PEO Atlas
Quick PEO and HR answers
Fast, plain-English answers to common PEO and HR questions. If you need help comparing options, PEO Atlas is a free matching service that connects your business with providers — we are not a PEO or HR provider.
How much does a PEO cost? — honest, plain-language guidance and a free way to get matched with a vetted PEO or HR outsourcing provider. General information, not HR, tax, insurance, or legal advice.
Open → PEO pricing: per-employee vs percentage of payrollPEO pricing: per-employee vs percentage of payroll — honest, plain-language guidance and a free way to get matched with a vetted PEO or HR outsourcing provider. General information, not HR, tax, insurance, or legal advice.
Open → Is a PEO worth it for my business?Is a PEO worth it for my business? — honest, plain-language guidance and a free way to get matched with a vetted PEO or HR outsourcing provider. General information, not HR, tax, insurance, or legal advice.
Open → What does PEO stand for?What does PEO stand for? — honest, plain-language guidance and a free way to get matched with a vetted PEO or HR outsourcing provider. General information, not HR, tax, insurance, or legal advice.
Open → PEO vs ASO — what's the difference?PEO vs ASO — what's the difference? — honest, plain-language guidance and a free way to get matched with a vetted PEO or HR outsourcing provider. General information, not HR, tax, insurance, or legal advice.
Open → PEO vs EOR — what's the difference?PEO vs EOR — what's the difference? — honest, plain-language guidance and a free way to get matched with a vetted PEO or HR outsourcing provider. General information, not HR, tax, insurance, or legal advice.
Open → PEO vs HR software — which do I need?PEO vs HR software — which do I need? — honest, plain-language guidance and a free way to get matched with a vetted PEO or HR outsourcing provider. General information, not HR, tax, insurance, or legal advice.
Open → How does co-employment work?How does co-employment work? — honest, plain-language guidance and a free way to get matched with a vetted PEO or HR outsourcing provider. General information, not HR, tax, insurance, or legal advice.
Open → Does a PEO take over hiring and firing?Does a PEO take over hiring and firing? — honest, plain-language guidance and a free way to get matched with a vetted PEO or HR outsourcing provider. General information, not HR, tax, insurance, or legal advice.
Open → Who is the employer when you use a PEO?Who is the employer when you use a PEO? — honest, plain-language guidance and a free way to get matched with a vetted PEO or HR outsourcing provider. General information, not HR, tax, insurance, or legal advice.
Open → Can a PEO actually save my business money?Can a PEO actually save my business money? — honest, plain-language guidance and a free way to get matched with a vetted PEO or HR outsourcing provider. General information, not HR, tax, insurance, or legal advice.
Open → How many employees do you need for a PEO?How many employees do you need for a PEO? — honest, plain-language guidance and a free way to get matched with a vetted PEO or HR outsourcing provider. General information, not HR, tax, insurance, or legal advice.
Open → How do PEO employee benefits work?How do PEO employee benefits work? — honest, plain-language guidance and a free way to get matched with a vetted PEO or HR outsourcing provider. General information, not HR, tax, insurance, or legal advice.
Open → Does a PEO handle workers' comp?Does a PEO handle workers' comp? — honest, plain-language guidance and a free way to get matched with a vetted PEO or HR outsourcing provider. General information, not HR, tax, insurance, or legal advice.
Open → Does a PEO file my payroll taxes?Does a PEO file my payroll taxes? — honest, plain-language guidance and a free way to get matched with a vetted PEO or HR outsourcing provider. General information, not HR, tax, insurance, or legal advice.
Open → Can a PEO help with multi-state payroll?Can a PEO help with multi-state payroll? — honest, plain-language guidance and a free way to get matched with a vetted PEO or HR outsourcing provider. General information, not HR, tax, insurance, or legal advice.
Open → What is a Certified PEO (CPEO)?What is a Certified PEO (CPEO)? — honest, plain-language guidance and a free way to get matched with a vetted PEO or HR outsourcing provider. General information, not HR, tax, insurance, or legal advice.
Open → How to tell if a PEO is accreditedHow to tell if a PEO is accredited — honest, plain-language guidance and a free way to get matched with a vetted PEO or HR outsourcing provider. General information, not HR, tax, insurance, or legal advice.
Open → How do I switch from one PEO to another?How do I switch from one PEO to another? — honest, plain-language guidance and a free way to get matched with a vetted PEO or HR outsourcing provider. General information, not HR, tax, insurance, or legal advice.
Open → How do I leave a PEO and bring HR in-house?How do I leave a PEO and bring HR in-house? — honest, plain-language guidance and a free way to get matched with a vetted PEO or HR outsourcing provider. General information, not HR, tax, insurance, or legal advice.
Open → Questions to ask a PEO before you signQuestions to ask a PEO before you sign — honest, plain-language guidance and a free way to get matched with a vetted PEO or HR outsourcing provider. General information, not HR, tax, insurance, or legal advice.
Open →What this page can help with
If you are spending too much time on payroll, employee paperwork, benefits, hiring tasks, or HR rules, this page gives you a quick starting point. It is built for busy owners who want a clear answer without a sales pitch.
PEO Atlas gives general information only. We are a free matching service, not a PEO, payroll company, HR firm, benefits broker, insurance provider, accountant, or law firm. Rules, taxes, and benefits vary by state, so for advice on your specific business, speak with a licensed provider, accountant, or attorney.
What is a PEO, in simple words?
A PEO, or Professional Employer Organization, helps a business handle employer back-office work such as payroll processing, payroll tax administration, employee benefits access, HR administration, workers' comp support, and some compliance tools.
Many small businesses use a PEO when they do not want to build a full internal HR team yet. Instead of juggling separate vendors for payroll, benefits, HR systems, and workers' comp, they may use one provider to organize more of that stack.
A PEO is not the right fit for every company, but it can make operations simpler for some businesses. You can learn more in our guides or see common solution types on our services page.
What does co-employment mean?
This is the part that confuses many owners. In a PEO arrangement, the PEO becomes a co-employer for certain payroll, tax, and benefits purposes.
That does not mean you lose control of your company. Your business still controls hiring, firing, pay rates, schedules, job duties, and day-to-day management of your employees.
In plain terms: the PEO helps handle parts of the employer administration, while you still run the business and manage your team.
How much does a PEO usually cost?
PEO pricing is usually shown one of two ways: a per-employee-per-month fee or a percentage of payroll. A common rough range is about $40-$160 per employee per month, or roughly 2%-12% of payroll.
Those numbers are only general ranges, not quotes. The real cost depends on your headcount, the services you choose, your state, your industry, payroll size, benefits setup, and sometimes your workers' comp profile.
When comparing providers, ask for the full price in writing and check what is included. Some quotes look low at first but leave out setup fees, benefits administration charges, year-end fees, or exit costs.
What should I ask before signing with a provider?
Keep the review simple and practical. Ask what services are actually included, how pricing works, who handles payroll questions, what support you get during onboarding, and how benefits, workers' comp, and compliance tools are managed in your state.
Also read the full contract before signing. Pay close attention to fees, contract term, auto-renewal language, cancellation rules, and what happens if you leave.
Watch for common red flags:
- vague or bundled fees you cannot break apart
- long lock-in terms
- hidden setup or exit charges
- pressure to sign fast
- no clear accreditation information
- no mention of IRS-Certified PEO status or ESAC accreditation when relevant
Your business stays in control. You compare providers, ask questions, read the contract carefully, and choose who to work with.
How PEO Atlas works
If you want help finding options, get matched. PEO Atlas is free for the business. We do not perform HR work or manage payroll; we help you compare providers based on your size, state, and needs.
We collect business and need details only, such as your business name, headcount, state, what you need help with, and contact information. We do not ask for EINs, bank account numbers, employee Social Security numbers, full employee rosters, income details, or health records.
The goal is simple: help you save time, understand your options, and talk to providers that fit your situation.
If HR and payroll are eating your time, this page helps you understand what a PEO does, what it may cost, and how to compare providers without giving up control.
Ready to compare PEO and HR providers?
Tell us your headcount, your state, and what you need help with. We match you, free, with vetted providers — you compare quotes and choose who to work with, and you read the contract before you sign.