ADP vs Gusto

2020. Gusto is expanding from payroll into a full suite financial wellness platform



Gusto initially emerged as a payroll startup catering to small businesses. However, in recent years, the company has expanded its range of features beyond payroll, redefining the boundaries between payroll and financial wellness. This has led to a convergence that blurs the traditional lines of the fintech market. Presently, Gusto has unveiled a range of new offerings intended to provide employees with enhanced financial and health options through their employers. Notably, one noteworthy addition is Gusto Wallet, an app and suite of products designed for employees who receive their wages through Gusto. Gusto Wallet functions as a mini bank and financial health monitoring tool. It includes an interest-bearing cash account known as Cash Accounts, which can automatically allocate a portion of each paycheck into the user's savings, similar to offerings from Acorns and Digit.


2018. ADP acquired workforce management service WorkMarket



Payroll provider ADP has acquired WorkMarket, a startup specializing in workforce management software designed for a diverse range of employees and contractors. The software aims to provide a unified interface for efficiently managing an extended workforce, encompassing various workers with different employment statuses, such as contractors, freelancers, and full-time employees. WorkMarket offers comprehensive features including payment systems, extended employee network management, and a marketplace for assembling a workforce that complements a company's operations beyond the scope of traditional full-time employees. This acquisition empowers ADP to offer enterprises an expanded suite of workforce products, strengthening its position as a leading provider of payroll solutions.


2015. ZenPayroll rebrands as Gusto and takes on Zenefits



Payroll startup ZenPayroll, which now goes by the name Gusto, has broadened its range of services from solely payroll to include additional benefits like health insurance and workers' compensation. This development has sparked a rivalry with Zenefits, a cloud HR benefits company that previously collaborated with Gusto to offer payroll services to its clients. The partnership between Zenefits and Gusto proved crucial earlier this year when ADP, a major player in the payroll industry, terminated its access for Zenefits' small business customers. Zenefits turned to Gusto (previously ZenPayroll) to handle their payroll processing needs. Interestingly, Zenefits is also planning to introduce its own payroll service, mirroring Gusto's offerings. This turn of events has transformed the partnership between these cloud-based startups into a competition, as both aim to provide comprehensive payroll and benefits services on a unified platform.


2015. Payroll giant ADP cut off Zenefits small business clients



Corporate payroll company ADP has implemented a restriction that prevents small business clients who use the ADP RUN payroll system from sharing data with Zenefits. This decision was made due to concerns about Zenefits' data security practices, as they were found to be extracting sensitive information, including unmasked Social Security numbers and employee banking details, in a manner that does not align with ADP's data security standards. Zenefits expressed their dissatisfaction with ADP's actions, highlighting that this change was sudden and unexpected for their clients. Zenefits offers human resources (HR) services to small and medium businesses and collaborates with various third-party partners, such as ADP, to facilitate tasks like payroll processing and insurance provision.


2015. Cloud-based payroll service ZenPayroll scores $60 Million



Cloud-based payroll processing startup, ZenPayroll, has successfully concluded a Series B funding round, raising $60 million with Google Capital as the lead investor. ZenPayroll primarily targets the small business market, providing an alternative to manual payment and direct deposit processing. Its user-friendly, cloud-based interface offers convenience and efficiency, enabling ZenPayroll to compete with established industry leaders such as Paychex and ADP. While Paychex and ADP have transitioned to the cloud in recent years, allowing their existing customer bases to manage payroll online and via mobile platforms, ZenPayroll's recent funding round empowers it to target larger businesses currently serviced by Paychex and ADP.