6 Best Payroll Services in Seattle, WA

Updated: May 27, 2025

Discover the best payroll services in Seattle with our top recommendations.

Seattle small businesses will benefit significantly from using payroll services to streamline operations. These national and local services save time and money, while ensuring your business remains compliant with all local laws, boost accuracy, and keep employees paid correctly and happy.

Justworks logo
4.5

Offers a payroll-only plan

Get Started
OnPay logo
4.8
Best Pick

Integrates with leading HR platforms

Get Started
Paycor logo
4.8

Process payroll anywhere

Start Free Trial

Compare the best payroll companies in Seattle

There are plenty of payroll and bookkeeping options for Seattle small businesses to choose from. However, finding the best provider takes time and energy. We did the initial research for you to help determine which Seattle payroll service is best. We considered factors like services, reputation, customer opinion, and more. Below are the top payroll solutions we recommend for startups and small businesses in the Seattle area.

Company NameOnPayJustworksPaycor
Best forFull-Service PayrollOutsourcing PayrollGrowing and Scaling
In Business Since200720121990
Starting Price$40/month + $6/month/person$50/month + $8/month/personVaries
Direct Deposit
Tax ComplianceMulti-State, FederalMulti-State, FederalMulti-State, Federal
B2B Reviews Rating4.84.54.8
ReviewsRead ReviewsRead ReviewsRead Reviews

Seattle's Best Payroll Companies

#1

OnPay

Editorial Rating

4.8
OnPay logo
  • Unlimited payroll runs
  • No hidden fees
  • Easy-to-use interface
  • Includes HR services

OnPay offers comprehensive payroll services, including human resources, without an additional cost. Small to mid-sized businesses will enjoy how OnPay manages calculations, deductions, and taxes, giving business owners time to focus on core needs. You can pay all your workers easily, no matter their classification, such as W2 workers, contractors, and remote workers. You can run payroll an unlimited number of times in multiple states and choose from multiple pay options, rates, schedules, and garnishments and withholdings.

#2

Justworks

Editorial Rating

4.5
Justworks logo
  • Robust compliance tools
  • PEO services with payroll options
  • Syncs with employee benefits
  • Simplified onboarding

Justworks is primarily a professional employer organization (PEO); however, businesses don’t need to use its PEO services to use its payroll services. It offers centralized reporting features, allowing you to view upcoming payments, generate reports, and monitor cash flow. It is IRS-certified and ESAC-accredited to ensure every aspect of your business complies with local and national tax laws, ensuring peace of mind.

#3

Paycor

Editorial Rating

4.8
Paycor logo
  • 14-day free trial
  • Includes core HR features
  • AutoRun payroll
  • Employees self service

Paycor is a human capital management (HCM) software that offers payroll and HR, talent management, workforce management, employee experience, and benefits administration. It streamlines small business payroll processing, tax filing, and compliance management. One standout feature is Paycor’s AutoRun feature, which lets you schedule, scan for payroll errors, and process payroll from anywhere without logging on.

#4

System Six Bookkeeping

    Address:
    113 Cherry St #81320
    Seattle, Washington 98104

    Phone: (206) 851-4330

    System Six Bookkeeping offers remote accounting and finance for service businesses. They specialize in payroll, accounting, bill pay and invoicing, expense management, controllership advisory, database integrations, and more. For payroll, System Six supports payroll processing, employee onboarding, offboarding, and more. They use a team-based approach to ensure your payroll and daily, weekly, and monthly finances remain compliant.

    #5

    Payroll Solutions

      Address:
      604 Oakesdale Ave SW Suite 201
      Renton, WA 98057

      Phone: (206) 729-7655

      Payroll Solutions provides you with a team of professionals who work to understand your company’s unique needs. They offer small to mid-sized businesses payroll, HR, and time tracking services. For payroll, you can pay your employees and 1099 contractors within a few clicks. Payroll Solutions files federal, state, and local payroll taxes for you. They also ensure you have access to detailed reports and data, provide expert guidance, translate payroll data into useful entries, and provide painless conversions for new clients.

      #6

      Complete Business Solutions

        Address:
        10808 Valley Ave E
        Puyallup, WA 98372

        Phone: (253) 268-3087

        As their name might suggest, Complete Business Solutions covers a wide range of services to meet your business needs. They offer bookkeeping, full payroll services, business structuring, business licensing, and consulting services. Their payroll services include direct deposit, laser check printing & pick-up, mail, and delivery services. The offered services are billed as a monthly subscription.

        How do payroll services work in Seattle?

        In Seattle, small business owners can expect payroll services to handle tasks related to processing payroll and paying employees. Depending on the provider, these services may also help with tax preparation, human resources, and accounting. By outsourcing your payroll to a third-party provider, you can focus on core business functions and grow your company.

        Payroll processing services require the necessary company details, such as tax ID numbers and employee data. This will enable the service to not only aid with tax calculations and deductions, but it will also ensure they can maintain accurate records and keep your business legally compliant.

        Generally, payroll service providers issue paychecks, manage direct deposits, keep records, and automate some HR tasks, like onboarding, offboarding, and (in some cases) health insurance. The companies on our list offer a range of services beyond payroll processing, ensuring you can find the provider that works best for you.

        Whichever you choose, make sure they are a reputable provider that is familiar with the complex payroll laws and regulations in Washington.

        How much do payroll services cost in Seattle?

        Payroll software providers in Seattle can cost anywhere from a flat monthly rate of $49 (plus a fee per person) to an hourly rate of $80 or more. Overall cost depends on the provider, how complex your payroll needs are, the size of your business, and the services used.

        For example, OnPay offers simple pricing for all its payroll services, starting with a flat monthly fee of $49 and an additional $6 per person. For a business with ten employees, payroll will cost you $109 monthly for OnPay’s services. While Justworks’s payroll service has a base monthly fee of $50 and $8 per employee, bringing the monthly payroll cost for a business with ten employees to $130.

        However, Complete Business Solutions offers professional bookkeeping and accounting services, charging only for the actual hours worked at a rate of $82.50 per hour.

        The other providers on our list don’t list pricing; however, we can assume their services follow similar pricing structures, depending on the core business practice and what features you end up utilizing. Many local Seattle business specialists specialize in bookkeeping and business tax, or they act as a CPA, rather than focusing solely on payroll. However, most offer payroll as well, either through QuickBooks or their own people.

        This variety of services means that costs vary greatly between local providers. To determine the actual payroll cost in Seattle, contact different providers and ask for a detailed quote. From there, you can compare their pricing, business solutions, and contracts to find the one that’s right for you.

        Justworks logo
        4.5

        Offers a payroll-only plan

        Get Started
        OnPay logo
        4.8
        Best Pick

        Integrates with leading HR platforms

        Get Started
        Paycor logo
        4.8

        Process payroll anywhere

        Start Free Trial

        Payroll laws in Washington

        It’s important that businesses in Seattle, WA, have a general understanding of their payroll laws. Below, we provide a general overview of a few payroll laws, but every law is subject to change. Business owners should consult with a legal professional and review the Office of Labor Standards in Seattle to stay up-to-date.

        Minimum Wage: In Washington state, the minimum wage is $16.66 per hour as of 2025. All Washington employers must pay their employees at least this much for every hour worked. However, the Seattle area has a higher minimum wage of $20.76 per hour.

        Overtime Pay: The state of Washington requires that employers pay overtime to employees who work more than 40 hours in a 7-day workweek at a rate of at least 1.5 times the employee’s regular hourly rate. Employees cannot waive their right to overtime pay.

        Pay Frequency: Washington law requires employers to pay employees at least once a month on a regular, scheduled payday. Employers can pay employees either through direct deposit, debit, or prepaid payroll cards. However, none of these methods may impose a cost on the employee. If they do, the employer must find another way to pay the employee.

        Final Paycheck: Whether an employee quits or is fired, their final paycheck must be delivered before or on the next regularly scheduled payday. Additionally, should an employee fail to return keys, uniforms, tools, equipment, etc., an employer cannot withhold the final paycheck.

        Paid Sick Leave: As of Jan. 1, 2018, Washington employers are required to provide paid sick leave. One hour of sick leave is earned for every 40 hours worked; however, employers can provide more if they wish. Sick leave starts accruing on the employee’s first day, and pay must match the employee’s normal hourly pay. Unused sick leave hours must be carried over to the next year.

        Rest Breaks: For every 4 hours worked, employees must receive at least 10 minutes of a paid rest period, free from duties. These breaks can be scheduled and should be as close to the midpoint of a work period as possible. Learn more detailed information about breaks and meal periods.

        These points cover only a few key regulations regarding employee pay in Washington. It’s important you consult with relevant authorities or legal professionals to ensure your business remains compliant with all applicable federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations.

        The Bottom Line

        Finding the right payroll service provider is vital for your business’s success. Good providers not only save time and money, but they streamline operations, improve compliance, lower the risk of legal issues, reduce administrative burden, and provide in-depth insights into labor costs.

        Businesses in Seattle should consider outsourcing their payroll to a reputable provider. Additionally, you’ll find that many providers, in addition to tax services, offer healthcare packages, workers’ compensation, and more. Giving you an all-in-one solution. As always, do your research to ensure you’re working with a provider that can meet your business’s unique needs while working within your budget.

        The methodology behind our rankings

        To choose the best payroll service providers for small businesses in Seattle, Washington, we considered these key factors:

        Services offered: We looked for companies that offered payroll services, either as an add-on to their bookkeeping or as a main feature, depending on their core business goal.

        Reputation and experience: We choose payroll service providers with good reputations and years of experience in the industry. We reviewed hundreds of customer testimonials to gauge providers’ reliability and customer service.

        Compliance: Compliance is a vital aspect of payroll. We made sure that the providers on our list were knowledgeable and compliant with federal and state payroll laws and regulations.

        Customer support: We looked for payroll providers with excellent customer support who would address your questions and concerns in a timely manner.

        Scalability: Businesses grow, so we choose service providers that can accommodate growth and provide services for businesses of all sizes.

        Integrations: We considered payroll providers that can integrate with other business software, such as accounting or time and attendance tracking, to streamline processes and reduce errors.