How to Hire Your First Employee With Gusto in 2026 (Step-by-Step)

Get started with Gusto to hire and pay your first employee with confidence here: https://startupwise.com/gusto/ In this video, I go over how to hire your first employee with Gusto, using a clear, step-by-step process that removes the guesswork from payroll, compliance, and onboarding. I'll show you how Gusto works, how to set up payroll from day one, review and approve pay, turn on automatic payroll, add benefits, and understand pricing so you know exactly what to expect as a first-time employer. Our favorite business must-haves: 💳 Best business credit cards: https://startupwise.com/creditcards 🏦 Novo (best business bank): https://startupwise.com/novo 🖥️ Best AI website builder ($3/month using code STARTUPWISE): https://startupwise.com/hostinger/ ⚙️ Northwest (best $39 LLC formation service): https://startupwise.com/northwestLLC 💰 Payroll with Gusto (get 2 months free!): https://startupwise.com/gusto 👨💼 Best overseas staffing agency (save 80% on payroll): https://paired.so/startupwise Be sure to watch this video until the end because I’ll walk you through the exact steps founders use to confidently make their first hire without payroll mistakes or compliance issues. Instead of trying to manage payroll with spreadsheets, manual tax filings, or multiple tools that don’t talk to each other, this approach shows how to use one system to pay employees on time, stay compliant, and build trust from the very first paycheck. I’ve seen many founders stress over their first hire, and the ones who use Gusto early move faster and avoid costly mistakes. The system works because it focuses on three things: setting up payroll correctly, automating tax and payroll runs, and offering benefits that help retain employees. If you’re planning to hire your first employee, model this process step by step and use it as your foundation for building a reliable team. If you found this video helpful, be sure to check out our other videos on: Gusto Review: The Best Payroll Solution for Small Businesses?: https://youtu.be/rANSnIjHOBM Gusto vs ADP Payroll - Pros & Cons, Features, Pricing: https://youtu.be/_nUKgwjo3kY Request New Videos Here: https://forms.gle/k9TtfauggkEpAWNQA More tutorials on our website: https://www.startupwise.com Thanks for watching! I hope you have a wonderful day! – Erin #Gusto #Hiring #Payroll Timeline: 0:00 - Introduction 1:19 - How To Run Payroll In Gusto 2:09 - How To Review And Approve Payroll 2:56 - How To Turn On Automatic Payroll 3:25 - How To Add Employee Benefits In Gusto 3:50 - How To Review Employee Benefit Options 4:18 - Gusto Pricing Plans Explained 6:01 - 7-Day Plan To Hire Your First Employee 6:48 - Conclusion Disclaimer: Some of the links above may be affiliate links, meaning I may receive a small commission if you click on them. The commission is paid by the retailers at no cost to you, and this helps to support our channel and keep our videos free. Thank you! All info from our videos is compiled from online sources and our own experience, and we encourage you to do your due diligence. We appreciate your viewership! In addition, we are not financial advisors. StartupWise does not provide tax, legal, or accounting advice. The ideas presented in this video are for entertainment purposes only. Please do your due diligence before making any financial decisions.