Replacement Guide

How to Build Your Own Gusto

Replace Gusto with a custom build. Payroll, benefits, and HR software for small and medium businesses.

Few Days
46 features28 integrations3-5 days

Estimated Timeline

Based on 46 features at Few Days difficulty, expect about 3-5 days with AI-assisted development.

1
Architecture & setup
Half day
2
Core features
2-3 days
3
Testing & polish
1 day

Recommended Tech Stack

Next.js 14

Full-stack React framework with API routes and server components

Supabase

PostgreSQL database, auth, and real-time subscriptions

Tailwind CSS

Utility-first styling for rapid UI development

Prisma

Type-safe ORM for complex relational data models

Key Features to Replicate

Top features across 8 categories. See all 46 features

Payroll(10 features)

Bonus and Commission TrackingPremium

Tools for calculating and processing bonus and commission payments.

Contractor Management

Create and manage 1099 contractor payments and tax documentation.

Deduction Management

Configure and manage pre-tax and post-tax deductions.

Direct Deposit

Secure direct deposit functionality for all employee payments.

Garnishment Processing

Automatic handling of wage garnishments and court-ordered deductions.

+5 more in this category

Compliance(7 features)

Audit Logs

Complete audit trail of all system changes and payroll modifications.

Certified PayrollPremium

Certified payroll reports for government contracts and public projects.

Compliance AlertsAIPremium

Automated notifications for compliance deadlines and regulatory changes.

Compliance LibraryPremium

Access to employment law resources and compliance documents.

Tax Compliance

Automatic federal, state, and local tax filing with real-time compliance updates.

+2 more in this category

HR(7 features)

Employee Directory

Centralized employee information repository with role-based access controls.

Employee HandbookPremium

Tools to create and distribute customizable employee handbooks.

Employee Onboarding

Streamlined digital onboarding process with automated document collection and I-9 verification.

HR Dashboard

Centralized view of all HR and payroll data with customizable reporting.

Leave ManagementPremium

Track and manage PTO, sick leave, and other time-off policies.

+2 more in this category

Benefits(4 features)

401(k) Plans

Administer and manage 401(k) retirement plans with payroll integration.

Employee Benefits Administration

Manage health insurance, 401(k), and other benefits with self-service employee enrollment.

Health Insurance Marketplace

Compare and enroll employees in health insurance plans with guided selection.

Workers' CompensationPremium

Integrated workers' compensation insurance management and reporting.

Security(3 features)

Data Backup and Recovery

Automatic daily backups with disaster recovery capabilities.

Role-Based Access Control

Granular permission settings to control employee and admin access levels.

Single Sign-OnPremium

SAML-based single sign-on for enterprise security.

Finance(2 features)

Expense ManagementPremium

Capture and categorize employee expenses for reimbursement.

Payroll ReconciliationPremium

Automated reconciliation between payroll and accounting data.

Reporting(2 features)

Custom ReportsPremium

Build and schedule custom payroll and HR reports with data export options.

Wage Garnishment Reports

Generate reports for wage garnishments and deductions.

Time Management(2 features)

Shift ManagementPremium

Schedule shifts and manage employee availability.

Time Tracking

Built-in time clock for employees to log hours and track attendance.

Cost Calculator

Keep Paying Gusto

Monthly$39/mo
Yearly$468/yr
5-Year Total$2.3k

Build It Yourself

Est. Build Time~5 hrs
Hosting$20/mo
DifficultyEasy

Total Cost Comparison

1 YearSave $228
SaaS
$468
DIY
$240
3 YearsSave $684
SaaS
$1.4k
DIY
$720
5 YearsSave $1.1k
SaaS
$2.3k
DIY
$1.2k

DIY hosting estimate based on Vercel + Supabase free/pro tiers (~$20/mo). Build time estimated from 46 features at easy complexity.

Ready to Build?