Updated April 2026

Best ADP Plan for Small Business (Under 50 Employees)

If you have fewer than 50 employees, you have three ADP options: Roll by ADP, ADP RUN Essential, or ADP RUN Enhanced. This guide helps you decide which is right for your stage — and when a competitor like Gusto or OnPay is a better choice.

Small Business ADP Decision Guide

Roll by ADP

$39 + $5/ee/mo
1-10 employees
Choose this if:
  • ✓You're a sole proprietor hiring first employees
  • ✓Payroll is simple (hourly or salaried, one state)
  • ✓You primarily want mobile payroll management
  • ✓You don't need HR tools or integrations
  • ✓Cost is the top priority
Avoid if: More than 10 employees, multi-state, or need HR tools

ADP RUN Essential

$79 + $4-8/ee/mo
10-49 employees
Choose this if:
  • ✓You're a growing SMB needing reliable payroll
  • ✓You operate in multiple states
  • ✓You want 24/7 phone support for payroll issues
  • ✓You need basic HR employee records
  • ✓You use QuickBooks or Xero (strong integration)
Avoid if: Budget-conscious small businesses (Gusto/OnPay are cheaper)

ADP RUN Enhanced+

Custom quote
15-49 employees
Choose this if:
  • ✓You hire 5+ new employees per year
  • ✓Background checks are a regular requirement
  • ✓You need SUI (state unemployment) management
  • ✓You want recruiting integrated with payroll
  • ✓You need HR advisory services
Avoid if: Basic payroll needs — Essential is sufficient and cheaper

When Gusto or OnPay Beats ADP for Small Business

ADP is not always the right choice for small businesses. Here are the scenarios where Gusto ($49 + $6/ee) or OnPay ($40 + $6/ee) is a better fit:

Gusto wins over ADP when:

  • →You have under 25 employees and cost is the priority
  • →You need contractor + employee payroll in one platform
  • →Your team is remote-first and wants a modern app
  • →You want self-serve onboarding without a sales call
  • →You need transparent published pricing with no negotiation
  • →Benefits administration is important for employee retention
  • →You're a tech startup that values API integrations

OnPay wins over ADP when:

  • →You want the lowest-cost full-service payroll option
  • →You have agricultural or farm payroll (OnPay specialty)
  • →You want a single flat plan with no tier confusion
  • →You value highly-rated US-based customer support
  • →You're a restaurant, gym, or service business with hourly workers
  • →You want payroll that's easy for a non-HR owner to run
  • →You want all features included without upselling

Small Business Payroll Cost Comparison

EmployeesRoll by ADPADP RUN EssentialGusto SimpleOnPayCheapest Option
3 employees$54$91$67$58OnPay
5 employees$64$109$79$70OnPay
10 employees$89$139$109$100OnPay
15 employeesN/A (>10)$169$139$130OnPay
25 employeesN/A$229$199$190OnPay
35 employeesN/A$289$259$250OnPay
49 employeesN/A~$373$343$334OnPay

ADP RUN uses $6/ee average. Roll is max 10 employees. OnPay is typically the lowest-cost full-service payroll across all headcounts below 50.

Cost-Saving Tips for ADP Small Business Customers

Negotiate your per-employee rate
The $4-8/ee range is negotiable. At 25 employees, the difference between $4/ee and $8/ee is $1,200/year. Get competing quotes from Gusto and use them as leverage.
Ask for implementation fees waived
For RUN plans, there's typically no implementation fee. If they quote one, push back — it's almost always removed for small businesses.
Avoid paper checks entirely
Paper check fees add up. Set up direct deposit or paycard for all employees. At 26 runs/year, even $1.50/check × 5 employees = $195/year wasted.
Compare at contract renewal
Get quotes from Gusto and OnPay every year before your ADP renewal. The mere presence of a competing quote often triggers ADP to offer better terms.
Check if you qualify for Roll
If you have fewer than 10 employees with simple payroll needs, Roll by ADP ($39 + $5/ee) is significantly cheaper than RUN Essential.
Ask about promotional pricing
ADP frequently offers 3-6 months free or 20-30% off the first year for new sign-ups. These deals are rarely advertised but are common during Q4 and Q1 sales pushes.

Small Business ADP FAQs

Which ADP plan is best for a small business with 10 employees?

For a 10-person business, ADP RUN Essential is the standard recommendation. At ~$79/mo + $60 (10 × $6) = ~$139/month, it provides full payroll, tax filing, direct deposit, and basic HR tools. Roll by ADP ($89/mo for 10 employees) is slightly cheaper but lacks HR features and is limited to very simple payroll needs. If cost is the priority, Gusto Simple ($109/mo for 10 employees) is cheaper than ADP RUN and more transparent.

Is ADP worth it for a small business?

ADP is worth it for small businesses that need enterprise-grade payroll compliance, operate in complex multi-state environments, or plan to grow significantly and want to stay in one system. For most small businesses under 25 employees that primarily need simple payroll + tax filing, Gusto ($49/mo + $6/ee) or OnPay ($40/mo + $6/ee) offer better value with more transparent pricing.

Can a very small business use ADP?

Yes. Roll by ADP is specifically designed for micro-businesses with 1-10 employees. At $39/month + $5 per employee, it's affordable for even a 2-3 person business. It's mobile-first, chat-driven, and handles basic payroll, tax filing, and direct deposit. For a 1-5 person business with simple payroll needs, Roll is a legitimate option — though OnPay ($40/mo + $6/ee) and Gusto ($49/mo + $6/ee) are often cheaper and more feature-rich.

When should a small business switch from ADP to Gusto?

Consider switching to Gusto if: your ADP contract is up for renewal and you're seeing price escalation, you're frustrated with ADP's opacity on pricing, you need better contractor management, your team wants a modern mobile-friendly interface, or you're adding benefits and want them integrated (Gusto Plus includes this). Many businesses switch at year-end to simplify W-2 processing. Gusto supports ADP data migration.

ADP RUN Plan Details →Cost CalculatorADP vs Gusto