ADP RUN is ADP's flagship small business payroll platform, serving businesses with 1-49 employees. The Essential plan starts at $79/month + $4-8/employee. Enhanced, Complete, and Premium tiers require a custom quote from ADP sales.
Estimated monthly costs using the Essential plan at $79 base + $6/employee average (range $4-8).
| Employees | Low estimate ($4/ee) | Mid estimate ($6/ee) | High estimate ($8/ee) | Annual (mid) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 employees | $99/mo | $109/mo | $119/mo | $1,308/yr |
| 10 employees | $119/mo | $139/mo | $159/mo | $1,668/yr |
| 15 employees | $139/mo | $169/mo | $199/mo | $2,028/yr |
| 25 employees | $179/mo | $229/mo | $279/mo | $2,748/yr |
| 35 employees | $219/mo | $289/mo | $359/mo | $3,468/yr |
| 49 employees | $275/mo | $373/mo | $471/mo | $4,476/yr |
* Per-employee rates vary by contract. The actual rate ADP offers depends on your location, industry, and negotiation.
Best starting point for most small businesses
Best for businesses hiring frequently
Best for businesses needing ongoing HR guidance
Best for businesses with complex HR needs
ADP RUN Essential starts at $79/month plus $4-8 per employee per month. For 10 employees, that's approximately $119-$159/month depending on your negotiated per-employee rate. Enhanced, Complete, and Premium tiers require a custom quote from ADP sales.
ADP RUN Essential covers full payroll, tax filing, direct deposit, and basic HR. Enhanced adds background checks, job posting via ZipRecruiter, and SUI management. Complete adds HR advisory services and document templates. Premium adds a dedicated HR strategist and legal assistance. Only Essential has a published base price; all others require a quote.
ADP RUN is a reliable choice for small businesses needing more than basic payroll. Its main advantages are ADP's tax compliance track record, 24/7 support, and a broad integration ecosystem. The main drawbacks are pricing opacity (only Essential is published), and a higher base fee versus competitors like Gusto ($49/mo) or OnPay ($40/mo).
Upgrade to ADP RUN Enhanced when you need: background check integration for new hires, state unemployment insurance (SUI) management, or active recruiting through job boards. For most businesses under 25 employees with stable payroll, Essential is sufficient. If you're hiring frequently (5+ roles per year), Enhanced's ZipRecruiter integration can pay for itself.