Patriot is the budget option. We're the bureau option.
Patriot is the cheapest credible name-brand payroll for a single business — $37/mo + $5/employee for Full Service (currently 50% off for 3 months as of mid-2026, putting it at $18.50 + $2.50 promo). The UX is dated but stable, and Patriot's U.S.-based support is genuinely one of the best-regarded in the category. For an accounting firm, though, the per-company base fee compounds, multi-client workflow is thin, and there's no mobile app for client owners. If you have ten clients, Patriot might still be the right call. At fifty, it isn't.
$12/client/mo flat. 5 employees included; $2/mo each additional.
Full Service: $37 + $5/employee per company. Basic Payroll: $17 + $4/employee (you file taxes yourself). Current promo: 50% off + 30 days free.
50 clients × 6 employees on Patriot Full Service (post-promo): $37×50 + $5×6×50 = $1,850 + $1,500 = $3,350/mo. Payrollix: ~$700/mo. Annual delta: ~$31,800.
Side by side — honestly, including where Patriot Software comes out ahead.
| Feature | Payrollix | Patriot Software |
|---|---|---|
| Per-client flat pricing | $12/client | $37 base × N clients |
| Multi-client dashboard | Native | Accountant portal (basic) |
| IRS e-filing | Yes — e-filed directly with the IRS | Via Patriot |
| W-2 / 1099 generation | Yes — bulk generation, archived 4 years | Included |
| 50-state tax filing | Yes | Yes |
| Direct deposit (ACH) | Moov | 2-day standard, 4-day on lower trust accounts |
| Same-day ACH | Higher-tier plans | No |
| Mobile app (iOS + Android) | Employee + client portals | Web-responsive only |
| Time tracking | Built-in + geofencing | Add-on: $6/mo + $2/employee |
| HR tools | Built-in: onboarding, PTO, scheduling, I-9, documents | Paid add-on ($6/mo + $2/emp) |
| Client portal | Dedicated | Limited |
| QuickBooks / Xero | Bidirectional | Basic export |
| Odoo / FreshBooks / Wave / Sage | Native | No |
| Onboarding packet (8655 + state POAs) | One e-sign session | Piecemeal |
| U.S.-based phone support reputation | New (small team) | One of the best-regarded in the category |
| Time in market | New (2025) | Founded 2002; 20+ years stable |
| Basic accounting + Time bundle pricing | N/A | Patriot Accounting bundles cheaply |
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