1. Zapier
  2. Apps
  3. Human resources
  4. Gusto

How to get started with Gusto on Zapier

Gusto and Zapier connect to automate HR tasks. You can trigger workflows when employees are added or terminated and manage employee records and payroll.

Available on plans:

Free

Professional

Team

Enterprise

Prerequisites

To use the Gusto app on Zapier, you must have:

Set up your Gusto developer credentials

Gusto's Zapier app requires you to create your own OAuth application in the Gusto Developer Portal. This gives you the Client ID and Client Secret needed to connect.

1. Create a Gusto developer account

  1. Go to the Gusto Developer Portal.
  2. Sign up for a developer account if you don't already have one.

2. Create an OAuth application

  1. Log in to the Gusto Developer Portal.
  2. Navigate to the Applications tab.
  3. Create a new application with the following details:
    • Redirect URI: https://zapier.com/dashboard/auth/oauth/return/App236458CLIAPI/
  4. After the application is created, Gusto will generate your Client ID and Client Secret. Save these credentials securely.
Note

Gusto provides two separate environments: Demo (Sandbox) and Production. Credentials are environment-specific. A Client ID and Secret created for Demo will not work with Production, and vice versa. Start with the Demo environment for testing, then apply for Production access when ready.

3. Configure OAuth scopes

Ensure your application is configured with the following scopes to enable full functionality of all Zapier triggers and actions:

  • companies:read
  • contractors:read
  • employees:read
  • employees:write
  • employees:manage
  • employments:write
  • payrolls:read
  • payrolls:run

4. Get production access (required for live data)

To access live payroll data, you must complete Gusto's production approval process:

  1. Submit a Production Pre-Approval Application through the Gusto Developer Portal.
  2. Complete the security review conducted by Gusto's Partnerships team.
  3. Pass the QA approval process.
  4. Once approved, Gusto will issue your production credentials through the Developer Portal.
Note

All development and testing must be performed using the Demo environment at api.gusto-demo.com. Only apply for production access when you are ready to work with live data. Gusto does not provide production test accounts.

Connect Gusto to Zapier

To create an app connection to Gusto on Zapier:

  • Go to the Apps page.
  • Click + Add connection.
  • A new dialog box will appear. Search for and select Gusto.
  • Click Add connection.
  • A Connect an Account page will open in a browser tab or window.
  • Complete the following fields:
    • Connection Name: Enter a friendly name to identify this connection (e.g., "Acme Corp Payroll").
    • Environment: Select Demo (Sandbox) for testing or Production for live data.
    • Client ID: Enter the Client ID from your Gusto Developer Portal application.
    • Client Secret: Enter the Client Secret from your Gusto Developer Portal application.
  • Click Yes, Continue to Gusto.
  • A new browser tab or window will open. Log into Gusto and select the company you want to authorize.
  • Grant Zapier permission to access your account.

Your Gusto account is now successfully connected to Zapier.

About Gusto's app

Triggers, searches, and actions

Triggers
  • Employee Onboarded (Polling) - Triggers when an employee completes onboarding in your company.
  • Employee Terminated (Polling) - Triggers when an employee is terminated from your company.
  • New Contractor (Polling) - Triggers when a new contractor is added to your company.
  • New Employee (Polling) - Triggers when a new employee is added to your company.
  • Payroll Submitted (Polling) - Triggers when a payroll is submitted and processed for your company.
  • Updated Employee (Polling) - Triggers when an employee record is updated in your company.
Searches
  • Find Employee - Finds an employee by their email address or ID.
  • Find Payroll - Finds a payroll by its ID.
Actions
  • Create Employee - Creates a new employee in Gusto.
  • Submit Payroll - Submits an unprocessed payroll in Gusto for calculation and processing.
  • Terminate Employee - Terminates an employee in Gusto by scheduling their last day of work.
  • Update Employee - Updates an existing employee in Gusto.

Limitations

  • API rate limits apply to all requests, with a maximum of 200 requests per minute per connected account.

Templates

View all of Gusto's templates.

Use cases

Additional Gusto resources

Was this article helpful?
0 out of 0 found this helpful

Zapier Early Access

Get access to tomorrow’s no-code automation products and features today. By opting-in to our current and future pre-release products, you’ll work directly with the Zapier product team and join a dedicated community of automation enthusiasts. Learn more about Zapier Early Access