Compare payroll software for general contractors (GCs) and teams managing W-2 crews plus 1099 subcontractors across trades.
General contractors need payroll that handles W-2 crews and office staff, 1099 subcontractors across trades, and labor cost that ties to jobs or projects when you use QuickBooks. Our picks work for small and growing GC operations—from those running books in QuickBooks to teams that want an all-in-one platform or simple flat-rate payroll.
Our top payroll picks for general contractors.
Best overall for small general contractors4.8From $40/moAll-in-one payroll with 1099 support for subs, contractor self-service, and automatic tax forms. Handles W-2 and 1099 in one system. Built-in time tracking for crews. No sales cycle—good for owners and office managers running payroll.
Best for GCs using QuickBooks4.6From $30/moPayroll inside QuickBooks so labor cost flows into job costing and projects. Ideal when you run invoicing and books in QuickBooks. Pay crews and 1099 subs in the same system; time tracking can tie hours to jobs.
Best value for straightforward payroll4.5From $40/moFlat pricing and one plan. Pay W-2 employees and 1099 subcontractors with tax forms included. Simple for small teams—works with any accounting software. Support included.
Best for growing GC teams4.4From Custom pricingPayroll and HR that scale to more crews and job sites. Custom pricing and optional dedicated support. Good when you're expanding and want a full-service partner for compliance and multi-state.
Side-by-side at a glance.
| Software | Best for | Starting price | Payroll types | Standout feature | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gusto | Best overall for small GCs | $40/mo | W-2, 1099 | 1099 subs; time tracking; all-in-one | Read review |
| QuickBooks Payroll | GCs using QuickBooks | $30/mo | W-2, 1099 | Labor cost in jobs; job costing | Read review |
| OnPay | Best value; straightforward payroll | $40/mo | W-2, 1099 | Flat pricing; 1099 included | Read review |
| ADP | Growing GC teams | Custom pricing | W-2, 1099, multi-state | Scale; optional dedicated support | Read review |
What to look for when you're choosing payroll as general contractors.
General contractors often have W-2 superintendents and office staff plus 1099 subs across trades (electrical, plumbing, framing, etc.). Your payroll system should handle both in one place—correct withholding for W-2, no withholding for 1099, and the right tax forms (W-2 vs 1099-NEC) at year-end. Contractor self-service lets subs view pay stubs without extra admin.
Labor cost by job or project is central to GC profitability. If you run your books in QuickBooks, payroll that posts labor to jobs (QuickBooks Payroll) keeps job costing accurate. Gusto and OnPay sync to QuickBooks but don't push cost to jobs the same way; they're still strong for running payroll and tracking who worked where.
Crew hours can be captured with mobile apps, time clocks, or manual entry. The best setup syncs hours into payroll so you're not re-entering data. Gusto has built-in time tracking; QuickBooks Payroll integrates with QuickBooks Time for time-by-job. Accurate hours support job costing and overtime compliance.
1099 subcontractors need 1099-NEC at year-end. Confirm your payroll provider includes 1099 runs and e-file without per-form fees. Running contractor payments through the same system as W-2 payroll keeps one record and simplifies reporting.
Many general contractors have an owner or office manager running payroll. Choose software that's straightforward to set up and run—published pricing, no long sales cycle, and support when you need it. Gusto and OnPay are built for self-serve; QuickBooks Payroll fits if you already use QuickBooks; ADP offers dedicated support when you're ready to scale.
Why we chose these tools for general contractors.
Gusto is our top pick for most small general contractors: W-2 and 1099 in one system, contractor portal, automatic tax forms, and built-in time tracking. No sales cycle—owners and office managers can run payroll and add subs without calling a rep. It scales as you add crews and jobs.
When you run invoicing and books in QuickBooks, QuickBooks Payroll keeps payroll and labor cost in the same system. Labor posts to jobs for job costing—critical for GC and project-based work. Pay crews and 1099 subs in one place. Best if QuickBooks is already your central tool.
OnPay offers straightforward payroll for W-2 and 1099 at a flat price. One plan, no tier maze—good for GC teams that want predictability. Contractor payments and tax forms are included. Works with any accounting software.
ADP fits growing general contractors that want scale and optional dedicated support. Multi-state payroll, more crews, and a full-service relationship when you need it. Custom pricing—get a quote and compare to Gusto or OnPay at your headcount.
For more options across all use cases, see our best payroll software roundup. To compare platforms side-by-side, see our payroll software comparisons.
Quick answers for this use case.
