Named Top U.S. PEO Brokerage of 2026 (#6) →
PEO for accounting firms
Your clients ask about PEOs.
Give them a supported answer.
For CPA firms, bookkeepers and fractional CFOs whose clients ask about PEOs. Instead of handing over two names and hoping for the best, share vetted PEOs compared on service, cost and fit for any client with 5–500 employees. Whichever one your client picks, you know they'll be well served.
Built for:
CPA firms
Bookkeeping firms
Fractional CFOs
Tax and advisory practices
Your client's PEO comparison
45-employee client · 3 states · year-end review
Illustrative example
PEO A
Best fit
Match
93%
WOTC processing
Included
GL export
Automated
Multi-state tax setup
Handled
All-in / employee / mo
$1,214
Exit fee
None
PEO B
Shortlisted
Match
82%
WOTC processing
Fee on credits
GL export
Automated
Multi-state tax setup
Handled
All-in / employee / mo
$1,152
Exit fee
$3,000
PEO C
Shortlisted
Match
75%
WOTC processing
Included
GL export
Manual CSV
Multi-state tax setup
Handled
All-in / employee / mo
$1,189
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?
Your client asked about PEO.
Now it's on your desk.
Accounting firms get the PEO question at tax time, at year-end and every time a client's payroll provider slips. Here's what CPAs tell us most, and where a structured approach to PEO for accounting firms helps.
“We give clients two or three PEO names and hope for the best.”
Most firms share a few options and let the client choose. However, without service data you can't tell which PEO will pick up the phone when payroll breaks. A vetted, side-by-side shortlist means every option you share is one you can stand behind.
“Payroll tax notices keep landing in our inbox.”
When a client's payroll provider misfiles, your team cleans up amended returns and penalty notices. Instead, the right PEO handles payroll tax filings and corrections, so fewer fires reach you.
“We can't get clean payroll data into the GL.”
Every month someone rekeys payroll journals or reconciles a PEO invoice by hand. That's why we show which PEOs export clean GL data to QuickBooks and other systems, so month-end close stays fast.
“The PEO invoice makes the P&L hard to read.”
Some PEO invoices bundle wages, taxes, benefits, work comp and admin fees together. We decode every proposal into its components, so you can show your client the true cost per employee.
“Our client pays a contingency fee on its tax credits.”
Some PEOs charge a percentage of every credit they process, such as WOTC. We flag those fees, so you can decide whether your firm or the PEO should handle credits.
“Multi-state payroll registrations eat our hours.”
Every new remote hire can mean a new state tax account and new filings. A PEO can register and file in each state, and we show which PEOs cover every state your client needs.
Why accounting firms partner with us
Think of us as your
workpapers for the PEO decision.
You'd never sign off on a number without support. So when a client asks about a PEO (Professional Employer Organization), PEO Marketplace gives you the support: 40+ vetted PEOs compared side by side, every proposal decoded into its components, and a recommendation you can stand behind. Your client still hears it from you.
230K+
U.S. businesses partner with a PEO today
4.5M+
people work at businesses served by NAPEO member PEOs
15%
of employers with 10 to 499 employees already use a PEO
18%
of PEO clients are in Florida, the largest share of any state
Source: NAPEO research on PEO clients, October 2025.
What firms get
What accounting firms get.
40+ vetted PEOs compared side by side for any client
Proposals broken into components: wages, taxes, benefits, work comp and fees
Clean data: which PEOs export payroll to your client's GL
Partner portal with status on every referral
Recurring revenue on closed deals, where your professional rules allow
Service you can vouch for: NPS, service model and response times compared
For accounting firms
Bring us your next client's PEO question.
Share one client's payroll setup. In return, we'll line up vetted PEOs side by side, compared on service, cost and fit, so you can share options with confidence.
How it works
How PEO for accounting firms works:
better options, better service.
Most firms don't pick one PEO for a client. Instead, they share two or three good options and let the owner decide. PEO Marketplace makes those options better: vetted PEOs compared on service, cost and fit, so whichever one your client picks, they're well served.
Discover
Match each client to PEOs that fit
P.A.U.L., our AI PEO assistant, screens 40+ vetted PEOs by size, industry, states, benefits and work comp needs, so you only present PEOs worth your client's time.
Evaluate
Every proposal broken into its components
Admin fees, payroll taxes, benefits, work comp, setup costs and exit terms decoded line by line, so the true cost per employee is clear before your client signs.
Onboard
A clean payroll conversion
We coordinate census, year-to-date payroll and go-live timing with you, and flag auto-renewals and exit terms before your client signs.
Service first
Options your client can choose from
Every PEO is vetted for accreditations, BBB status and NPS, so the options you share are ones you'd trust with your client's payroll. Referral rewards are available where your professional rules allow.
What it looks like
A 45-employee client weighs a PEO at year-end
A common picture: a growing services firm in three states, a payroll provider that keeps generating tax notices, and an owner asking whether a PEO would save money. Here's how the conversation changes when the CPA brings the comparison. For a real outcome, read our 20-employee nonprofit case study and others like it.
Illustrative example based on common accounting firm scenarios.
Before
Tax notices from the payroll provider
No clear cost per employee
Proposals in different formats
Owner deciding without support
After
Payroll tax filings handled by the PEO
True cost per employee, decoded
Vetted PEOs compared side by side
Client picks from options the CPA trusts
Before you recommend a PEO
6 questions every CPA should ask a PEO
We check every one of these for you, and lay the answers out side by side.
Who files payroll taxes, and who handles amendments and notices?
Can payroll data export cleanly to our client's general ledger?
How fast do you respond to payroll and HR issues, and who is the client's dedicated contact?
What do you charge on tax credits, and can we process them ourselves?
Do you stop charging payroll taxes at each wage base limit?
What are the exit fees, notice period and data export terms?
Your options
Three ways to handle the PEO question.
Only one shows who serves clients best.
Refer to one PEO
Hand off to a broker
PEO Marketplace
PEOs compared
One
The few they work with
40+ vetted PEOs, so you can share 2 or 3
Time spent
Slowest
Faster
Fastest
Proposals
That PEO's format
Spreadsheeted
Standardized format, decoded line by line
Quoting paperwork
Your client gathers it
Your client gathers it
DFY or guided DIY if preferred
Service quality
Whatever that PEO offers
Rarely compared
NPS and service models compared
Contract review
On the client
On the client
Redlined before client signs
After client signs
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
Client needs 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.
Accounting firm FAQ
PEO for accounting firms:
what CPAs ask first.
Reviewed by PEO Marketplace, a licensed Florida insurance agency (#L129491). Last updated October 2026.
How do accounting firms work with PEOs?
A CPA or accounting firm can advise a client on whether a PEO (Professional Employer Organization) fits, compare PEO proposals and review the true cost. With PEO Marketplace, PEO for accounting firms is simple: you bring the client, we compare 40+ vetted PEOs side by side on service, cost and fit, and your client chooses from options you trust. New to PEO? Read our guide to what a PEO is.
Can CPAs accept referral fees for recommending a PEO?
It depends on the engagement. Under the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct (ET 1.520), a CPA can't accept a commission for recommending a product to a client the firm performs an audit, review or certain compilation work for, and referral fees for other clients must be disclosed. State boards may add their own rules. Firms that can't, or prefer not to, accept referral rewards can still use PEO Marketplace as a client service.
Do I have to recommend just one PEO?
No. Most accounting firms share two or three options and let the client choose. We give you a vetted shortlist compared on service, cost and fit, so every option you share is one you'd be comfortable recommending.
Will a PEO take over my client's payroll?
Usually, yes. A PEO runs payroll and files payroll taxes for the employees it co-employs. That's why many firms shift to advisory work: reviewing the PEO invoice, cost per employee and tax planning. We also show which PEOs export clean data to your client's books.
How does a PEO invoice affect the books?
A PEO invoice usually bundles gross wages, employer payroll taxes, benefits, work comp and the admin fee. Breaking it into those components keeps the P&L readable and makes the cost per employee clear, so every comparison we prepare shows them separately.
Do PEOs handle multi-state payroll tax registration?
Most PEOs register and file in the states where a client has employees, but coverage varies. We show which PEOs cover every state your client needs. For industry detail, see how PEOs work for construction, healthcare and technology companies, or for small businesses and mid-market companies.
What is a CPEO?
A CPEO is a Certified Professional Employer Organization certified by the IRS. A CPEO takes on liability for federal employment taxes on the wages it pays to worksite employees, and clients can keep certain tax credits. Every comparison shows each PEO's certification.
Can I compare PEOs for a client already on a PEO?
Yes. Many businesses already on a PEO want to know if a better fit is out there. We compare their current PEO against vetted alternatives side by side, and businesses already on a full-service PEO (with health insurance and work comp) qualify for our $500 per employee per year savings guarantee. See real results in our case studies.
Is PEO Marketplace a licensed agency?
Yes. PEO Marketplace is a licensed Florida insurance agency (License #L129491) that only specializes in PEO, and was named a Top U.S. PEO Brokerage of 2026 (#6).
How does an accounting firm become a partner?
Book a partner call or pre-register as a partner on this page. We'll set up your partner access, walk you through the process, and you can bring your first client comparison right away.
Keep exploring
Your next step.
Solutions
Other partner types
Brokers, CPAs, consultants, investors and payroll providers.
See partner pages →
Proof
See real results
Case studies with the before-and-after numbers, line by line.
Read the case studies →
PEO 101
What is a PEO?
A plain-English guide to how a PEO works and what it costs.
Read the guide →
peo-marketplace
Get back to advising,
not chasing payroll notices.
PEO for accounting firms, without the legwork: share vetted options compared on service, cost and fit, and know your client will be well served whichever PEO they pick.
For accounting firms
Book a partner call. We'll walk you through the program and run your first client comparison.
Book a partner call Pre-register as a partnerVetted options only · Service compared side by side · Referral rewards where permitted
Bring us your next PEO question
Book a call