Named Top U.S. PEO Brokerage of 2026 (#6) →
Free tool · PEO renewal playbook
Read your PEO renewal
like an analyst.
A renewal notice shows one number. This six-page playbook walks you through the decision framework PEO analysts use: unpack what changed, compare it on one census, score the fit and sign off on a path your leadership agrees with.
Inside:
6 printable pages
Worksheets and scorecard
Ready-to-send PEO request
Free download · 7-page PDF
Get The PEO Renewal Playbook
Worksheets for all five steps, a fit scorecard, a one-page decision snapshot and a ready-to-send request for your current PEO.
Your playbook is ready.
Download the PDFA copy is on its way to your inbox too. Want help reading your renewal? Book a free renewal review.
Where a renewal can land
Four outcomes.
None of them is the wrong answer.
The goal of a renewal review isn't to switch or to stay. It's to choose one of these on purpose, with the numbers behind it.
A
Keep
The fit is right and the increase is explained. Renew knowing what every dollar buys.
B
Tune
The partnership works and a few terms don't. Ask your PEO for specific adjustments in writing.
C
Shop
See how several PEOs price the same people and coverage, side by side.
D
Rebuild
The PEO model no longer fits. Assign payroll, benefits, HR and workers' comp before exiting.
The decision framework
Five steps from renewal notice
to a signed decision.
Each step is one page of the playbook, with a worksheet you can fill in by hand or alongside your finance team.
1
Unpack the invoice
Split today's cost and the renewal into four engines: admin fees, health and ancillary benefits, workers' comp and employer taxes. Tag each change as price, headcount or plan design, and land on one all-in cost per employee per month.
Page 2
2
Compare on one census
Put today, the renewal as quoted, a counter-offer and alternative PEO quotes on the same people and the same 12 months, so every column is a fair comparison.
Page 3
3
Score the fit
Rate service, benefits, payroll technology, workers' comp support, compliance reach and contract terms from 1 to 5, with the evidence behind each score.
Page 4
4
Decide on one page
A one-page snapshot with your dates, the chosen path, the year-one dollar impact, the reasons that decided it and the open items to close before signing.
Page 5
5
Ask your PEO
A ready-to-send request for the six documents and explanations you need from your current PEO. Good partners welcome a well-organized ask.
Page 6
Work backward from your notice deadline
90 days out
Pull the contract, invoices and census, and send the request in Step 5.
60 days out
Price the alternatives and score the fit in Steps 2 and 3.
30 days out
Sign off on one path, in writing, with the snapshot in Step 4.
Renewal FAQ
PEO renewals,
your questions answered.
Reviewed by PEO Marketplace, a licensed Florida insurance agency (#L129491). Last updated October 2026.
When should I start reviewing my PEO renewal?
Start about 90 days before your notice deadline, not your renewal date. Most PEO agreements require written notice before the term renews, and the exact window and method are in your contract. Ninety days leaves time to get answers from your PEO, price alternatives and decide without pressure.
Why did my PEO renewal go up?
A renewal increase usually comes from a few places at once: health plan rate changes, a different enrollment mix, workers' comp class codes or rates, a new state unemployment rate, or an admin fee tied to payroll that rises with raises. Step 1 of the playbook separates each one so you can see which drivers moved.
Do I have to switch PEOs to save money?
No. Many reviews end with Keep or Tune: you stay with your current PEO and ask for specific adjustments in writing. The comparison sheet has a counter-offer column for exactly that. Shopping the market is one of four outcomes, not the default.
What does all-in cost per employee per month mean?
It's your total annual employer cost (admin fees, employer benefit cost, workers' comp, employer taxes and other fees) divided by your employee count and by 12. Putting every option on this one number makes quotes with different fee structures comparable.
Is the playbook really free?
Yes. Download it, print it and share it with your finance team or leadership. If you'd like a second set of eyes, you can also book a free renewal review.
What is the $500 per employee savings guarantee?
It applies to businesses already on a full-service PEO today, meaning payroll, health insurance and workers' comp through a PEO. PEO Marketplace backs its comparison with a savings guarantee of $500 per employee per year. Terms apply.
peo-marketplace
Walk into your renewal meeting
with a decision, not a guess.
Download the six-page playbook, work through it with your finance team and see your renewal next to 40+ vetted PEOs when you're ready.
Get the free playbookRenewal coming up soon?
Book a free renewal review. We'll walk through your current PEO invoice and show how several PEOs would price the same team, side by side.
Book a free renewal review Try the PEO CalculatorFree comparison · No obligation · Savings guarantee for current full-service PEO clients
