5 Reasons Oklahoma Businesses Switch From Gusto to a Local CPA Payroll Team

Gusto is one of the most recognized names in small business payroll. It’s sleek, affordable, and convenient — until it isn’t. While many Oklahoma employers start with platforms like Gusto, a significant number eventually switch to CPA-led local payroll services like Boulanger CPA.

Why? Because as businesses grow and compliance gets more complex, software alone stops being enough.

In this blog, we’ll break down the five most common reasons Oklahoma businesses leave Gusto for a more hands-on, compliant, and strategy-backed payroll solution.

1. Compliance Gaps: Gusto Doesn’t File Everything You Expect

Gusto markets itself as an all-in-one payroll provider — but it doesn’t handle every filing or rule you’ll encounter in Oklahoma. In fact, we regularly see Gusto users get hit with:

• Late or missed filings to the Oklahoma Tax Commission (OTC)
• Overlooked OESC unemployment filings
• Problems with W-2/1099 delivery deadlines
• Misclassification of 1099 vs. W-2 workers

Many clients don’t realize there’s a problem until they receive a penalty notice or audit letter.

Learn more in Payroll Compliance in Oklahoma: Avoid These Common Mistakes.

2. No Human Support When Things Go Wrong

Gusto’s help desk might work when you have a simple question. But if you’re facing a payroll error, a tax notice, or an urgent compliance issue, most business owners need more than a chatbot and an email form.

At Boulanger CPA:

• You get direct support from real people based in Oklahoma
• You can talk to a CPA who understands both payroll and taxes
• We help with IRS letters, state notices, and past payroll cleanup

Need to make a change? Schedule your free consultation here.

3. Payroll and Taxes Aren’t Integrated

One of the most overlooked issues with Gusto is how poorly it integrates with your tax strategy. Gusto doesn’t:

• Calculate or advise on S corp reasonable compensation
• Help with estimated taxes or quarterly planning
• Reconcile your payroll with your year-end return

We integrate payroll with your small business tax planning, so your entire financial operation is aligned — not siloed.

Also see: How Payroll Affects Your Oklahoma Business Taxes

4. Per-Run or Per-Employee Billing Can Add Up

Gusto’s low starting price looks attractive, but by the time you add in:

• Additional payroll runs
• Benefits administration fees
• W-2 and 1099 processing

...you’re often paying more than expected — with less support.

At Boulanger CPA, we offer simple per-employee monthly pricing, with no hidden fees or per-run charges. See our transparent pricing model here.

5. Businesses Outgrow Gusto’s Feature Set

For businesses with 1–3 employees, Gusto can be a good fit. But once you add:

• PTO tracking
• Multiple pay types (hourly, salaried, commission)
• Benefits or pre-tax deductions
• A growing team

...you’ll quickly need more robust systems and deeper compliance guidance. That’s where CPA-led payroll in Oklahoma City gives you a long-term advantage.

We also provide an integrated HCM system through iSolved that includes:

• Time tracking
• Onboarding
• Benefits coordination
• HR and labor law compliance tools

Ready to Make the Switch From Gusto?

We’ve helped dozens of Oklahoma businesses move away from national payroll software to a trusted, CPA-led system — with better results, fewer headaches, and clear pricing.

See Our Payroll Pricing Per Employee
Schedule a Free Payroll Consultation

Proudly serving Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Edmond, Moore, Norman, and businesses across the state of Oklahoma.

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