Product

iThinhPayroll

Desktop payroll for small businesses: automated multi-state tax tables, multiple company files, W-2/1099-friendly hybrid pay, and optional accounting on Growth and Pro.

Tax-ready runs

Automated tax tables help keep payroll accurate as rules change.

Multi-store

Manage companies and schedules across locations from one place.

Hybrid pay

Support hourly, salary, and blended models in a single workflow.

Product Details

Understand who this product is for, what workflows it covers, and the outcomes you can expect.

Who it is for

Small businesses with multiple stores or pay structures that outgrow spreadsheets.

What you can run

Pay runs, employee records, store-level scheduling alignment, and accounting handoff.

Expected outcomes

Less manual payroll work, clearer compliance posture, and faster month-end close.

Honest comparison: iThinhPayroll vs ADP, Gusto, QuickBooks Desktop & Drake

See where each platform fits before you commit. iThinhPayroll is built for owners who run payroll themselves across multiple stores—not for enterprise HR departments or tax-preparer workflows.

Case study

Four salons, three pay models, one owner

Maria operates four nail salons with W-2 technicians, hourly front-desk staff, and 1099 booth renters. She tried cloud payroll that charged per employee per location, then QuickBooks Desktop with a payroll add-on that required switching company files for each EIN. ADP quotes came back higher than her margin could support. Drake was her accountant's tax tool—not something her store managers could touch.

With iThinhPayroll: she keeps up to 10 company profiles on Growth, aligns shift schedules before each pay run, and exports accounting-ready totals without re-keying spreadsheets. Monthly software cost stays predictable while headcount grows.

Swipe the table to compare →

What to evaluate	iThinhPayroll	ADP	Gusto	QuickBooks Desktop	Drake Tax
Best for	Multi-store owners running their own pay cycles	Mid-size and enterprise HR teams	Cloud-first SMBs with HR/benefits focus	Businesses already on QuickBooks accounting	Tax professionals preparing returns
Typical cost (~25 employees)	From ~$22/mo base; 25 employees included on Starter/Growth*	Often $150+/mo+ with per-employee fees	Often ~$40–$80+/mo+ depending on tier	Desktop license + payroll subscription fees	Tax software licensing—not owner payroll
Multiple company files, one plan	3–10+ EINs by tier	Enterprise packages; often per-entity pricing	Typically one company per account	Separate company files to manage	N/A—client tax prep workflow
Desktop offline install	Windows + macOS installers	Mostly cloud / managed service	Cloud-first; limited offline	Desktop-native	Desktop tax prep
Owner-run pay cycles	Designed for operators, not just accountants	Often delegated to HR/payroll admin	Owner-friendly cloud workflow	Owner-friendly with QB experience	Accountant / preparer tool
W-2 + 1099 hybrid pay	Hourly, salary & contractors together	Supported	Supported	Supported via payroll add-on	Tax reporting focus, not pay runs
Multi-state tax tables	Automated updates in-app	Full-service compliance	Automated cloud updates	Via Intuit payroll services	Strong for filing, not running payroll
Scheduling tied to pay runs	Shift alignment before payroll	Workforce modules (add-on cost)	Time tools vary by plan	Third-party or manual	Not applicable
Salon & retail operator focus	Built for nail supply & salon workflows	Generic HR platform	Generic SMB platform	Accounting-first	Tax-preparer-first
iThinhTech POS & scheduling tie-in	Unified account & billing
Accounting handoff	Included on Growth & Pro tiers	Reports & integrations available	QuickBooks / Xero sync	Native QuickBooks ledger	Import from payroll exports
Typical setup effort	Moderate—companies, employees & pay policies	Higher—sales-led onboarding	Lower—guided cloud setup	Moderate—QB + payroll configuration	Pro training required

*Pricing shown on this page reflects iThinhPayroll published tiers. Competitor pricing varies by plan, headcount, and add-ons—verify current quotes before purchasing. ADP, Gusto, QuickBooks, and Drake are trademarks of their respective owners.

Choose iThinhPayroll when…

You operate multiple stores, mix W-2 and 1099 pay, and want predictable desktop payroll without enterprise HR overhead.

Consider ADP or Gusto when…

You need full-service HR, benefits administration, or enterprise compliance teams—and budget for per-employee scaling.

Keep QuickBooks Desktop or Drake when…

Your accountant already runs the books in QB or prepares returns in Drake—but you still need an owner-friendly tool to run weekly pay.

AI Product Advisor

Not sure which plan fits? Ask AI and get a recommendation based on your business size and workflow.

Tip: include your store size, daily transaction volume, and number of devices for better recommendations.

Start your 30‑day free trial

"Victorious warriors win first and then go to war."

- Sun Tzu, The Art of War

Strategy and marketing start with proof. Download our app free on any platform, test your workflow with your team, then pick the right plan with confidence.

iThinhPayroll pricing

Three tiers for growing teams—upgrade when your footprint expands.

Starter Payroll

Up to 3 companies and 25 employees.

$21.95/mo

3 companies included
25 employees included
+$10/mo per extra employee block

Growth Payroll

Up to 10 companies; accounting add-on included.

$41.95/mo

10 companies included
25 employees included
+$10/mo per extra employee block

Pro Payroll

Unlimited companies and employees.

$71.95/mo

Unlimited companies
Unlimited employees
Extra employees included