Homebase Payroll Review 2027: Pros, Cons and Verdict

Who Homebase suits

Homebase fits hourly teams, such as restaurants and retail shops, that need scheduling and a time clock first and payroll second. Payroll is an add-on to Homebase's scheduling plans, so timesheets from the time clock feed payroll directly. Tip pooling and wage garnishments are part of the payroll product.

The add-on is $49/mo plus $6 per employee paid, and it works on any scheduling plan, including the free Basic plan for one location with up to 10 employees. You pay only for employees who get paid that month.

This review is based on Homebase's pricing, payroll and tax management pages, checked November 12, 2026.

Who should skip it

Skip Homebase if you have more than one location or more than 10 employees and don't need its scheduling tools. Past the free plan, scheduling is billed per location, and payroll comes on top. You'd be paying for scheduling just to get payroll.

Teams that want HR help should budget for it. HR advisors and an employee handbook need the All-in-One plan at $120 per location per month.

What it costs at 5, 20 and 50 employees

Payroll add-on at regular price, one location, employees only. Basic scheduling is free for up to 10 employees, so 20 and 50 need a paid scheduling plan.

Employees	Payroll add-on	Scheduling
5	$79	$0 on Basic
20	$169	plus a paid plan
50	$349	plus a paid plan

Paid scheduling plans billed monthly are Essentials at $30, Plus at $70 and All-in-One at $120, each per location per month. The pricing page offers 20% off for annual billing. A business with three locations pays the scheduling fee three times.

The pricing page also shows "$29 per month for teams up to 5" next to the payroll add-on, without saying whether it replaces the $49 plus $6 pricing. Ask before you rely on it.

What it files and what it leaves to you

Homebase files federal, state and supported local taxes. Some taxes and forms are unsupported, and you must pay those yourself. Homebase doesn't list which ones on the pages we read, so check your locality.

W-2s and 1099s are included, digital by default and on paper if you ask. Homebase files new-hire reports. Pay runs are unlimited and off-cycle payrolls cost nothing extra. Payroll works in all 50 states and DC with no per-state fee listed. We found no tax penalty guarantee.

Fees and traps

• Scheduling plans beyond Basic are billed per location, and payroll is extra on top.
• The first 6 months of payroll are free as a limited-time offer. After that payroll bills at $49/mo plus $6 per employee, and the Plus plan at $70 per location per month.
• The lower scheduling prices need annual billing.
• Several locations can share one payroll run only if they have the same EIN and the same pay schedule.
• 2-day direct deposit is for "qualified companies", with the criteria not stated.
• Tip Manager is $25/mo per location, Task Manager $13/mo per location, background checks $30 each, and Hiring Assistant from $99/mo.

Plans are month to month and Homebase lists no implementation fees. Live support runs 7am to 7pm CT, and a payroll expert helps with setup. Homebase holds 3.7/5 on Trustpilot from 402 reviews.

Verdict

Homebase ranks seventh with a score of 7.6. For a single location with 10 or fewer hourly employees, the free scheduling plan plus payroll costs the same as OnPay and adds a time clock. It ranks lower because scheduling fees stack per location as you grow, only supported local taxes are filed, and features like Tip Manager and HR help cost extra. Choose Homebase if scheduling and timesheets are the main job and payroll comes along with them.