Compare payroll software for remodeling and renovation contractors, and teams managing W-2 crews plus 1099 subcontractors.
Remodeling contractors need payroll that handles W-2 crews and office staff, 1099 subcontractors when you use them, and labor cost that ties to jobs or projects when you use QuickBooks. Our picks work for small and growing operations—from kitchen and bath remodelers to full-service renovation teams that want an all-in-one platform or simple flat-rate payroll.
Our top payroll picks for remodeling contractors.
Best overall for small remodeling companies4.8From $49/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 remodeling contractors 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 remodeling 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 remodeling | $49/mo | W-2, 1099 | 1099 subs; time tracking; all-in-one | Read review |
| QuickBooks Payroll | Remodeling 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 remodeling teams | Custom pricing | W-2, 1099, multi-state | Scale; optional dedicated support | Read review |
What to look for when you're choosing payroll as remodeling contractors.
Remodeling contractors often have W-2 crews and office staff plus 1099 subs for specialty trades or peak demand. 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 remodeling 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 remodeling 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.
How each pick fits remodeling contractors: what to validate in a trial, with links to our full reviews and official sites.
Gusto is capable payroll software for remodeling contractors who rotate carpenters, finish crews, and repeat 1099 trades through occupied homes without a sales-led onboarding. Contractor portals and automated tax handling keep punch-list weeks from colliding with payroll deadlines. In your first payrolls, confirm deposits, overtime on long demo days, and a crisp line between employee wages and subcontractor payouts that should not inflate wage bases. Model a pay cycle with a kitchen gut, a siding sub paid 1099, and a warranty callback day to see reimbursements and job notes flow cleanly. If you track designers or sales separately, verify dimensions on payroll detail before pushing to accounting. Add another lead carpenter or a benefits plan when the backlog stabilizes.
QuickBooks Payroll is payroll software remodeling contractors lean on when QuickBooks already tracks deposits, draws, and job P&L, and labor must land on the right renovation automatically. Margin on fixed-price remodels depends on accurate burdened cost in the same ledger. During trial payrolls, reconcile labor to at least two jobs—one near completion and one mid-demo—and confirm burden, workers’ comp class, and change-order adjustments post as finance expects. Integrate QuickBooks Time so supers approve hours before payroll, including travel between sites. Check local taxes if you cross city lines on urban infill work. Trusted feeds keep client allowances and internal job costing aligned.
OnPay is payroll software for remodeling teams that want flat pricing clarity while still paying mixed W-2 and 1099 workers from one plan. Support helps when a homeowner delay pushes overtime into the same week as a sub’s final draw. Validate automated deposits, new-hire reporting, and 1099 workflows for regular tile, HVAC, or electrical partners during early runs. Import a payroll with blended regular and overtime across two concurrent renovations to stress job tags or classes you export downstream. Map GL accounts once with your bookkeeper if QuickBooks receives payroll journals. Predictable fees help when progress billing and supplier terms do not sync.
ADP belongs in payroll software comparisons for remodeling enterprises adding regions, design-build divisions, or complex union or prevailing-wage requirements as they scale. Quoted service wraps implementation around how you report labor to developers and agencies. After go-live, audit tax registrations for states where you stage crews on multi-month projects away from home. Test multi-location or division labor splits if you report margin by brand. If certified payroll is part of larger GC contracts, review sample registers with ADP before the first compliance pull. Compare serviced cost once those proofs look production-ready.
Head-to-head comparisons to narrow your choice.
Gusto and QuickBooks Payroll both handle W-2 and 1099 payroll with automatic tax filing, but they target different workflows. Gusto is a sta…
Compare →Gusto and OnPay both serve small businesses with payroll, tax filing, and benefits, but they take different approaches. Gusto offers more HR…
Compare →Gusto and ADP both offer payroll, tax filing, and HR, but they serve different scales. Gusto is built for small businesses with transparent…
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ADP and Paychex are two of the largest full-service payroll and HR providers. Both use custom pricing and serve small business through enter…
Compare →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.
