Payroll, made creator-simple.

Stay payroll-ready with organized contractor payments, automatic categorization, and tax-smart tracking. Get your financial house in order before your business grows.

Payroll-Ready Bookkeeping for Growing Creator Businesses

Keep your books organized so payroll doesn't become a nightmare. Track contractor payments, categorize expenses, and get tax-ready exports that work with payroll providers. Stay compliant while you focus on creating.

Contractor-Friendly Payment Tracking

Track every contractor payment and gig expense automatically. Categorize 1099 income sources, monitor cash flow impact, and stay ready for tax season without the admin headache.

  • Automatic contractor payment categorization

  • 1099-ready expense tracking

  • Gig economy payment monitoring

  • Tax-smart payment organization

Otto AI Bookkeeping Software
Bookkeeping Status

Cash Flow Confidence for Payroll Planning

Understand how contractor payments and business expenses affect your runway. Get clear visibility into cash flow patterns so you can plan for payroll costs and tax obligations without surprises.

  • Payroll expense forecasting

  • Contractor payment cash flow impact

  • Tax obligation planning

  • Business runway visibility

  • CPA-backed financial guidance

Exports & Integrations That Work With Payroll Providers

Prepare clean, categorized exports that seamlessly connect to payroll providers and accountants. Keep your books organized so when you're ready to hire, your financial foundation is solid.

  • Payroll-ready financial exports

  • Accountant-friendly data organization

  • Clean contractor payment records

AI Expense Tracking
Financial Insights

Compliance-Aware Business Growth

Stay compliant as your creator business scales. Get entity-specific reminders, contractor payment tracking, and expert support to keep your business legally protected and tax-ready.

  • Entity compliance reminders

  • Contractor payment compliance tracking

  • Business structure guidance

  • CPA-backed scaling support

Get Payroll-Ready - 3 Step Setup

Connect your accounts, categorize contractor payments, and export clean data for payroll providers. Stay organized so hiring doesn't break your books.

1
Step

Connect Your Accounts

Click "Get Started Free." Securely connect your bank accounts and payment sources. Otto automatically categorizes contractor payments and tracks your business expenses.

2
Step

Categorize Contractor Payments

Review and organize contractor payments, gig expenses, and business costs. Otto helps you track everything for tax purposes and payroll planning.

3
Step

Export & Share with Providers

Export clean, organized data for payroll providers or accountants. Monitor cash flow impact and get CPA guidance for compliance questions.

Payroll-Ready Features
for Growing Creators

Everything you need to stay organized for payroll, from contractor tracking to tax-ready exports, all in one place that works with your creative workflow.

Contractor Payment Tracking

Automatically categorize and track all contractor payments, 1099 income, and gig economy transactions for tax compliance.

Payroll Expense Forecasting

See how contractor payments and business expenses impact your cash flow and runway for future payroll costs.

Tax-Ready Exports

Generate clean, organized exports that work seamlessly with payroll providers and accountants for smooth transitions.

Compliance Monitoring

Track contractor payment compliance, entity requirements, and business structure needs as you scale your creator business.

CPA-Backed Payroll Guidance

Get expert help with contractor payments, payroll planning, tax compliance, and scaling questions from certified accountants.

Secure Integrations

Bank-level security for your payment data. Connect processors securely with read-only access to transaction data.

One Platform: From Entity Setup
to Closing Reports

Comprehensive financial solutions for your business needs.

The reviews are in.

Straight from our customers how Otto is changing the way creative businesses manage money.

Owner of Photography Business

"Otto's real-time insights have been incredible for cash flow management and decision-making. The platform is user-friendly, and the team is extremely on top of everything.”

Preston Tietjen

Preston Tietjen

Creative Producer & Founder

Owner of Design Company

“I’m excited to help Otto reach more creators because every creative deserves access to the tools and support they need to grow their businesses and focus on what they love—creating.”

Sophia Yeshi

Sophia Yeshi

Illustrator & Designer

Owner of Production Company

"Keeping my finances stable is crucial, and Otto helps me earn more and pay less in taxes. With its focus on creatives, I keep more of what I earn, fueling my business and creativity."

Kai Byrd

Kai Byrd

Photographer, Creative Director

Payroll FAQs

Does Otto run payroll for my business?

No, Otto doesn't run payroll or pay employees/contractors. Instead, Otto helps you stay payroll-ready by organizing your contractor payments, categorizing expenses, and preparing clean exports that work seamlessly with payroll providers. Think of us as your financial sidekick that keeps everything organized so when you're ready to hire, your books are in perfect shape.

Who is Otto designed for?

Otto is built for creators, freelancers, and solopreneurs who want to keep their financial house in order before scaling up. Whether you're a YouTuber, graphic designer, content creator, or any creative professional managing contractor payments and business expenses, Otto helps you stay organized and tax-ready without the admin overwhelm.

What's the difference between contractors and employees in Otto?

Otto focuses on contractor payments and 1099 income tracking, which is perfect for creative businesses that work with freelancers, agencies, and gig economy partners. We don't handle employee payroll (that's for dedicated payroll providers), but we help you organize all your contractor expenses so they're ready when you need to work with payroll services or accountants.

How does Otto work alongside payroll providers?

Otto works alongside payroll providers by keeping your financial data organized and export-ready. We categorize contractor payments, track business expenses, and prepare clean exports that payroll services can easily import. This means when you're ready to hire employees, your financial foundation is solid and your books are payroll-ready from day one.

How does Otto help with tax readiness and write-offs?

Otto automatically categorizes contractor payments, creative expenses, and business costs for maximum tax write-offs. We track everything from software subscriptions to equipment purchases, ensuring you don't miss deductions. Our CPA-backed system helps you understand the tax impact of business decisions and keeps your records organized for easy tax preparation.

How long does it take to get set up with Otto?

Most creators get up and running in under 15 minutes. Just connect your bank accounts, and Otto automatically starts categorizing your contractor payments and business expenses. Our guided onboarding helps you review and organize your financial data, and you can chat with CPAs anytime for questions about setup or your specific creative business structure.

How secure is my financial data with Otto?

Your data is protected with bank-level security, including 256-bit encryption and SOC 2 compliance. We use read-only connections to access your financial data, and you can disconnect anytime. Otto never stores payment information - we only help you organize and understand your existing financial records to keep your creator business payroll-ready.

How does Otto replace scattered spreadsheets and admin chaos?

Otto brings all your financial data into one organized dashboard - no more hunting through spreadsheets or disconnected apps. We automatically categorize contractor payments, track business expenses, and prepare clean exports for payroll providers. This gives you one source of truth for your financials, so you can focus on creating while staying payroll-ready.

Can Otto integrate with my payroll provider or accountant?

Yes! Otto exports clean, organized financial data that works seamlessly with payroll providers, accountants, and tax software. We prepare contractor payment records, expense categorizations, and financial summaries that import easily into payroll systems. This means when you're ready to scale and add employees, your financial foundation is perfectly organized for a smooth transition.