Running a small business can be tough, especially when it comes to handling HR tasks. That’s where Professional Employer Organizations (PEOs) come in. They help manage things like payroll, benefits, and compliance, so you can focus on growing your business. We’ve looked at the best PEOs out there to help you find the right fit for your needs.
Key Takeaways
- ADP TotalSource offers a full range of HR and payroll services, making it a top choice for many businesses.
- Justworks is great for small businesses looking for an easy-to-use platform with competitive benefits.
- TriNet stands out for its industry-specific support and flexible contract options.
- Paychex provides comprehensive HR solutions and can scale with your business as it grows.
- Insperity is known for its excellent customer service and support, especially for small businesses.
1. ADP TotalSource
ADP TotalSource is a top choice for small businesses looking for a Professional Employer Organization (PEO). It offers a comprehensive suite of HR, payroll, and benefits management services. ADP TotalSource leverages advanced technology to streamline HR processes, making it easier for managers to focus on their core activities.
ADP TotalSource provides a dedicated HR business partner (HRBP) for each client, ensuring personalized support. The platform includes the ADP Workforce Now suite, which features tools like ADP Assist, an AI-based tool that enhances the accuracy of HR and payroll processes. Additionally, the DataCloud analytics tool helps businesses make the most of their data.
Key Features
- Regulatory Compliance: Yes
- Comprehensive Benefits Package: Yes
- Employee Performance Management: Available for an added fee
- Customer Service: Excellent, with support available via email, phone, and live chat
Pricing
ADP TotalSource offers custom pricing based on the specific needs of each business. While the exact cost isn’t listed online, ADP claims that its services can save businesses up to 35% on HR costs by outsourcing HR and payroll functions.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Comprehensive HR and payroll features
- High ratings for ease of use
- Dedicated compliance support
- User-friendly platform
Cons:
- No transparent pricing
- Minimum employee requirement
- No free trial
ADP TotalSource is ideal for small businesses that need robust HR support and advanced technology to manage their workforce efficiently.
2. Justworks
Justworks is a standout PEO for small businesses, offering a user-friendly platform and transparent pricing. It provides two main plans: PEO Basic and PEO Plus, both designed to cater to different business needs.
Pricing & Services
- PEO Basic: $59 per employee per month, covering payroll, basic HR tools, and expert support.
- PEO Plus: $99 per employee per month, including everything in PEO Basic plus medical, dental, and vision insurance.
Advantages
- Simple, cloud-hosted platform.
- Transparent pricing listed online.
- International payroll and contractor payments available.
Disadvantages
- No industry-specific plans.
- Not suitable for businesses with over 500 employees.
- Limited support for high-risk industries.
Customer Service
Justworks offers 24/7 support via phone, live chat, Slack, and email. The help center includes self-support tools and resources like employment law updates and video tutorials.
User Score
Justworks has a 4.3/5 rating on Trustpilot and a 7.8/10 on TrustRadius. Users appreciate the intuitive interface and helpful customer service but note some reporting limitations.
Justworks’ platform is designed to ensure that each aspect of payroll is scrutinized for accuracy and compliance, making it a reliable choice for small businesses.
3. TriNet
TriNet is a standout PEO for small businesses, especially those needing industry-specific services. Founded in 1988, TriNet manages HR for about 350,000 employees and 23,000 businesses. The company offers a comprehensive suite of services, including payroll, benefits administration, HR management, and risk mitigation.
Features
TriNet’s platform integrates payroll, benefits, and other HR information, making it easy to manage and analyze data. The platform supports risk management and compliance from recruitment to offboarding. It also offers dozens of third-party integrations with popular accounting and insurance services.
Pricing
TriNet’s pricing is based on custom quotes, which vary depending on factors like region, industry, company size, and required services. While this can make it hard to quickly identify costs, it allows for tailored solutions.
Customer Service
TriNet provides 24/7 live chat support and phone support from 6 a.m. to midnight ET, Monday to Friday. Email support and a comprehensive help center with guides and articles are also available.
Advantages
- Customizable permission settings for tailored employee access
- Specialized HR support through Connect 360 services
- User-friendly and responsive technology
Disadvantages
- Does not support hazardous industries like heavy construction
- No online pricing information
- Requires a minimum of five employees for PEO plans
TriNet is highly recommended as an exceptional HR PEO solution, especially for small HR teams managing employees across multiple states. The platform’s ease of use and broad range of benefits make it a valuable asset for growing businesses.
4. Paychex
Paychex is a well-established PEO that offers a wide range of services tailored to meet the needs of small businesses. With over 50 years of experience, Paychex has built a reputation for reliability and comprehensive support.
Paychex provides a variety of services, including:
- Payroll processing
- Retirement services
- Insurance
- Outsourced HR services
- Employee benefits like HSA, FSA, and HRA
- 401(k) plans
One of the standout features of Paychex is its option for onsite HR managers, which allows for personalized risk assessment and management. This direct approach helps in providing in-depth risk management services.
Paychex works directly with employees for HR support, making the customer service experience enjoyable and reliable.
Paychex also offers an enormous online resource center, simplifying the payroll process through online processing. For businesses that need additional support, Paychex can outsource office management services.
Pricing is based on a per-employee model with a minimum of five employees, making it a reasonable choice for growing businesses. Contracts are typically priced for a year.
While Paychex excels in many areas, some users have noted that the systems could use some updating. Despite this, the company remains a strong contender in the PEO market, especially for small businesses looking for comprehensive HR and payroll solutions.
5. Insperity
Insperity is a top choice for small and midsize businesses looking for comprehensive HR solutions. Insperity’s HR services include risk management, payroll administration, employee benefit plans, and an easy-to-use platform. One standout feature is the employee training solutions, which offer access to thousands of online books and resources. You can also set up on-site or online training sessions tailored to your business’s needs.
Insperity’s cloud-based portal allows employees to clock in and out, check paid time off, request time off, and review pay stubs. The platform is user-friendly and easy to navigate, making it a great option for businesses of all sizes.
Insperity Pricing & Services
Insperity offers custom quotes for its services, which include:
- HR administration
- Employee benefits
- Payroll
- Compliance assistance
- Personalized HR support
- All-in-one HR technology
Insperity Advantages
- Offers training and development materials, including hundreds of online books and courses.
- Lets you track attendance, request time off, and view compensation details.
- Provides dedicated support specialists.
Insperity Disadvantages
- Businesses must have at least five employees to partner with Insperity.
- Pricing is not listed online.
- PEO clients cannot use third-party payroll solutions.
Insperity has been providing HR services since 1986 and has 15 years of experience in PEO services for middle-market businesses. The company is known for its payroll processing, onboarding, and benefits packages, but some users find its pricing and support quality lacking.
6. AlphaStaff
AlphaStaff is a flexible PEO that offers a wide variety of HR services tailored to meet your company’s unique needs. One of the greatest challenges facing businesses of all sizes is protecting against the risk of a data breach. AlphaStaff provides cyber insurance to protect your business’s sensitive information and avoid fines for failing to comply with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS).
Features
AlphaStaff promotes the flexibility of its PEO services to provide an HR solution that’s customized to meet your company’s unique needs. It sells a comprehensive suite of HR services that begins with a human capital management (HCM) consultation that covers compliance, risk assessment, and salary and compensation surveys. Other components are training and development and performance measurement.
Also offered in its PEO services are payroll and tax administration, benefits management, multiple employer 401(k) retirement plans, and recruiting and talent management. AlphaStaff’s services for startups are designed to help new businesses avoid the most common startup mistakes. It also offers HR outsourcing for franchisees.
Pricing
There’s no reference to pricing on AlphaStaff’s site. The dearth of online reviews makes it difficult to get a sense of the value that the company’s customers realize from its PEO services.
Customer Service
Customers can reach AlphaStaff support by telephone from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET Monday to Friday. You can also contact support by email. The company’s client resources include business training webinars, the AlphaAdvisors blog, and links to government and industry HR sources.
Reputation
For a company founded in 1997, AlphaStaff has a remarkably small media footprint. There are only a handful of reviews of the service posted online, including a single review posted to G2 and no references at all on Trustpilot or Capterra.
7. Deel
Deel is a standout choice for businesses looking to manage global payroll and HR services. Deel offers global PEO/EOR services, enabling employers to hire and pay employees and contractors across more than 150 countries and jurisdictions. This is more than what most competitors offer.
Deel Pricing & Services
| Plan | Key Services | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Deel EOR | Local payroll, benefits, taxes, and compliance; employee benefits; support from 200+ local HR and legal experts, IR protection, integrations | Starting at $599 per month |
| Deel Contractor Management | Locally compliant contracts and guidance on local laws; auto collect local tax agreements, payroll (with 10+ methods in 150 currencies); automated invoicing, expenses, time off, etc. | Starting at $49 per month |
| Deel Payroll | Onboarding, offboarding, payroll, government declarations, taxes, benefits, payslips, compliance assistance, global payroll reports | Custom quote |
| Deel HR | Custom documents, expense and time off management, data storage, people directory, HR reports, org charts, workflow automation | Free |
| Deel Immigration | Visas sponsorship (in 25 countries), application tracking, support from local immigration experts, ongoing visa support | Custom quote |
Deel Advantages
- Deel lets you hire and pay employees and contractors in countries where you don’t own an entity.
- The company offers localized contracts, benefits, and support to help you stay compliant in multiple countries.
- It has a Compliance Hub that tracks regulatory changes across hundreds of countries and provides monthly reports to flag potential compliance issues like expiring visas, misclassified workers, and minimum wage violations.
Deel Disadvantages
- Deel isn’t accredited by the BBB or the ESAC.
- Its performance management features are limited, compared to other vendors we reviewed.
- Some users claimed to have experienced minor bugs with the platform; however, most admit they were promptly resolved after contacting customer support.
Utilizing a PEO offers small businesses and startups in Indiana access to expert HR and payroll management, enabling them to focus on growth and development.
8. Rippling
Rippling is a standout choice for small businesses, especially those that are growing and tech-savvy. It’s an excellent choice for growing, tech-savvy companies looking to streamline their HR, IT, and finance operations. Rippling offers a cloud-hosted platform that can serve both in-office and remote employees, making it versatile for various business needs.
Advantages
- Rippling’s platform supports both HR and IT management, allowing you to manage these functions from one centralized system.
- The company provides local tax-compliance services, which is beneficial for businesses with employees in multiple states.
- Rippling integrates with over 500 third-party apps, making it easy to customize and expand its functionality.
Disadvantages
- Rippling is not accredited by the ESAC or the BBB.
- Pricing for most features is not shared online.
- There is a five-employee minimum to use the service.
User Ratings
Rippling has received high marks from users:
| Platform | Rating |
|---|---|
| Trustpilot | 4.6/5 |
| TrustRadius | 8.5/10 |
Users appreciate how user-friendly the platform is, including processes like benefits enrollment and employee self-service. However, some users noted that pricing may not be ideal for very small businesses.
Rippling is a great option if you’re expanding rapidly and value a platform that can grow with you. The ability to manage HR and IT from one place is a game-changer for many businesses.
9. INFINITI HR
INFINITI HR is a franchise-friendly PEO that caters to the needs of growing businesses. Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Burtonsville, Maryland, it has quickly made a name for itself by working with well-known franchises and hotel brands like Choice Hotels International, Best Western, and Hyatt.
Key Features
- Customizable Services: Businesses can pick and choose services to create a custom bundle, offering flexibility that large enterprises often seek.
- Recruitment Services: Unique to INFINITI HR, these services help companies find top talent to fuel their growth.
- Comprehensive Benefits: Employees can enjoy a full range of health, dental, vision, and life insurance, along with unemployment and workers’ compensation.
- State-Specific HR Management: Offers on-demand consulting services and compliance support tailored to state regulations.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Franchise-friendly
- Customizable service packages
- Specialized recruitment support
Cons:
- Limited mobile app functionality
- May be too complex for smaller businesses
- Newer company with mixed reviews
Pricing
INFINITI HR offers custom quotes based on the specific needs of each business. The company emphasizes reducing HR-related liability and improving the value derived from labor costs.
INFINITI HR is a PEO that is franchise-friendly with services designed for the needs of a growing empire. Originally founded in 2008, INFINITI HR is headquartered in Burtonsville, Maryland.
Customer Service
Support is accessible through a guide that includes phone numbers and email addresses for various needs like billing and benefits. Clients and their employees can also access support through their INFINITI HR accounts, with additional self-support options available through FAQs and case studies.
Reputation
While INFINITI HR prides itself on personalized service, online reviews are limited and mixed. However, it remains a strong contender for businesses looking to maximize the value of their labor and reduce liability.
10. Resourcing Edge
Resourcing Edge offers a range of PEO services tailored to over 25 industries, making it a versatile choice for many businesses. Businesses can rely on Resourcing Edge for payroll, employee benefits, and more.
Features
- Employee relations and training
- Time and attendance management
- Payroll and benefits administration
- Risk management
- Recruiting services (sold separately)
- Career coaching and outplacement
- Performance modeling and assessment
Pricing
Resourcing Edge does not list pricing information on its website. The company focuses on custom HR solutions, which means pricing is likely tailored to each business’s needs.
Customer Service
Support is primarily accessed through the re360 console, available 24/7. The company provides contact information for its three U.S. offices but lacks a live chat option.
Reputation
Founded in 2003 and acquired by OneDigital in 2022, Resourcing Edge has few reviews online. The reviews that do exist are generally positive, though the lack of feedback is notable.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Specializes in over two dozen industries
- Single point of contact for HR and payroll
- Centralized access through re360 for managers and employees
Cons:
- Limited to 44 states
- No mobile app
- Few user reviews
Conclusion
In conclusion, choosing the right professional employer organization (PEO) can make a significant difference for your small business. By partnering with a PEO, you can streamline HR tasks, offer better benefits to your employees, and ensure compliance with labor laws. Each PEO has its strengths, so it’s important to consider your specific business needs when making a decision. Whether you need comprehensive HR solutions, advanced technology integration, or specialized industry support, there’s a PEO out there that can meet your requirements. Take the time to research and select the best PEO for your business to help it grow and thrive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Kuldeep Nirgude is a computer science student with a strong interest in finance and marketing. With a focus on analyzing industry trends, he writes articles that simplify complex concepts and empower readers to make informed decisions. Kuldeep is dedicated to bridging the gap between technology and business, and is committed to staying updated on the latest innovations shaping the economy.