Gusto highlights new updates to Gusto Pro and the Gusto Partner Program; Gusto also launches new multi-client Model Context Protocol to bring Gusto’s context directly into the AI tools accountants already work in
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Gusto, the leading partner for small businesses and their accountants, today announced some of its most extensive updates for accountants – a rebuilt Gusto Pro, a new multi-client Model Context Protocol (MCP), and an expanded Gusto Partner Program, designed to bring Gusto’s business context directly into accountants’ AI tools.
The announcements were made at Gusto Next, Gusto’s event for its accounting partners, and are designed to help firms move from transactional tasks toward higher-value advisory services for their small business clients.
The announcement comes as small businesses launch at near historic highs, while needing guidance around compliance, multi-state hiring, benefits, and financial planning. At the same time, AI is reshaping the accounting profession, just as small business clients are asking for more support. A recent Gusto Insights report found that nearly half of small businesses want strategic financial advice from their accountant, not just tax preparation and bookkeeping.
Gusto Pro is Gusto’s platform for accounting firms, helping them manage clients’ payroll, benefits, and advisory services from a single dashboard. Today’s update is its most significant since 2021. The redesigned platform now includes AI-assisted workflows, a multi-client assistant, and a simplified dashboard built to free up accountants from manual tasks, empowering them to do the advisory work only they can do.
The updated Gusto Pro is now available in early access to eligible Gusto partners, with general availability coming later this year. New features include:
- AI-assisted workflows that automate core payroll tasks end-to-end, like extracting hours from emails, surfacing changes since last payroll, and delivering critical reports — so firms spend less time on manual prep, while still retaining visibility and control. Once AI completes the prep, accountants review and give final approvals.
- Automated reporting, where Gusto learns which reports accountants pull after every payroll and automatically generates them. These reports land in one centralized place across all clients, so accountants don’t need to find reports client-by-client
- New connectors to wherever accountants complete their work, like Gmail and Outlook for drafting hours, reimbursements, and deductions. This frees up accountants from chasing clients for vital information that then needs to be inputted manually into Gusto
- Pro Gus, our AI assistant, purpose-built to give accountants faster answers to client questions, plus multi-client visibility across their entire book of business
In addition to redesigning Gusto Pro, Gusto launched its multi-client Model Context Protocol (MCP), which brings Gusto’s business context directly into the AI tools accountants already work in, across every client they manage.
Until now, working with AI across a client book has meant connecting to one client at a time and disconnecting and reconnecting to switch. With the multi-client MCP, accountants connect Gusto once, choose which clients to include, and every Gusto tool works across them from a single conversation.
Accountants can ask questions across their book of business, prep payroll changes like hours, earnings, time off, and payment methods, and generate the reports they run every cycle. They can also set up recurring routines that run in the background. Every change still comes back to the accountant to review and approve before anything is updated in Gusto, and only the clients they’ve chosen are ever connected.
Gusto’s multi-client MCP is now available to all accountant firms, with more capabilities coming soon.
Finally, Gusto announced major upgrades to the Gusto Partner Program, a free, tiered program that rewards firms with revenue share and deeper strategic support as they grow their practice on Gusto. New features include:
- Marketing Development Funds and the Partner Marketing Hub — Marketing support designed to help firms grow their books. This includes Marketing Development Funds designed to help firms drive new client acquisition through email campaigns, webinars, events, or paid social promotion, as well as a Partner Marketing Hub providing AI agents, campaign building, and ready-to-launch marketing resources
- Partner Development Funds – Built to help firms grow stronger from the inside with the support of Firm Business Consultants. Funds can go toward launching and improving AI adoption and implementation, pricing and strategy for client advisory services, operational efficiency, and marketing matching firms with the right expertise for where they want to grow
- Firm Business Consultants – An exclusive, pre-vetted network of consultants with deep accounting industry experience providing specialized support across key growth areas
- AI agents for growth – First introduced in June 2026 and built exclusively for Gusto Pro firms. These include a website audit agent, advisory positioning agent, expansion pitch agent, and pricing and margin target agent — all designed to help firms win new clients and deepen advisory revenue
In mid-November 2026, the Gusto Partner Program will also expand revenue share beyond payroll to include 401(k) plans at partners’ matching tier rate. New firms that join will also get a free firm 401(k) plan for owners and employees for one year.
Accountants can learn more about today’s announcements at gusto.com/partners/accountants.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Gusto Pro?
Gusto Pro is Gusto’s platform for accounting firms to manage payroll, benefits, and advisory services for their clients from a single dashboard. - What is the Gusto Partner Program?
The Gusto Partner Program is a free, tiered program that helps accounting firms grow their practice while unlocking rewards along the way. Partners can access revenue share, free firm payroll, marketing resources and a dedicated advisor. - What updates is Gusto announcing to Gusto Pro?
As of Oct. 7, 2026, Gusto is introducing a redesigned version of Gusto Pro, its most significant update since 2021. Gusto Pro now includes AI-assisted workflows that automate core payroll tasks end-to-end, like extracting hours from emails, surfacing changes since last payroll, and delivering critical reports. It also features an AI assistant built for accountants called Pro Gus. - What’s new in the Gusto Partner Program?
As of November 2026, Gusto is updating the Partner Program with Marketing Development and Partner Development funds, a Partner Marketing Hub, and AI agents built to help firms win new clients and grow their advisory services. - When will the newly redesigned Gusto Pro and expanded Partner Program become generally available?
The redesigned Gusto Pro and expanded Partner Program are currently available to eligible Gusto partners, with general availability coming later this year. - What are Marketing Development Funds and Partner Development Funds?
Gusto accountant partners can use the new Marketing Development Funds to drive client acquisition through marketing activities, including email campaigns, webinars, events, and paid social promotion. With the support of Firm Business Consultants, accountant partners can use the new Partner Development funds to launch and improve AI adoption and implementation, pricing and strategy for client advisory services, and operational efficiencies. - What is the multi-client MCP?
Gusto’s multi-client Model Context Protocol (MCP) brings Gusto’s business context directly into the AI tools accountants already work in, across every client they manage.Until now, working with AI across a client book has meant connecting to one client at a time and disconnecting and reconnecting to switch. With the multi-client MCP, accountants connect Gusto once, choose which clients to include, and every Gusto tool works across that whole book from a single conversation.
Accountants can ask questions across their book of business, prep payroll changes like hours, earnings, time off, and payment methods, and generate the reports they run every cycle. Every change still comes back to the accountant to review and approve before anything is updated in Gusto, and only the clients they’ve chosen are ever connected.
- How many accounting firms use Gusto Pro?
More than 23,000 accounting firms currently use Gusto Pro to support small businesses.
About Gusto
Gusto is the leading partner for small businesses, helping them with a wide variety of critical tasks, including payroll, health benefits, tax credits, compliance, 401(k), HR, and much more. Gusto serves over 500,000 small businesses and more than 23,000 accounting firms across the US, and is on a multi-decade journey to grow the small business economy with technology and heart.
Media Contact:
Candice So
press@gusto.com
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SOURCE Gusto, Inc.
