|
The Opinionated Daily of Technology & Code
GARRY'S TAKE
|
| Tuesday, March 3, 2026 · Buying Guide |
BUYING GUIDE |
|
TESTED & REVIEWED
Nanny Payroll Services for SF Families
Three services that handle the compliance headache of household employment. We compared setup, ongoing cost, and California-specific coverage.
By Garry Sandcastle
|
|
Hiring a nanny in San Francisco means navigating federal payroll taxes, California EDD registration, workers' comp, SF paid sick leave, and a minimum wage that adjusts annually. These three services handle it all -- but they differ meaningfully in cost, support, and California expertise. |
|
TOP PICK
Poppins Payroll
$49/month
Purpose-built for nanny payroll. Handles W-2, Schedule H, CA EDD, workers' comp facilitation, and year-end tax filings. Clean dashboard, mobile-friendly. Strong California expertise.
STRENGTHS Lowest cost. California-specific compliance baked in. Fast setup (under 30 minutes). Responsive chat support.
WEAKNESSES Fewer add-on HR features than GTM. No dedicated account manager on the basic plan.
View Details →
|
HomeWork Solutions
$75/month
Full-service household payroll with 30+ years in the nanny industry. Handles all federal and state filings, provides a dedicated account manager, and offers optional workers' comp brokerage.
STRENGTHS Dedicated account manager. Deep industry expertise. Handles multi-state if you travel with your nanny.
WEAKNESSES Higher cost. Setup can take longer. Interface feels dated compared to newer competitors.
View Details →
|
GTM Payroll
$99/month
Premium household employment service. Beyond payroll: HR guidance, nanny handbook templates, benefits administration, and tax planning. Used by high-net-worth families and estate managers.
STRENGTHS Most comprehensive feature set. Excellent HR resources. Handles complex situations (multiple household employees, estate staff).
WEAKNESSES Most expensive. Overkill for a single-nanny household. Some features require premium tier.
View Details →
|
|
HEAD-TO-HEAD |
| Feature | Poppins | HomeWork | GTM |
|---|
| Monthly cost | $49 | $75 | $99 | | CA EDD filing | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Workers' comp | Facilitated | Brokered | Included | | SF sick leave tracking | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Dedicated account mgr | Premium only | Yes | Yes | | Setup time | <30 min | 1-2 days | 1-3 days | | Multi-employee | Basic | Yes | Full suite |
|
|
THE VERDICT
For a single-nanny SF household, Poppins Payroll offers the best value: California compliance expertise at the lowest price point, with a modern interface. HomeWork Solutions is worth the premium if you want a dedicated human contact. GTM only makes sense if you have multiple household employees or complex estate needs.
|
You are receiving this because you subscribed to Garry's Take.
If this issue was forwarded to you, subscribe for direct delivery. |