the books.

A man in a blue shirt and tie is using a laptop computer.
Gusto Gold Partner badge: orange hexagon with

Gusto

Payroll, HR, and Employee Experience

Gusto streamlines hiring and paying teams with a clean onboarding flow, built‑in e‑sign for documents, direct deposit, and automated filings for federal, state, and local payroll taxes where supported. We configure pay schedules, earnings types, and time‑off policies to match how your company actually operates, then connect Gusto to Xero so wages, taxes, and benefits post to the right accounts every run. Employees gain a modern self‑service portal for pay stubs, forms, and time off, which reduces support tickets and speeds approvals. For founders, the result is predictable payroll that closes faster and keeps compliance in the background where it belongs.

Guideline

401(k) and Retirement Plans that sync with Payroll

Guideline brings retirement plans within reach for small teams by pairing a simple employee experience with automated payroll sync. We help you select plan design options, set employer contributions, and enroll staff so deductions flow correctly each pay period. Compliance testing and required notices are managed within the platform, which reduces the administrative lift that usually stalls plan adoption. When Guideline is connected to Gusto, contributions and employer matches post automatically and reconcile cleanly in Xero, making month‑end and year‑end reporting straightforward. Founders get a credible benefit for recruiting and retention without building an HR department first.

A black and white icon of a flower on a white background.

FAQs

  • Do I need payroll if I’m the only employee?

    If you operate as an S‑Corporation and work in the business, the IRS expects a reasonable W‑2 salary for the services you provide, with the balance of profits distributed separately. Running formal payroll captures withholding, Social Security, and Medicare taxes correctly and produces year‑end forms that match your books. It also sets you up to add team members without reinventing your process. If you are pre‑revenue or profits are inconsistent, we can phase in payroll alongside a compensation plan that fits cash flow while still meeting compliance expectations.

    • How often will we meet and who attends?
    • Will you help with pricing and margins?
    • Can you assist with board or lender reporting?
    • Do you work with non‑Xero stacks?

  • Can you help with multi‑state payroll and registrations?


    Do you support W‑2 and 1099 workers?


    Can you migrate payroll mid‑year without breaking W‑2s?


    How do benefits and 401(k) integrate with payroll?How often will we meet and who attends?

    • Will you help with pricing and margins?
    • Can you assist with board or lender reporting?
    • Do you work with non‑Xero stacks?
Reporting Pack

Pricing and Getting Started

What’s included (every month):

  • Payroll calendar, pre‑run review, and approvals
  • Automated postings of wages, taxes, and benefits into Xero
  • New‑hire onboarding coordination and offboarding checklist
  • Benefits enrollments and 401(k) contribution sync with Guideline
  • Multi‑state compliance monitoring and filing coordination
  • PTO and time‑off balance reconciliation from Gusto
  • Month‑end payroll summary with variance commentary