San Francisco – October 07, 2026 -- Gusto has rolled out its most significant overhaul of Gusto Pro since 2021, alongside a new multi-client Model Context Protocol (MCP) and an expanded Partner Program, targeting the more than 23,000 accounting firms currently using its platform.
Gusto Pro gains AI-assisted workflows to cut manual payroll prep
The redesigned Gusto Pro platform now automates core payroll tasks end-to-end, including extracting hours from emails, surfacing changes since the last payroll run, and generating critical reports. Accountants retain final review and approval authority before any changes are processed. A new AI assistant, Pro Gus, gives accountants faster answers to client questions and multi-client visibility across their book of business.
New connectors integrate directly with Gmail and Outlook, letting accountants draft hours, reimbursements, and deductions without manually re-entering data gathered from client correspondence. The updated platform is in early access for eligible Gusto partners, with general availability expected later this year.
Multi-client MCP eliminates single-client AI connection bottleneck
Gusto's new multi-client MCP brings the company's business context directly into AI tools accountants already use, across their entire client roster simultaneously. Previously, AI integration required connecting to one client at a time and disconnecting to switch — a workflow constraint for firms managing dozens of accounts.
Accountants can now connect once, select which clients to include, and query across that book from a single conversation, prepping payroll changes such as hours, earnings, time off, and payment methods, and generating recurring reports. Every change still requires accountant review before updating in Gusto, and only selected clients remain connected. The multi-client MCP is now available to all accountant firms.
Partner Program adds marketing and development funds ahead of November expansion
Gusto is rolling out Marketing Development Funds and a Partner Marketing Hub to help firms fund client acquisition through email campaigns, webinars, events, and paid social promotion. Partner Development Funds, paired with a pre-vetted network of Firm Business Consultants, will support AI adoption, advisory pricing strategy, and operational efficiency projects.
AI agents for growth — first introduced in June 2026 and exclusive to Gusto Pro firms — include a website audit agent, advisory positioning agent, expansion pitch agent, and pricing and margin target agent. In mid-November 2026, the Partner Program will expand revenue share beyond payroll to include 401(k) plans at partners' matching tier rate, and new firms joining will receive a free firm 401(k) plan for owners and employees for one year.
Nearly half of small businesses want strategic advice, not just bookkeeping
Gusto cited its own Insights report finding that close to half of small businesses want strategic financial advice from accountants rather than tax preparation alone. The company positions the update package as a shift for firms from transactional payroll processing toward higher-value advisory services, as AI reshapes workflows across the accounting profession. Gusto currently serves over 500,000 small businesses and more than 23,000 accounting firms across the US.