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Payroll and HOUR The Gusto software platform emerged when its co-founders struggled with archaic administrative methods and I wanted to alleviate these burdens for others.
“I had set up payroll. I had set up benefits. I had experienced some of the pain and frustration,” says CEO Josh Reeves. This empathy for small business conflicts allowed Reeves to relate to his clients and develop his business objectives.
Reeves established Gusto as a comprehensive platform that simplifies critical business processes, allowing owners to focus more on their passion and less on paperwork. With its user-centered design and commitment to service, Gusto guides small businesses in navigating the complexities of operations such as payroll, benefits, and human resources management.
Reeves wanted to provide tools to entrepreneurs who don’t have access to the same resources as large corporations. “For these smaller companies, yes, there is less revenue per customer,” he says. “But there was a great need for someone to prioritize them.”
Reeves and his team have taken advantage of technology through modern tools such as cloud computing and mobile access to transform traditional business operations into streamlined processes that are easy to use and efficient.
“We knew payroll was going to be the starting point,” explains Reeves. “It’s the least optional part of the package. If you don’t pay someone, they’ll quit pretty quickly.”
From there, the company added other tools, including benefits management, time tracking, and compliance.
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Gusto’s complex process automation allows owners to manage operations from anywhere. This reduces time spent on manual tasks and minimizes the possibility of errors, further improving efficiency.
At the heart of these innovations is Gusto’s dedication to understanding and meeting the needs of small businesses. “There’s a really important feedback loop, whether spoken directly, via email, on calls, in chat… or tacit!” says Reeves.
Gusto’s impact on the small business community extends beyond streamlining payroll and human resources tasks. The company offers other ideas to small business owners, such as offering competitive benefits and establishing a supportive work culture, elements that may be less of a priority when setting up a business for the first time.
“We started by just doing payroll,” Reeves says. “We expanded into health benefits. There are a lot of different pre-tax dollars that businesses can access that a small business doesn’t know about, but we can make them more accessible.”
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Additionally, Gusto relies on these principles to be successful:
- Streamline complex processes. Transform complex, mandatory operations into easy-to-use systems to free up business owners’ time and allow them to focus more on core business activities rather than administrative tasks.
- Leverage customer insights for continuous improvement. Regularly collect and analyze customer feedback to refine services and products, ensuring they meet changing market needs effectively.
- Provide access to comprehensive benefits.. Enabling businesses of all sizes to offer competitive benefits traditionally reserved for larger corporations, helping to attract and retain skilled employees and level the playing field in the industry.
- Incorporate cutting-edge technology. Use technological advances to improve service delivery and operational efficiency, ensuring businesses can manage their operations with greater ease and accuracy.
Listen to the episode below to hear directly from Reeves and subscribe to Behind the review to learn more from new business owners and reviewers every Thursday. Available in Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pandora and sound cloud.
Editorial contributions by Charlotte Che. Yelp and Entrepreneur were not compensated for this article.