The following are some of the best professional employer organizations (PEOs) that will lease employees to small business owners. These PEO's take care of all administrative tasks like payroll, benefits enrollment, and management; giving you more time for running your own company!
What is a PEO?
With a PEO, you get the best of both worlds: peace of mind that your employees are being well-taken care of while not having to worry about hiring an entire team. With outsourcing all these responsibilities it’s easy for small businesses - who might only have one or two full-time positions open at any given moment – to focus on what they do best and let someone else handle everything else!
Working with a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) is ideal for small and mid-size businesses to add great talents to their teams and offer competitive employee benefits. The National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO) believes that companies that partner with top PEO services report 10-14% lower employee turnover and a growth rate of 7-9%. The PEO handles all compensation, compliance, and payroll-related duties, while the client organization focuses mainly on providing a conducive work environment.
Why a PEO?
For many business owners, the advantages they receive from not hiring additional staff, multiple vendors, and consultants are enough. Still, there are also significant personal advantages with better employee benefits packages and the peace of mind knowing your business is protected with on-call HR support. Some even have industry-specific solutions or work in specialized industries.
Working with a professional employer organization is essentially a co-employment arrangement with a PEO services provider. However, many of the liabilities associated with this sort of partnership go to the PEO. For instance, when payroll taxes and salaries are not paid at the right time or filed incorrectly, the PEO services provider is usually held accountable for such discrepancies. If you’re thinking of choosing an HR services platform or looking to switch PEOs, this list will be of immense help to you.
What to Look for from a PEO Company
Different PEOs offer various services and benefits, but they all have one thing in common: protection. When choosing the right company for your business needs there's more than just what you need from them; it also comes down to how well these organizations fit with each individual employee’s lifestyle - whether that means providing health care coverage or allowing flexible work hours among other things. Here is a list of items to keep in mind so you can shortlist your best fit PEO:
Price
If you're not sure what kind of PEO company to go with, then it's important that prices are varied among these companies. Some might charge less than others for small business owners who need help managing employees and their work schedules--perhaps even significantly so!
In order get quotes from all the potential vendors on your list consider how long term as well as short-term needs will be met by each option before picking just one vendor in this field since ultimately price may play a role when deciding which provider best suits one’s own personal situation.
Benefits Options
PEO services will help you get the basics covered, but what about everything else? Do your employees have enough options for employee benefits so they're happy with their jobs and stay on board long-term. It's important to consider this carefully because retention rates affect how much money a PEO saves you.
Quality of Service
The question on every person's mind when they hear the word "PEO" is whether or not that organization has what it takes to provide quality service.
Can they provide me with human resource administrative services? Are their team members knowledgeable and able to help without delay or problems when it comes time for you make an appointment?
So before you get too excited about how great your new company will be, take some time and research other clients' experiences with them.
Size Minimums
PEO companies vary tremendously in terms of size and capability. Some have a five or ten employee minimum, while others can accommodate more businesses per provider if they are partnerships with larger networks.
The pricing will also be affected by how many people your business employs; some small firms might find themselves paying too much for coverage due the limitations imposed on them when using certain PEO providers compared to other organizations, while others will cater specifically toward different types ranging from sole proprietorships all way up through multi million dollar corporations which is why we recommend doing research before choosing.
Customer Service
The most important thing in any company is customer service. When things go wrong with your PEO arrangement or the online tools you are using, it can get overly complicated and problematic if they aren’t resolved promptly - which means good old fashioned human intervention will always be a must have!
Online Platform and Self Service
It is important to take time when looking at the different platforms available. You need an online system that meets your needs and will work for both you AND your employees, so try taking a peek in what they use by checking out some of their user interface or features as well as a platform demo.
Certifications
We've already covered a lot of different factors you should consider when searching for the best PEO provider. Next up: look at how many accreditations each company has so we can make sure our investment goes as planted without any unplanned risks or scandals later down road.
PEOs are more than just an HR company - they're your partner in business success. That's why you may want to consider finding a PEO that uses The Employer Services Assurance Corporation (ESAC). It’s made up of top attorneys and CPAs committed not only for integrity but also trust; other accreditation agencies include the IRS, Certification Institute or National Association Professional Employers Organizations (NAPEO).
While NAPEO is primarily focused on protecting its members from liability within this industry, it also requires an annual audit confirmation process that includes having financial statements reviewed.
Now for the list of our 10 top professional employer organization services companies in 2022:
Oasis Outsourcing
Resourcing Edge
Resourcing Edge has provided long-term strategies to help clients control costs by reducing risks, and payroll processing, human resources, and employee benefits since 2003. They take the time to work closely with companies to design a package that best fits the clients' specific needs.
If you’re on the lookout for human resources and PEO services provider that integrates the latest technologies in their services and processes, you would be right to choose Resourcing Edge. Operating with decades of experience, Resourcing Edge prides itself as an industry leader in human capital management solutions.
With Resourcing Edge, you can get a robust level of services ranging from $90-$115 per month for your employees. No pricing is listed on the website, but our research showed this price includes dedicated HR consulting, safety support, training, and benefits administration!
Top services by Resourcing Edge include:
Single point of contact
Specialists in every department
Development of employee handbooks
Employee relations and HR consulting
Job description development
Unemployment claims management
Assistance with hiring and termination
Verification of employment
EEOC claims management
Federal and state compliance management
Performance management monitoring
401k retirement plans
Customer Reviews, Ratings, and Testimonials
Customer appraisals of Resourcing Edge are pretty impressive. Currently, the company offers a fully insured “pay-as-you-go” workers’ compensation coverage to all client employees. It is the third-largest privately held PEO services company in the U.S. Based on customer reviews on Glassdoor, about 60% of employees working or that have worked with Resourcing Edge are willing to refer their friends to the organizations.
Pros
Multiple partners that provide a more comprehensive range of coverage solutions
Excellent and personalized customer service
Strong orientation on HR services, training, and safety options, including on-site safety review, online safety training, and OSHA compliance assistance
Large selection of benefits and options
Cons
Oasis Outsourcing
Oasis is a Paychex company specializing in providing PEO services to startups and small companies. Oasis provides outsourced human resources and payroll management services. They offer à la carte options for cost savings, with extensive training resources to help you get the most out of your employees' benefits package while still maintaining an organized work environment!
The Client Services Team at Oasis comprises senior HR Generalists who can also provide general advice on employee benefits strategies with an emphasis placed heavily upon health care reform compliance for small businesses due to federal regulations passed under the ACA (Affordable Care Act).
The conversation with the company is not limited to just one aspect of the business. The HR team supports businesses on their growth goals and strategy, employee relations, and performance management needs; they also deliver updates that support these areas or provide information about compliance regulations for employers who want to keep up-to-date with what matters to their business.
They also provide a payroll management contact for each client, who assists with processing wages and taxes with accurate records of employee hours. They can answer basic questions about how it all works and generate custom reports that will be easy to access your data.
Oasis Outsourcing offers various services at prices that range from $100 to $125 per month for each employee. The company doesn't list its rates on the website, but our research showed that this price includes dedicated HR consulting and considerable workforce support.
Other services offered include:
Group health insurance plans
Section 125 plans
Retirement plans
Automated benefits record-keeping
Payroll tax administration
Online employee self-service
OSHA compliance
Customer Reviews, Ratings, and Testimonials
Paychex (a major payroll, and HR outsourcing company) is the parent company of Oasis outsourcing, which provides Oasis support to provide a wider range of HR and PEO services to its customers. Although some customers have compliance about not getting adequate support, you might want to confirm this before choosing their services.
Pros
Offers you options to invest in your people and culture
Comprehensive employee risk management
Keeps you updated on current federal and state employment laws
Cons
CoAdvantage
A leading provider dedicated exclusively to handling human resource needs within entrepreneurial environments since 1997 and understands that human resources are a vital department in every company. Furthermore, CoAdvantage has found its niche in helping small business owners.
They specialize in providing payroll processing for over 4500 clients and 90,000+ worksite employees across the country with customized HR management solutions, which allows their clients to focus on other essential aspects of running an enterprise. They can do this because of the professional advice from the CoAdvantage team of HR and compliance experts.
The company's web-based HR portal backs this. CoAdvantage also utilizes regional teams, which gives you proximity support that is not always available from other PEO services companies.
CoAdvantage offers excellent value for money with their range of services, which is why they're the company we always recommend when someone needs help managing staff or growing an organization. Our research showed this price ($115-$150 per employee) includes dedicated HR consulting and considerable workforce support - perfect if you want expert advice without breaking your bank!
Specific services offered by CoAdvantage include:
CoAdQuantum HR technology
Payroll tax processing, including FICA, FUTA, and SUTA
Fortune 500 benefits
HR administration
Recruitment services
Risk management and compliance services
Employee and manager self-service
Employment verification
Time and attendance systems
401k retirement plans
Customer Reviews, Ratings, and Testimonials
Although primarily based in Florida, CoAdvantage manages over 4500 clients spread all over the U.S. and serves more than 90,000 employees that have been working with client companies for decades. Both small and big businesses use CoAdvantage for their robust services and reliable customer support. Generally, CoAdvantage is perceived as one of the best PEO services out there.
Pros
Excellent payroll processing services
CoAdvantage prides itself as a company strongly driven by customer experience
Provides you with consolidated online portals for both employers and employees
Unique team-building services to improve employee engagement
Cons
Paychex Business Solutions
Paychex PEO is one of the biggest names in the PEO industry. The company was founded in 1971 to make payroll outsourcing easy and affordable for small businesses. Today, Paychex has more than 14,000 employees with 561,000 small to medium-sized clients nationwide! They offer a customizable PEO services program that is fully staffed by dedicated professionals assigned specifically to your needs.
With the Paychex Flex platform, HR professionals can manage their company's entire employee lifecycle from one dashboard. The system is easy for new hires to navigate as they complete onboarding, update personal information, or enroll in benefits.
Paychex offers an unmatched HR experience to its clients by providing dedicated professionals with various services tailored for each company. The team can assist you in hiring new employees, creating their own handbook and training programs specific to your business needs, and annual enrollments or workplace safety courses - there's no need to search elsewhere!
Paychex has a variety of plans available to fit the needs and budget of your company. You can customize aspects of your program down to the very service you want or do not want, including opting into medical insurance or workers' compensation policies.
Through research, we found an average cost associated at $100 monthly/worker plus taxes, which includes biweekly payroll service and essential PEO services.
Employment practices liability insurance (EPLI)
Health benefit accounts (FSA, HSA, HRA)
401(k) retirement plan
Workers’ compensation insurance
Employee performance management
Robust payroll processing
Large company insurance plans
Employee benefits administration
ESAC accredited
Customer Reviews, Ratings, and Testimonials
Most reviews on Trustpilot and Review42 earned Paychex an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars. Compared with other brands, this is impressive, considering that Paychex also offers other services aside from PEO benefits. Paychex is one of the largest PEO services providers in the country.
Pros
Custom services that fit your exact business needs
A broad range of PEO services and coverage options
Excellent payroll services
In all 50 states
Cons
Invo PEO
InvoPEO services are tailored explicitly towards startups and SMBs, helping them thrive with affordable people management services. Whether for temporary or permanent staffing needs, Invo PEO helps businesses across various industries, including construction, hospitality, manufacturing, financial services, healthcare, etc.
This PEO provides its clients with 24/7 access to a cloud-based human resources system that allows easy editing and updating of employee information while tracking payroll hours. As a client of InvoPEO, you have complete access to an online file storage system typically reserved for larger organizations.
InvoPEO offers a variety of plans to meet any company's needs and budget constraints. You can customize aspects down thoroughly, including service levels you want at an average monthly price of $85/employee.
InvoPEO services include:
HR consulting
Time and attendance management
Group health insurance
Online payroll processing
Tax filing
Risk management, etc.
Workers' compensation for hard to place risk
Pre-employment screening
Customer Reviews, Ratings, and Testimonials
Just like others, InvoPEO customer review is a mix of the good and bad. But it has an overall lower rating than most PEO services we’ve reviewed here. A good number of complaints bordered on the unfriendliness of the user interface. However, InvoPEO is a preferred choice for a good number of startups and medium-sized businesses.
Pros
Offers online payroll processing, HR Administration, workers compensation, payroll tax filing, and much more to small and mid-sized businesses.
Expert guide for HR management and services
Collaborates with you to create policies that meet your needs
Cons
Insperity
Based in Houston, Texas, Insperity, founded in 1986, is one of the prominent and longest-standing names in the PEO services industry. Insperity has been helping companies harness the power of HR for over 30 years now when it started with just 2 staff members so many years ago. Since then, they have grown by more than 15% year over year, and it doesn't look as though anything is going to slow them down.
The company is known for its all-in-one HR processes comprising HR consulting, payroll processing, best-in-class benefits administration, risk management, and employee training, which are easy to use.
Providing a full-service HR solution that will give you administrative relief, the potential to reduce liabilities, and dedicated support while your employees get access to better benefits. Perfect for small or medium-sized businesses looking to outsource tasks in this area so they can focus more on their core business!
Insperity is a little more expensive on the administrative side, but the value of their proactive service model justifies the extra spending. You cannot customize many aspects of the program, and on average, the price per month is around $220/per employee. Still, you will typically save that in your benefits costs as they are highly competitive.
Insperity offers a robust range of HR services including:
Fortune 500 benefits
Talent management services
Custom technology platform
Mobile app
Co-branded employee portal
Competitive benefit pricing
ESAC Accredited
Flexible contract structure
Performance management
Job sourcing services
Group health insurance services
Easy to build payroll management reports
Benefits administration
Customer Reviews, Ratings, and Testimonials
Insperity is actually one of the largest and most trusted PEO services that you can work with within the country. With an overall 5-star customer review on Consumer Affairs, and serving over 100,000 different businesses, they have one of the largest databases of small business clients.
Most client companies praise Insperity for the quality of their recruiting, insurance, accounting, bookkeeping, payroll processing, training and development, performance reviews, expense reporting, general HR consulting, and other related services.
Pros
Excellent fit for start-ups or smaller companies
Great user interface
Wide range of employee benefits and PEO services to select from
Offers reliable employee performance reviews
The employee training platform is included in the price
Offers more strategic services in HR consulting than others
Cons
Vensure HR
VensureHR was founded in 2004 and offered complete HR services, covering all the essential HR needs of small and mid-sized enterprises. Vensure Employer Services and PEO services are ideal for the HR outsourcing needs of small and mid-market businesses across the country.
One of their primary benefits is helping businesses go paperless by providing integrated HR technology that focuses on the employee experience with mobile access to their most important information. Furthermore, the company's cloud-based solution streamlines all human resources processes and frees up time for you, the business owner.
VensureHR has the experience you need to help you plan for success in your workplace. It's all covered from reviewing policies and procedures and providing training on compliance issues, HR document templates, required postings, or employee handbooks!
As a PEO and employee benefits provider, they offer a broad range of services ranging from $70-$120 per month for your employees. And suppose PEO isn't a fit for you yet. In that case, you can also look at their ASO solutions that provide many of the same HR and administrative benefits without co-employment or the need to participate in benefits or workers' compensation programs. The pricing for this model is typical $35-55 per employee per month.
The company offers services, such as:
Payroll administration
Employee benefits
Workers' compensation
Human resources
Time and attendance system, etc.
ASO and PEO options
Employee handbook creation
Vensure HR makes it easy for startups and mid-sized businesses to access affordable and competitive employee benefits packages.
Customer Reviews, Ratings, and Testimonials
With an overall rating of 3.5, Vensure HR doesn’t fare as well as the other PEO services. Issues with the application have been reported, and customer support services have been top-notch, at least when compared to other companies.
Pros
It is a full scope PEO HR outsourcing firm with solutions tailored for small businesses
Services are generally affordable compared to other solutions
All-in-one, simplified solution for administration, risk management, cost-saving, and HR management
Assigned an HR professional who is your point person
Cons
TriNet
If you're on the lookout for a PEO services provider that is specifically tailored to your unique business needs and industry, you should consider partnering with TriNet. Founded in 1988 and headquartered in Dublin, California. With a client base that boasts more than 23k clients and 354k employees, it is no surprise why the company was chosen as one of America's PEO service providers. They offer professional support for all needs through customized guidance from industry-specialized HR consultants.
With TriNet, your employees can access HR services from anywhere at any time. In addition to payroll and benefits enrollment being available online or through an app for mobile devices , you'll have expert support if something goes wrong along the way - all thanks in part because it's been designed by experts who understand your business needs!
TriNet provides a wealth of HR expertise to help companies with all aspects of employment, from recruiting, onboarding, and benefits management. The company's strategic service offerings are designed for small and medium-sized businesses that want advice on how they can grow more quickly or large enterprises that need strategic advice on retaining employees.
Industry-focused PEOs like TriNet are a new and innovative way for businesses of all sizes to find the best benefit, support, and superior technologies for their specific talent pool. The company offers custom solutions based on an individual's industry and case studies from their clients who have successfully implemented these types of services into their businesses.
TriNet's pricing is based on the variables of industry, company size, and location. As a result, there aren't any listed prices, but our research showed that employers can expect to pay $125-$175 per month for each employee they hire.
The company also offers HR services including:
Regional benefit plans
Proprietary technology ( TriNet HRpassport )
Best in class mobile app
Payroll processing
Workers' compensation insurance
User-friendly PEO software
Applicant tracking
Retirement plans, including 401(k) plans
Employee training
Expense management technology
Learning management software
TriNet Marketplace
Digital pay stubs
Workforce analytics
TriNet will assign you a team of dedicated experts in your industry to provide you with the support you need in reviewing this PEO or TriNet competitors.
Customer Reviews, Ratings, and Testimonials
A good number of clients/businesses consider TriNet as their preferred choice for PEO due to its simplicity, ease of onboarding, and robust features. However, a downside that you might need to pay close attention to is the pricing plan. Some users complain that the pricing plan is as transparent as they expect.
Pros
Offers customized services to clients
They are IRS-certified, ESAC
The software features integrations with other important applications like Quickbooks
Cloud-based platform makes the other providers seem really behind
Easy to use payroll platform
Superior employee self-service
Expense management can be included
Transparent pricing
Cons
Engage PEO
Engage PEO is a leading professional employer organization providing HR outsourcing solutions to small and mid-sized businesses across the US. Like most PEO services, they offer tailored solutions to small and mid-sized organizations.
Working with Engage PEO allows you to benefit from solid HR services, including human resource consulting, risk management, payroll and taxes, compliance, and benefits services. Engage PEO services also includes a robust training program that includes onsite and online training for employees and executive management on several relevant topics.
Engage PEO services include competitive prices to fit every business’s budget. For example, companies can access the service at the affordable rate of $80-$135 per month for each employee.
Additional services offered by Engage PEO include:
Employer assistance with ADA, EEOC, wage and hour laws
Drug testing assistance and background checks
Performance management
Unemployment claims administration
Employment verification
Employee handbook creation and review
Flexible benefits management
Offers most HR functions
Customer Reviews, Ratings, and Testimonials
Engage PEO has one of the best customer ratings in the industry. It has some of the best risk and compliance services compared to the PEO services reviewed so far. Engage offers fully integrated HR services, which you can access on a desktop, tablet, or smartphone.
Pros
You have a consultant team of licensed attorneys assigned to your company to offer you up-to-date legal advice
High priority on risks and compliance
Uses a cloud-based platform, accessible via desktops, tablets, and mobile devices
You have an assigned HR specialist for
Cons
Barrett Business Services, Inc. (BBSI)
BBSI will typically start with the why behind your business and what you hope to achieve. Once they understand your business goals, they begin to work together with your team on creating a blueprint for success that is tailored specifically towards meeting all of these goals.
BBSI does this by providing business management solutions for small and mid-sized businesses. Having been in business since 1951, it has developed a comprehensive management platform that integrates a knowledge-based approach in management consulting with HR outsourcing tools. With its almost 200 employees and multiple branches across the U.S, BBSI offers professional PEO services to more than 7,200 small and medium-sized businesses.
You can rest easy knowing that your business is in good hands with a dedicated team of professionals who will get to know you and seek out challenges specific to your company. Your local consultants are ready at any time, day or night. BBSI does take great care to carefully select its client-facing teams. It was evident that this is important because excellent customer service is something they are known for.
BBSI is a well-known provider in the staffing, hospitality, manufacturing, and transportation industries and offers very competitive workers' compensation pricing. As for their administrative fees, businesses can access the service at an affordable rate of $60-$120 per month for each employee.
Partnering with BBSI gives you access to top-notch customer support and services in the following areas:
Development of business strategy
Human resource consulting
Risk management and safety services
Payroll administration
Worker’s compensation (open to higher risk codes)
HR technology
Staffing and recruitment, and
Retirement benefits
ESAC accredited
Employment verifications
Customer Reviews, Ratings, and Testimonials
BBSI is one of the largest PEO companies in the U.S. Although BBSI is a long-standing business, it has an average rating of 3.3 stars on its GMB profile. While it is generally accepted as a reliable business management and HR consultant solution, several users feel that the services need to be improved, especially regarding pricing, tax filing, and compliance.
Pros
Best solution for large companies
Provides comprehensive Payroll, workers’ compensation, HR, risk management, and business consulting services
Highly experienced business consulting services in partnership with multiple benefits providers
Currently works with more than 7,500 clients business across different business sectors
Cons
Notable Mentions
Some outstanding PEO companies did not make our list, but that doesn't mean they aren't quality providers; it's simply the fact that when we considered all of the factors (technology, underwriting, cost, customer service, healthcare renewals, value, transparency, sales tactics, etc.), that they fell a little short in our evaluation. Still, if you're interested, you can review them below.
Notable Mentions
ADP Totalsource
Justworks
Infiniti HR
Rippling
Xcel HR
Do You Need Help Finding The Best PEO Company for Your Business?
When searching for a PEO to partner with, it is essential to note that not all PEOs are not equal in every way. In essence, some are better than others, depending on what you need and your budget. At the Mission, we usually recommend that our clients work with Certified Professional Employer Organization or PEOs with a longstanding reputation for excellence.
Working with a certified PEO company shields you from errors and liabilities that may arise due to the negligence, actions, or inactions of the PEO. Besides that, you'll typically have access to a fuller range of benefits with a larger, more established PEO.
At Mission, we do not only offer your business the services and solutions you need to scale your business quickly and efficiently. We also bring our years of experience and rich insight to the table, providing companies with answers to all their bugging HR and outsourcing needs. Don't hesitate to contact us if you have further questions about PEO or hiring employees in other locations.
We service the entire US but have been proudly providing top-tier PEO Consulting in the South East since the very beginning.
