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PEO 101 · Videos
PEO videos,
explained in plain English.
Short videos that answer the questions owners ask most: what a PEO is, how it compares to payroll, how to choose one and what to watch out for when you switch. Start with the one below.
Topics:
PEO basics
Choosing a PEO
Benefits and work comp
HR and compliance
Start here: the truth about PEOs
What a PEO really does, and what you need to know before you sign
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PEO basics
Is Gusto a PEO? Payroll vs. PEO explained
PEO basics
PEO vs. payroll service: why picking wrong costs you more
Choosing a PEO
Best PEO for small business: how to choose in 7 steps
Choosing a PEO
TriNet vs. Insperity vs. ADP: the PEO showdown
Switching PEOs
Switching PEOs? What can go wrong if you do it alone
Fireside chat
Engage PEO x PEO Marketplace: real talk on HR outsourcing, compliance and ROI
Health benefits
Small business health insurance renewal going up? Here's why, and what to do
Work comp
The work comp mistakes small business owners make after a claim
Compliance
Multi-state compliance for remote teams: what most employers miss
HR basics
How to let someone go without getting sued: an employer's guide
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Video FAQ
Quick answers from
our videos.
Reviewed by PEO Marketplace, a licensed Florida insurance agency (#L129491). Last updated October 2026.
What is a PEO?
A PEO (professional employer organization) is a plug-and-play HR back office. It handles payroll, payroll taxes, health benefits, work comp and HR compliance for small and mid-size businesses, while you keep running your company. Read more in what is a PEO.
Is Gusto a PEO?
No. Gusto is payroll and HR software. It runs payroll and can help with benefits, but it doesn't become your co-employer the way a PEO does, so you don't get a PEO's pooled large-group benefits or shared employer responsibilities.
What's the difference between a PEO and a payroll service?
A payroll service pays your people and files payroll taxes. A PEO does that too, and adds health benefits, work comp, HR experts and compliance help on one invoice. The right choice depends on how much of the employer workload you want off your plate.
How do I choose the best PEO for my small business?
Start with what matters most to you, such as benefits, work comp or service. Then compare at least two or three PEOs side by side on total cost, plan options, service and contract terms, including exit fees.
Why does my small business health insurance renewal keep going up?
Rising medical and prescription costs, a team that's getting older and your carrier's overall pricing all push renewals up, and small groups have little room to negotiate. A PEO's large pooled plan is one option worth comparing at renewal.
What can go wrong when switching PEOs?
Common issues include exit fees or notice periods in the old contract, gaps in health coverage, year-to-date payroll data that doesn't transfer cleanly, and deductibles resetting mid-year. Reading your exit terms and planning the switch date first avoids most of them.
What do I need to know about multi-state compliance for remote employees?
Each state where an employee works can have its own payroll tax registration, unemployment insurance, paid leave and new-hire rules. Register before the first paycheck in a new state. Many PEOs handle these registrations for you.
What should I do after a work comp claim?
Report it to your carrier or PEO right away, document what happened, stay in touch with the injured employee and offer light-duty work when you can. Slow reporting and poor follow-up tend to make claims more expensive.
How do I let an employee go without legal trouble?
Document performance issues, apply your policies consistently, keep the conversation brief and respectful, and follow your state's final-pay rules. For anything sensitive, talk to an employment attorney or your PEO's HR team first.
Where can I watch more PEO videos?
On our YouTube channel. Subscribe to get new videos on PEOs, benefits, work comp and HR compliance as they come out.
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