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Business Formation

We handle the paperwork, filings, and setup.

Tax Management

Most solopreneurs overpay. We'll make sure you don't.

Automate Finances

Expenses, payroll, compliance
and bookkeeping.

Benefits

Healthcare, dental, vision
and accident coverage.

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Gusto Runs Payroll. Lettuce Runs the Whole Back Office. 

For solopreneurs aiming to hit $500K+ without drowning in admin, this comparison unpacks where Gusto’s Solo offering stops, where Lettuce’s end-to-end S-corp platform takes over, and how that difference shapes your growth.

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Quick Comparison

Lettuce vs. Gusto At A Glance

Here's how Lettuce and Gusto compare across the features that matter most to solopreneurs:
Lettuce vs. Gusto At A Glance
Feature Lettuce Gusto Solo
Best For

Solos who want business setup, taxes, bookkeeping, banking, payroll and filing handled in one place.

Solos who already have a CPA and bookkeeper that need payroll and compliance help.
Primary Purpose

The full financial operating system for businesses of one. Protections without compromise, backed by the Lettuce Guarantee.

An entry plan. Gusto Solo is designed to move you into additional plans and services as you scale.
Business Setup

LLC formation ($0 + state filing fees at cost), S Corp election (Form 2553), EIN, and business bank account, all included. We file your S Corp for you.

Currently prepares an S Corp election form for you to sign and covers postage. LLC formation and EIN help were announced Oct 2026 but show as coming soon - for now forming the LLC is up to you.
Banking

Business account included, via i3 Bank, Member FDIC. Every payment is split into salary, taxes, and distributions as it arrives.

Money management tools cost $19/mo extra. A business bank account (through Increase Bank, Member FDIC) was announced in Oct 2026 and is marked coming soon.
Payroll

S Corp payroll with your reasonable salary set for you. Each payroll withholds for your whole tax bill, salary and profits, and adjusts as your income changes.

S Corp payroll with withholding, quarterly 941 forms, and W-2s, plus a reasonable salary calculator.
Quarterly Taxes

We set aside and pay your quarterly estimates for you. Taxes on your profits are set aside from each payment to prevent surprises.

Payroll taxes only. Gusto says you may need to make extra estimated payments on your own.
Tax Returns

Business return (1120-S and K-1) filed for you. Personal 1040 available for $500/annual.

Gusto points you to its accountant directory.
Bookkeeping

Included, with real-time categorization and a live dashboard

Currently points you to its bookkeeper directory.
Invoicing

Built in, with payment processing

Included, with bill pay.
Healthcare

Individual health, dental, and vision through Curative.

Optional add-on through Stride Health, a third-party marketplace.
Retirement

Access to a Carry Solo 401(k).

Solo 401(k) access.
Support

Live experts plus LettuceHead AI 24/7.

Help Center and business-hours support. On Gusto’s team plans, faster support is a paid add-on ($30/mo+).
Price

Pro $299/mo, with tax filing, bookkeeping, banking and support included.

About $55/mo - or $340 to $775/mo once you add a CPA, a bookkeeper, and the banking tools.

What’s the difference in price?

Lettuce Grow

$99 $49/mo

Lettuce Pro

$299/mo

Lettuce Premium

$525/mo
HealthCareEnroll

Already an S corp?

It is easy to migrate. Existing S corp owners save time and money switching to Lettuce. See how easy it can be.

See How it Works
Core Features & Approach

How They Work

Both platforms handle payroll, tax withholding, and S Corp compliance, but they're designed for different business models. Gusto Solo is the company's dedicated plan for single-owner businesses, stripped down from their full-scale HR platform, and it still requires an accountant, bookkeeping, and tax help. Lettuce, by contrast, was built exclusively for businesses-of-one from day one. Below, we'll walk through what each platform actually includes, so you can see exactly what you're getting (and what you'll need to handle separately). 
Lettuce's Approach

Lettuce's Approach: A Complete Financial Operating System

Lettuce isn't just payroll software. It's a complete financial operating system built specifically for businesses-of-one, designed to save you $5,000-$15,000 annually in taxes while cutting admin work to nearly zero.

Gusto's Approach

Payroll Platform That Scales With Growth

Gusto is a payroll and HR platform. The platform is only meant to handle specific aspects of onboarding more W2 employees 

Who Should Choose Lettuce

Lettuce works best for solopreneurs who want their entire financial back-office handled in one place. Here's who sees the biggest impact:
icon-Lettuce

You're earning $80K+ as a solo and haven't formed an S Corp yet.

You want someone to handle the entire setup process while you keep working with clients, not spend weeks researching formation requirements.
icon-Lettuce

Your financial tools don't talk to each other.

You're manually moving data between your bank, accounting software, payroll service, and tax preparer. You want one system that handles everything automatically.
icon-Lettuce

You can't afford to mess up your taxes.

You're not confident calculating quarterly estimates or managing S Corp compliance on your own. The risk of an audit or penalties keeps you up at night.
icon-Lettuce

Time spent on admin is killing your revenue.

Every hour managing finances is an hour not billing clients. You need to cut your admin time from 10+ hours monthly to nearly zero.
icon-Lettuce

You're staying solo permanently.

You have zero plans to hire employees. You want maximum personal income optimization, not team-building tools you'll never use.

Take Control: Choose the Platform That Puts You in the Driver's Seat

The right platform depends on where you are and where you're headed. If you're staying solo and want complete S Corp automation — from formation through tax filing — in one integrated system, Lettuce handles everything without requiring you to coordinate multiple tools. If you're planning to hire employees or prefer to keep your existing accounting setup, Gusto provides reliable payroll that scales with team growth.

Choosing wisely turns S Corp complexity into clarity. When your financial system matches how you actually work, everything else gets easier.

Ready to maximize your tax savings with automated S Corp management? Get started with Lettuce today.
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© 2026 Lettuce Financial Labs, Inc.

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Specialized tax and accounting strategies for businesses-of-one.

Lettuce is a fintech company. Banking services are provided by i3 Bank, Member FDIC. The Lettuce Visa Debit Card is issued by i3 Bank, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and can be used anywhere Visa cards are accepted. Deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured bank. Certain conditions must be satisfied for pass-through insurance to apply, subject to FDIC rules and conditions.