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PEO for small business
Find the right PEO
for your small business.
A PEO for small businesses with 10–100 employees. Compare 40+ vetted PEOs side by side on health benefits, payroll, workers' comp and HR support, with every fee and contract term in plain view. Free comparison, paid by the PEO you choose.
Built for:
10–100 employees
Single or multi-location
Shopping or already on a PEO
Any industry
Your PEO shortlist
35-person business · 2 Florida locations
Illustrative example
PEO A
Best fit
Match
93%
Health plan options
6 plans
Workers' comp
Pay-as-you-go
Pricing model
Per employee
All-in / employee / mo
$1,165
Exit fee
None
PEO B
Shortlisted
Match
82%
Health plan options
3 plans
Workers' comp
Pay-as-you-go
Pricing model
% of payroll
All-in / employee / mo
$1,248
Exit fee
$4,000
PEO C
Shortlisted
Match
77%
Health plan options
5 plans
Workers' comp
Annual deposit
Pricing model
Per employee
All-in / employee / mo
$1,209
Exit fee
None
Every fee decoded by P.A.U.L. · Gaps and exit terms flagged before you sign
Compare leading PEOs with confidence, including
Sound familiar?
You built a business.
HR keeps pulling you back in.
For most small businesses, HR isn't one big problem. It's a dozen small ones that land on the owner's desk every week. These are the ones owners bring up most, and how the right PEO takes them off your plate.
“Our health insurance renewal went up again.”
Small-group rates are set on a small pool of people, so one rough claims year can mean a painful renewal. A PEO's large-group plans spread that risk across thousands of employees, which often means steadier pricing and more plan choices. See how plans compare in our benefits benchmark.
“I spend my nights on payroll and paperwork.”
Payroll approvals, onboarding, time off, benefits enrollment and employee questions add up fast, and they usually land on the owner. A PEO runs them on one platform, with an HR team you can actually call.
“One employee issue could cost us a lot.”
Terminations, complaints, overtime rules and leave laws change constantly, and a single misstep can turn into a claim. A PEO gives you HR expertise, compliant policies and an up-to-date handbook, so you're not guessing when something goes wrong.
“Workers' comp is eating into our margins.”
Upfront deposits and year-end audits can swing cash flow when you least expect it. Many PEOs offer pay-as-you-go workers' comp and help manage claims and safety, so your cost tracks your actual payroll.
“We're losing good people to bigger employers.”
When the company down the street offers better health plans and a 401(k), your best people notice. A PEO lets a 20-person business offer a benefits package that competes with companies many times its size.
“We're already on a PEO. Are we overpaying?”
PEO pricing is hard to compare and renewals creep up quietly. If you're on a full-service PEO today (PEO, health insurance and workers' comp), we benchmark what you pay against other vetted PEOs, backed by our $500 per employee per year savings guarantee.
Why small businesses use a PEO
A full HR department,
without adding headcount.
A PEO (Professional Employer Organization) handles payroll, benefits, workers' comp and HR compliance for your business as a co-employer. Here's why a PEO for small business owners matters more every year.
$26,993
average annual family health premium in 2025, up 6% in one year
$2,631
average single deductible at small firms, vs. $1,670 at larger firms
43%
of small businesses spend 10+ hours a week on HR
27%
return on investment from using a PEO, in cost savings alone
Sources: KFF 2025 Employer Health Benefits Survey, FrankCrum SMB HR study (2026) and NAPEO industry research.
What you get
One partner for payroll, benefits, work comp and compliance.
Payroll and payroll taxes run, filed and deposited on time, every time
Health, dental and vision with large-group buying power
401(k) and retirement plans your team will actually use
Workers' comp, often pay-as-you-go, with claims support
HR support and compliance: handbooks, terminations, leave and labor law updates
One HR platform for onboarding, time off and employee self-service
Free for small businesses
See what your business should be paying for a PEO.
Get vetted PEOs side by side with every fee decoded. Already on a full-service PEO? We'll benchmark it, backed by our $500 per employee per year savings guarantee.
Why compare here first
Not every PEO is right
for your business.
PEOs differ on the industries they accept, the states they cover, how they price and what's in the contract. Some specialize in workers' comp for certain lines of work. Fees are structured differently from one PEO to the next. Comparing them side by side, before you sign, is how you find the right fit.
Matched to your business
PEOs that want your industry and size
P.A.U.L., our AI PEO assistant, matches you with PEOs whose industries, states, minimums and plans fit your business, so you only compare options that will actually take you on.
Every fee decoded
Admin fees, benefits and work comp, side by side
Proposals land in one standardized format, line by line, so you can see what you'd really pay all-in, not just the headline admin fee a salesperson leads with.
Already on a PEO?
Find out if you're overpaying
If you're on a full-service PEO today, we benchmark your current costs and contract against other vetted PEOs, backed by our $500 per employee per year savings guarantee.
Free for your business
Paid by the PEO you ultimately choose
Like a recruiter, our fee comes from the PEO you ultimately pick. You get the comparison, the tools and the guidance at no cost, with no obligation to choose anyone.
What it looks like
A 35-person business with two locations
A common picture: a family-owned service business with 35 employees across two Florida locations, on a small-group health plan and a separate workers' comp policy. Here's how the owner's week changes once the right PEO is in place. More real outcomes in our case studies.
Illustrative example based on common small-business setups.
Before
Health renewal arrives higher than last year, again
Workers' comp audit brings a surprise bill
The owner approves payroll and answers HR questions at night
Employee handbook last updated years ago
After
Large-group plans with more choices for employees
Pay-as-you-go workers' comp tied to actual payroll
Payroll, onboarding and HR questions handled by the PEO
Current handbook, policies and compliance support
Before you sign anything
6 questions every owner should ask a PEO
We check every one of these for you, and lay the answers out side by side.
What's our total cost per employee, including admin fees, benefits and workers' comp?
Which health plans and carriers can our employees choose from?
Do you write workers' comp for our industry, and is it pay-as-you-go?
What's the contract term, the notice period and any fee to leave?
How are renewals priced, and how much did rates change for clients like us last year?
Who is our day-to-day HR contact, and how fast do they respond?
Your options
Three ways to buy PEO services.
Only one compares them all for you.
Going direct to a PEO
Traditional broker
PEO Marketplace
PEOs you compare
One by one
The few they work with
40+ vetted PEOs, side by side
Your time
Slowest
Faster
Fastest
Proposals
Their format
Each PEO's own format
Standardized format, decoded line by line
Quote paperwork
You gather it
You gather it
Done for you, or guided DIY if you prefer
Cost to your business
Free
Usually free
Free, paid by the PEO you choose
Contract review
On your own
Varies
Before you sign
After you sign
The PEO's service team
Varies
Quarterly advocacy check-ins
Platform launch · December
Pre-register for the PEO Marketplace platform.
Everything the PEO market has been missing, from A to Z: smart shopping, side-by-side comparisons and contract signing on one platform, taking the whole PEO process from weeks to hours. Pre-register today as a business, a partner or a PEO. The first 50 businesses get free access to the beta launch.
✓ Free beta access for the first 50 businesses
✓ First in line when the platform opens in December
✓ Launch updates only. No spam, unsubscribe anytime
Need a PEO right now? Our team can run the comparison for you today →
Early access
Reserve your spot
Who's registering?
For employers
Shopping for a PEO or reviewing the one you have? The first 50 businesses to pre-register get free access to the beta launch of the marketplace.
Free beta access is limited to the first 50 businesses that pre-register.
Small business FAQ
PEO for small business:
what owners ask first.
Reviewed by PEO Marketplace, a licensed Florida insurance agency (#L129491). Last updated October 2026.
Is a PEO worth it for a small business?
For many small businesses, yes. A PEO handles payroll, benefits, workers' comp and HR compliance as your co-employer, giving you large-group benefits and HR expertise without hiring an HR team. NAPEO research puts the return on investment at 27% in cost savings alone. Whether it pays off for you depends on your size, industry, states and current costs, which is why comparing matters.
What are the downsides of a PEO?
The common ones: less control over plan design and carriers, pricing that's hard to compare across PEOs, contracts with renewal and exit terms, and benefits that are tied to the PEO if you leave. Most of these come down to choosing the right PEO and knowing the terms up front, which is why we lay out every fee and contract term side by side before you sign.
What is the best PEO for small business?
There isn't one best PEO for every small business. The right fit depends on your industry, headcount, states, the benefits your team values and how each PEO prices. We compare 40+ vetted PEOs side by side for your business instead of ranking one winner for everyone. See our guide to the best PEOs for small business.
How much does a PEO cost for a small business?
PEOs charge either a flat fee per employee per month or a percentage of payroll, plus the cost of benefits and workers' comp. Because each PEO bundles these differently, the only fair comparison is all-in and side by side, which is exactly what we do. For a quick estimate, try our PEO cost calculator.
Is a PEO or an insurance broker better for a small business?
A broker shops health insurance for you. A PEO goes further: it puts your team on large-group plans and also handles payroll, workers' comp and HR compliance. If benefits are your only problem, a broker may be enough. If payroll, HR and compliance are on your desk too, a PEO usually covers more. Read our PEO vs. broker comparison.
How many employees do you need to use a PEO?
Many PEOs work with businesses from just a few employees, while others set minimums of five, ten or more. Minimums vary by provider and industry, so we only show you PEOs whose requirements fit your current headcount. Just getting started? See our page on PEOs for startups.
Can a PEO cover workers' comp for my industry?
Most PEOs offer workers' comp, but not every PEO covers every industry or class code, especially higher-risk work like construction or transportation. We check that each PEO you see can write coverage for your industry and the states where you operate.
Will I lose control of my business or my employees?
No. With a PEO you keep running your business: you hire, manage, set pay and make every business decision. The PEO becomes a co-employer for payroll, benefits, tax and HR administration, so those tasks come off your plate without changing who's in charge.
We're already on a PEO. Can we switch?
Yes. Most businesses switch at their benefits renewal or contract anniversary, after checking their notice period and any exit fees. If you're on a full-service PEO today (PEO, health insurance and workers' comp), we compare your current costs against other vetted PEOs, backed by our $500 per employee per year savings guarantee.
What does PEO implementation look like for a small business?
Usually a few weeks. You share an employee census and payroll history, choose benefits and sign the agreement. The PEO then sets up payroll, enrolls employees and moves workers' comp over. Most businesses time the start with a new quarter or their benefits renewal to keep the switch clean.
Is PEO Marketplace really free for small businesses?
Yes. We work like a recruiter: our fee is paid by the PEO you ultimately choose. There's no obligation to choose any PEO we show you.
Keep exploring
Your next step.
Solutions
Find your industry
Guides for 14 industries, from construction to life sciences.
See industries →
Proof
See real results
Case studies with the before-and-after numbers, line by line.
Read the case studies →
Free tool
Estimate your PEO savings
Run your own numbers in the free PEO Calculator.
Open the calculator →
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