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The Gusto payroll and HR software platform was created when its co-founders struggled with archaic administrative methods and wanted to scale back the burden on others.
“I started payroll. I have established benefits. I experienced pain and frustration,” says CEO Josh Reeves. This empathy for small business conflicts allowed Reeves to attach with clients and advance his entrepreneurial goals.
Reeves created Gusto as an all-in-one platform that simplifies critical business processes, enabling owners to focus more on their passion and less on paperwork. With a user-centric design and commitment to service, Gusto helps small businesses navigate complex operations reminiscent of payroll, advantages and human resources management.
Reeves wanted to offer tools to entrepreneurs who didn’t have access to the same resources as large corporations. “For smaller companies, revenue per customer is actually lower,” he says. “But there was a huge need for someone to prioritize them.”
Reeves and his team have leveraged technology through modern tools reminiscent of cloud computing and mobile access to remodel traditional business operations into streamlined processes that are each user-friendly and efficient.
“We knew the starting point would be payroll,” Reeves explains. “This is the least optional part of the stack. If you don’t pay someone, that person will leave pretty quickly.”
From there, the company added other tools, including advantages management, time tracking and compliance.
Gusto’s automation of complex processes allows owners to handle operations from anywhere. This reduces time spent on manual tasks and minimizes the risk of errors, further increasing efficiency.
At the heart of those innovations is Gusto’s commitment to understanding and meeting the needs of small businesses. “There is a really important feedback loop, whether it is spoken face-to-face, emailed, on the phone, in chat – or unspoken!” says Reeves.
Gusto’s impact on the small business community goes beyond simplifying payroll and human resources tasks. The company offers other ideas to small business owners, reminiscent of offering competitive advantages and creating a supportive work culture, elements which may be less of a priority when starting your first enterprise.
“We started by doing payroll,” Reeves says. “We have expanded to include health services. There are many different pre-tax funds that businesses can access that small businesses don’t know about, but we can make them more accessible.”
To achieve success, Gusto relies on the following principles:
- Streamline complex processes. Transform complex and mandatory operations into user-friendly systems to unlock business owners’ time and allow them to focus more on core business activities as an alternative of administrative duties.
- Influence customer insights for continuous improvement. Regularly collect and analyze customer feedback to enhance services and products, ensuring they effectively meet changing market needs.
- Provide access to comprehensive advantages. Enable businesses of all sizes to supply competitive advantages traditionally reserved for larger corporations, helping to draw and retain expert employees and level the industry playing field.
- Use the latest technology. Leverage technological advances to enhance service delivery and operational efficiency, empowering businesses to administer their operations with greater ease and precision.
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Editorial contributions by Charlotte Che. Yelp and Entrepreneur weren’t compensated for this text.