OnPay
OnPay helps small businesses run unlimited payroll with transparent, all-inclusive pricing.
OnPay is a cloud-based payroll and HR platform that helps small to mid-sized businesses run unlimited payroll runs for a flat monthly fee of $49 plus $6 per employee. Unlike competitors with tiered pricing and add-on features, OnPay bundles all payroll capabilities—tax filings, multi-state support, off-cycle runs, and HR functions—into a single transparent plan. The company serves over 25,000 businesses nationwide and is backed by $128M in funding, positioning itself as the simplest, most affordable payroll solution for cost-conscious businesses.
Problem solved
Small business owners waste time and money on payroll processing while juggling tiered pricing, hidden add-on fees, and overly complex HR software designed for enterprise.
Target customer
Small to mid-sized businesses (under 500 employees), law firms, restaurants, nonprofits, and accountants seeking simple, affordable payroll without complexity or hidden fees.
Founders
J
Jesse Burgess
Founder & CEO
Joined his family's payroll business in 2007, developed workflow automation tools to eliminate repetitive tasks, and launched OnPay in 2009 to bring those tools to broader market.
M
Mark McKee
President & Chief Operating Officer
Executive team member with payroll industry experience.
Funding history
Series A
$6M
2020
Led by Unknown
· Unknown
Series B
$63M
January 2025
Led by Carrick Capital Partners
· AB Private Credit Investors (AllianceBernstein), existing investors, MC Credit Partners (debt facility)
Total raised:
$128M
Industries
Pricing
$49 base monthly fee plus $6 per employee. All features included: unlimited pay runs, tax filings, multi-state support, off-cycle runs, and HR functionality. No hidden add-on fees.
Notable customers
Over 25,000 businesses nationwide including law firms, restaurants, nonprofits, and accounting firms. No specific named case studies publicly disclosed.
Integrations
QuickBooks, Xero, QuickBooks Time, Deputy, When I Work, multiple time-tracking software, HR compliance apps, accounting integrations. Licensed health insurance broker in all 50 states; partners for 401(k) and workers' compensation plans.
Tech stack
jQuery (JavaScript libraries)
Wistia (Video players)
Raphael (JavaScript graphics)
Open Graph
HTTP/3
WordPress (Blogs)
VWO (Analytics)
Linkedin Insight Tag (Analytics)
Cloudflare Bot Management (Security)
reCAPTCHA (Security)
PHP (Programming languages)
Google Workspace (Email)
jQuery CDN
Cloudflare (CDN)
HubSpot (Marketing automation)
MySQL (Analytics)
Google Tag Manager (Tag managers)
Yoast SEO Premium (SEO)
Yoast SEO (SEO)
OneTrust (Cookie compliance)
Impact (Affiliate programs)
Website
Competitors
Gusto
Full-featured HR and payroll platform with broader integrations and scalability, but higher pricing and more complex for small businesses.
Paycor
Enterprise-focused payroll with advanced HR capabilities; positioned for mid-market and larger companies with tiered pricing.
Rippling
All-in-one HR, payroll, and IT management platform; more expensive and feature-heavy than OnPay's focused approach.
QuickBooks Payroll
Integrated accounting-focused payroll; tighter QuickBooks ecosystem integration but less specialized payroll expertise.
Papaya Global
Global payroll platform for distributed teams; more complex and enterprise-oriented than OnPay's domestic SMB focus.
Why this matters: OnPay's $128M funding (including $63M Series B in Jan 2025) validates the market appetite for transparent, all-in-one payroll at SMB price points. The company has carved a defensible niche by refusing tiered pricing and add-on fees—a direct contrast to competitors—and is backed by strong ratings (PCMag Editors' Choice, Forbes top-rated). With plans to hire 100+ employees, OnPay is investing in growth while maintaining focus on the underserved small business payroll market.
Best for: Small to mid-sized businesses that prioritize simplicity, transparency, and cost-effectiveness over advanced HR features, and want unlimited payroll flexibility without surprise fees.
Use cases
Multi-frequency payroll (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly)
A restaurant chain with hourly employees needs to run payroll weekly for different locations but monthly for management. OnPay charges one flat fee regardless of frequency, saving the business $200+ monthly compared to per-run fees from competitors.
Off-cycle payroll corrections
A law firm discovers a payroll error mid-month and needs to issue a correction check to affected employees. OnPay allows unlimited off-cycle runs at no extra charge, whereas competitors typically charge $25-50 per off-cycle run.
Mixed workforce (W-2, 1099, tipped employees)
A nonprofit employs staff, contractors, and volunteers with different pay structures. OnPay handles all employee types under one plan without tiered pricing increases, simplifying administration.
Multi-state tax compliance
A small accounting firm manages clients across multiple states with varying tax requirements. OnPay includes all state tax filings and payments in the base fee, avoiding the $20-50/state monthly add-ons charged by competitors.
Alternatives
Gusto
Choose Gusto if you need comprehensive HR features (benefits, PTO, performance management) and don't mind paying more for a full-featured platform.
Paycor
Choose Paycor if you're a mid-market company needing advanced HR capabilities and integrations, and have budget for tiered pricing.
QuickBooks Payroll
Choose QuickBooks Payroll if you're already deeply integrated with QuickBooks accounting software and want tight feature parity.
ADP Run
Choose ADP Run if you need enterprise scalability and global payroll capabilities for a larger organization.
FAQ
What does OnPay do? +
OnPay is a cloud-based payroll and HR platform that allows small to mid-sized businesses to run unlimited payroll for a flat monthly fee. The platform handles tax filings, multi-state compliance, employee benefits selection, 401(k) and workers' compensation plans, all included in one transparent price with no hidden add-on fees.
How much does OnPay cost? +
$49 per month base fee plus $6 per employee per month. All features are included: unlimited pay runs, tax filings, multi-state support, off-cycle runs, 401(k) and workers' comp integrations. No additional charges for add-ons.
What are alternatives to OnPay? +
Gusto (comprehensive HR + payroll, higher pricing), Paycor (mid-market focused, tiered pricing), QuickBooks Payroll (tight accounting integration), ADP Run (enterprise-scale), and Rippling (all-in-one HR/IT platform). Most charge more and use tiered pricing models.
Who uses OnPay? +
Small to mid-sized businesses, law firms, restaurants, nonprofits, and accounting firms. Over 25,000 businesses use OnPay nationwide. It's best suited for companies under 500 employees that prioritize simplicity and cost over advanced HR features.
How does OnPay compare to Gusto? +
OnPay offers simpler, more transparent pricing ($49 + $6/employee flat fee vs. Gusto's tiered model), and bundles all features including HR at no extra cost. Gusto is more feature-rich for benefits and performance management but significantly more expensive. OnPay is better for cost-conscious SMBs; Gusto suits growing companies needing deeper HR capabilities.
Does OnPay integrate with accounting software? +
Yes. OnPay has best-in-class integrations with QuickBooks and Xero, syncing payroll data seamlessly with accounting records. It also integrates with time-tracking tools like QuickBooks Time, Deputy, and When I Work.
Can OnPay handle multiple pay frequencies? +
Yes. OnPay's core value proposition is unlimited pay runs at no extra cost. Run payroll weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or on any custom schedule without paying per-run fees.
Tags
payroll
HR
small business
transparent pricing
all-inclusive
tax compliance
benefits
SaaS
SMB