Gusto is a separate paid app that integrates with FreshBooks to bring you payroll, W-2s, 1099s, payroll runs and direct deposits. The Gusto app allows you to import payroll as categorized expenses into your FreshBooks account.
Import Payroll Expenses
Gusto can import every payroll run you complete into FreshBooks as expenses with your preferred expense categories selected for you. Business owners can set this up using the below steps:
- Go directly to Payroll here, or select the Settings section
- Under Connections and Integrations, select Payroll
- If you already have a Gusto account, select the Import Expenses button
- If you’ve never set up Gusto before, select Create a Trial Account to get started with a free 2-month trial
- You’ll be taken to Gusto’s signup page, enter your signup details and select Get Started
- Add your Password and any extra details, then select Create My Account
- After your Gusto account is set up, inside Gusto, select the App Directory tab
- In the Find an app search bar, enter in FreshBooks and select the result
- Select the Connect button
- Then choose the at my.freshbooks.com option
![Connect to FreshBooks button.]()
- Enter your FreshBooks login credentials if prompted to, and select Allow to authorize Gusto to access your FreshBooks account
- If you have multiple businesses, choose the specific business that you’d like Gusto to connect to and select Connect to FreshBooks
- Once connected, select the edit button to customize your account mappings to determine which expense categories you'd like Gusto to use when importing expenses into your FreshBooks account (parent categories can only be selected)
- In your Gusto account, select Settings while inside the FreshBooks app
![Gusto app with integration settings for FreshBooks.]()
- For Auto-Sync, ensure Auto sync is selected so payroll runs are automatically imported into FreshBooks for you
- If needed, under Grouped mapping, choose Department from the dropdown to enable Department Account Mapping if needed
- For Entry Date, choose between Check Date, Debit Date, or End of Pay Period for the date of the expense when it’s created in FreshBooks. Once you’ve reviewed your settings, your app is all set up.
Note: If you’re using Bank Reconciliation as well, we recommend working with your Accountant on the mapping of your Gusto payroll expenses.
FAQs
What happens to my expenses if I have both the Gusto app connected and an active Bank Connection?
If you have Gusto integrated, your payroll runs are automatically imported as expenses. If you also have a bank account connected via Bank Connection / Bank Reconciliation that is also the same account you use for payroll runs, you will also view the same payroll runs automatically imported as expenses too.
To stop duplicate expenses from being created, go to the Apps section in your FreshBooks account and select Disconnect App next to Gusto. Your Bank Connection / Bank Reconciliation will continue to create expenses every time you run Payroll.
How can I match my Gusto payroll transactions in Bank Reconciliation?
To reconcile Gusto entries, refer to the Payroll App steps here. Gusto will import specific expenses into your FreshBooks account, which will also appear in your Bank Rec under FreshBooks Entries:
- Gross Wages - Depending on your setup in Gusto, this may also be imported with more details into different expense categories - by default, this is assigned the subcategory of Wages, under the category of Other Expenses
- Employer Taxes
- Payments to contractors (if applicable)
- Reimbursements to employees (if applicable)
When your payroll is withdrawn from your bank account, these entries appear in your Bank Rec under Unreconciled Bank Transactions:
- Total employer and employee taxes - Both state and federal are combined into one entry
- Net pay for employees
- Payment to contractors (if applicable)
- Reimbursements to employees (if applicable)
- Payments for child support benefits to employees (if applicable)
Notes:
- The Gusto app does not withdraw from your bank account for employee benefits but it still imports into your FreshBooks account as expenses - work with your Accountant to record a journal entry for the liability related to the benefits in FreshBooks
- Any payments made for child support garnishments are already recognized by Gusto as an expense and are withdrawn from your bank account as a separate transaction