The Best PEO Companies For Businesses

Total Rating	4.1
Pricing2.2
Ease Of Use4.4
Features4.6
Customer Service3.8
User Reviews3.9

Payroll Processing Time

2 days (can pay for faster processing times)

Pricing Range

$39/month + $5/employee or custom pricing

Business Size

Self-employed contractors to enterprises with 1,000+ employees

Pros

Excellent customer support
Varied employee benefits
Tailored plans for small businesses

Cons

Non-transparent pricing
Five-employee minimum
Add-on features can get pricy

Why We Chose Paychex

Paychex is counted among the best PEO companies for tailoring its features and services to a business's unique needs. The company combines features, customer support, and customizability well. Customers benefit from access to HR professionals or dedicated support options to develop a customized plan. Businesses looking for a customizable and more personal approach should give Paychex a try.

On the customer end, the Paychex Flex software is relatively easy to use and has broad customer support options to help with setup and ongoing use. Paychex offers an extensive selection of employee benefits and strong HR management.

Paychex Pricing

Although Paychex PEO pricing is not disclosed outright on its website, the company claims to calculate rates per employee. Reviews indicate that small business customers were quoted a flat rate per employee that’s charged each pay period. The type of features included in a PEO plan will also impact Paychex’s cost.

Paychex periodically offers free trials and other promotions, giving businesses a chance to give its PEO services a test run.

Paychex Features

In addition to payroll processing, Paychex customers can incorporate recruiting, learning management systems, risk management, time and attendance tracking, and employee performance management into a PEO package. Some of its top features include:

Group and individual health insurance
401(k) and retirement services
Health benefit accounts
Dental and vision insurance
Tax-saving plans

Choose Paychex If...

You want a customized solution tailored to the needs of your business
You want strong HR management from a company that offers excellent support

Get Started With Paychex

ADP Payroll: Best PEO features & benefit selections

ADP Payroll

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Get Started With ADP Payroll

Total Rating	4.0
Pricing1.8
Ease Of Use4.6
Features4.6
Customer Service3.7
User Reviews3.3

Payroll Processing Time

2-5 days

Pricing Range

Custom pricing

Business Size

Small to enterprise-sized businesses with 1,000+ employees

Pros

Specialized HR consultants
Robust features and integrations
Available in more than 180 countries
User-friendly mobile app

Cons

Five-employee minimum
Pricing not transparent
Not cheap for small businesses

Why We Chose ADP TotalSource

ADP is one of the biggest players in the workforce and HR management industry, with a large base of small business clients and worksite employees supported by its services. This scale gives small businesses greater access to features, resources, and services. For starters, ADP TotalSource offers Fortune 500-caliber benefits and full-service payroll.

ADP also has a wide range of specialized benefits that small businesses can offer their employees, such as telehealth services, commuter benefits, and discounts on travel, retail, and entertainment.

Additionally, ADP's automated risk management tools and expert guidance reduce administrative burdens and minimize compliance risks. With a user-friendly platform and dedicated HR and specialist support, ADP helps small businesses manage payroll, HR, benefits, and compliance more efficiently.

ADP TotalSource Pricing

Small businesses will need to contact an ADP sales representative for a custom price quote. ADP TotalSource cost is determined by location, number of employees, and selected features.

ADP TotalSource Features

With ADP’s extensive knowledge of payroll, it offers an incredibly deep set of features with its PEO services as well. It also does a very good job of customizing its plans to fit your unique business. Here are some of its best features:

Competitive 401(k) plans
Experts in regulations and compliance
Career development feedback
Cost-effective insurance options
Commuter benefits

Choose ADP TotalSource If...

You want specialized employee benefits
You own a small business but want Fortune-500 level features

Justworks: Most scalable PEO

Justworks

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Total Rating	4.2
Pricing3.4
Ease Of Use4.6
Features4.0
Customer Service4.5
User Reviews4.6

Payroll Processing Time

4 days

Pricing Range

$50/month + $8/month per person - $109/month per employee

Business Size

Small to midsize businesses

Pros

Transparent pricing
User-friendly interface
Excellent benefit packages and add-ons

Cons

Limited reporting
No mobile app

Why We Chose Justworks

Since launching its PEO in 2012, Justworks has become a popular PEO option for small businesses. Justworks provides full-service benefits administration, payroll processing, HR, and compliance support within its two PEO plans: PEO Basic and PEO Plus.

Small businesses that opt for the Plus plan can access Justworks’ full suite of corporate-level employee benefits. These include health insurance plans from national carriers such as Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, Kaiser Permanente, and MetLife; dental and vision insurance; HSA and FSA accounts where available; and wellness perks.

Justworks can also assist with COBRA administration. Another noteworthy feature is Justworks Time Tracking, which integrates across the platform to help streamline payroll and other HR tasks.

JustWorks Pricing

Pricing3.4
Software Plans 2.6
Pricing Transparency 4.2
Pricing Customization 3.5

For PEO, JustWorks offers two pricing plans: Basic and Plus, with pricing starting at $79/month per employee.

JustWorks Features

JustWorks is a solid fit for businesses of all shapes and sizes, giving your employees the benefits that fit your budget and their needs. It offers a full suite of health insurance options along with 24/7 customer support. Here are some of its other best features:

COBRA administration
Payroll for salaried and hourly employees
Vendor payments
Liability insurance
Online employee onboarding
Accounting integrations

Choose JustWorks If...

You want a PEO that grows with your business
You want assistance with COBRA administration

TriNet: Best Industry-Specific PEO

TriNet

Total Rating	4.1
Pricing2.7
Ease Of Use4.4
Features4.4
Customer Service4.2
User Reviews3.2

Payroll Processing Time

Variable

Pricing Range

Varies

Business Size

Small to mid-sized businesses (5-1,000+ users)

Pros

Dedicated team of experts
Numerous employee benefits options
Strong payroll features

Cons

Five-employee minimum
Unclear security measures

Why We Chose TriNet

TriNet delivers full-service payroll processing, HR, benefits administration, compliance support, and risk mitigation services to small and mid-size businesses. Tailoring services and assistance to different industry sectors is where TriNet stands out among the best PEOs. Depending on a small business’s needs and sector, TriNet provides access to HR experts and support with relevant industry experience.

TriNet offers industry-specific HR solutions for a range of industries, including nonprofits, retail and wholesale, technology, financial services, life sciences, professional services, and other industries.

If you've had a difficult time looking for niche HR or payroll services specific to your industry, you may want to give TriNet a try.

TriNet Pricing

TriNet’s pricing structure is based on the number of employees, industry, and chosen services. Interested small businesses will have to request a personalized quote. TriNet will break down the monthly rate into line items so that business owners know what they’re paying for and how to craft a plan that works for their budget.

With TriNet, small businesses can step back from benefits administration and choose from a range of plans for their employees. These include health insurance, auto insurance, home insurance, commuter benefits, and marketplace discounts on national brands, such as Verizon, AT&T, Hyatt, and Restaurant.com.

TriNet Features

Beyond the services mentioned above, some of TriNet’s other features include:

Worker’s compensation
Talent retention
ACA solutions
Workforce analytics
Compensation benchmarking
Document management

Choose TriNet If...

You want services specific to your industry
You want personalized service from experienced consultants

Get Started With TriNet

Rippling: Best PEO for remote employees

Rippling

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Total Rating	4.3
Pricing2.4
Ease Of Use4.6
Features4.7
Customer Service4.2
User Reviews4.7

Payroll Processing Time

2 days

Pricing Range

$8/month per employee + $40/month base fee

Business Size

Small businesses to enterprises

Pros

Deep integration options
Easy-to-use interface
Multistate employee management

Cons

Lacks IRS and ESAC accreditation
Phone support is an add-on

Why We Chose Rippling

Rippling PEO covers the bases in terms of payroll, benefits administration, compliance support, and risk management. Each solution is organized in its own module that can be accessed from the main Rippling interface. Other business software can be integrated here as well. Rippling offers hundreds of integrations, including applications related to collaboration, customer support, design, finance, HR, marketing, and sales.

For small businesses having to manage employees and technology in dispersed locations, Rippling has the tech stack to support you. Rippling PEO provides remote device management tools that allow small business owners to manage company devices, apps, permissions, and security settings from the Rippling platform. Businesses with employees in multiple states can receive support with multi-state payroll, tax registration, and location-based wage compliance.

Rippling PEO Pricing

Rippling PEO pricing is not disclosed. Contact the company for a custom quote.

Note that costs will increase as additional services are tacked on.

Rippling PEO Features

Rippling prides itself on its breadth of integrations, but it has a strong overall feature set. It also allows you to add just the features you wish to use, making it ideal for rapidly growing businesses. Here are some of its best features:

Time and attendance
Talent management
Learning management
Simple app
Health insurance options

Choose Rippling If...

You operate a remote company
You want a PEO that integrates with business apps and software

Methodology

Merchant Maverick has been researching and reviewing payroll providers since 2018. Our writers have tested more than 75 different payroll software systems, evaluating pricing, features, ease of use, customer service, and user reviewers. Read more about how we rate payroll providers.

Weighted Rating Breakdown

Features 40%

Ease Of Use 20%

Customer Service 20%

Pricing 10%

User Reviews 10%

When comparing different apps, we consider over seventy data points, including the speed and cost of payroll runs, federal and state tax filing features, HR integrations, employee management tools, time tracking, and more. Our lists of the best providers include only apps we’ve deemed worthwhile from several vantage points. The payroll apps we pick are widely available and relatively easy to train on, with robust features and reasonable pricing. We also look carefully at features such as employee and client portals, user onboarding services, PTO management, benefits administration, multistate compliance, and more.

We spend an average of 10-15 hours researching and updating each one of our lists, making sure the providers included meet our internal standards for quality and reputation.

75+

Vendors evaluated

Attributes assessed per vendor

Features weighed

20+

Combined years of experience

What Is A PEO?

PEO stands for professional employer organization. PEO companies take some troublesome payroll and HR tasks (such as benefits management, recruiting, and payroll) off your plate and manage them for you.

PEOs may specialize in certain tasks or have an industry-specific focus. Generally, they are equipped to take on small business functions, such as worker’s compensation, unemployment administration, employee onboarding and training, and legal compliance. But they’re not for everyone as they require a large budget and a willingness to be hands-off with your payroll management and HR administration.

PEO VS Payroll Software

Payroll software is generally managed by the business owner or in-house HR manager, whereas with a PEO (professional employer organization) payroll and HR management is outsourced to a separate company. Learn more about the different types of payroll software and how to know which is right for your business.

Benefits Of Using A PEO

The biggest benefit of having a PEO is that you gain back much-needed time. Small businesses dedicate about 17% of their working hours to administrative tasks. Outsourcing payroll, benefits administration, and other HR duties to a PEO can save precious time and money that could be better spent running and growing your business.

A PEO:

Saves you time
Handles payroll, HR, & benefits administration tasks for you
Ensure that you are compliant
Provides expertise so you know your payroll & payroll taxes are being calculated correctly
Manages employee terminations & HR concerns
Can provide better access to employee benefits
Can often assist with recruiting, hiring, and onboarding

How Much Do PEOs Cost?

PEO cost varies according to location, type of business, number of employees, and services provided. Many PEOs give price quotes on a case-by-case basis.

Which PEO Company Is Right For Your Business?

When evaluating PEOs for your business, it’s helpful to consider what services you want to outsource and what support your employees need to succeed. And since many PEOs don’t divulge their pricing publicly, it’s worth requesting quotes from multiple companies to find a solution that works for your budget.

Find a PEO with:

A price in your budget
The features you need
Positive customer reviews
Reputable customer support with multiple support options
A willingness to demo the software
Strong security measures
Easy access for employees
Upfront contract terms & cancellation policies

The right PEO should fit both your needs and your employees needs. It also should be a good cultural fit and the company’s communication style should mesh with your own as they will be handling many tasks on your behalf.

The top companies on this list are a great place to start. Be sure to comparison shop with quotes and demos to find the perfect fit for your business.