What is outsourcing human resources?

Outsourcing human resources means hiring an outside company to help you manage HR administration, such as payroll and strategic human resources planning, including talent retention, risk mitigation and legal compliance.

What does co-employment mean?

Co-employment is how we refer to the business relationship between a small business and a PEO. The business owners remain in control of day-to-day activities and direction of the company, but allocates some responsibilities relating to their employees to the PEO. A detailed service agreement is made before working together.

Why should my business work with a PEO?

There are numerous advantages to working with a PEO. You can access better benefits, mitigate employment-related risk and help lower the cost of running your own internal HR team. Best of all, you’ll have more time to focus on growing your business. Learn more about PEO benefits

What’s the difference between a PEO and an ASO?

The term “ASO,” on the other hand, stands for Administrative Services Organization. The most important difference between an ASO and a PEO is that the service provided through an ASO does not establish a co-employer relationship. For example, an ASO does not process payroll and remit and report payroll taxes under its own FEIN, nor can it be the sponsor of any health and welfare benefits offered to its customers’ employees. A PEO offers its services as a “co-employer” or through a “co-employment” relationship. Co-employment refers to the fact that the PEO allocates, with each of its clients, employer responsibilities relating to the employees the client brings into its arrangement with the PEO, which are usually referred to as worksite employees. Typically, the PEO and client responsibilities are expressly described in a service agreement between the PEO and the client. With a PEO, business owners retain complete control over their workforce, company culture and brand. An ASO does not establish a co-employment relationship with its customers, does not process payroll or report taxes under their own tax ID. ASOs don’t act as sponsors of benefits plans or provide small businesses with access to benefits. The customer remains the sole sponsor. Read our blog for more details on the differences between a PEO and an ASO.

PEO Services for SMBs

Professional employer organizations (PEOs) help small and medium size businesses (SMBs) with HR best practices and guidance, access to benefits, workers’ compensation insurance, and certain payroll and employment related taxes.

Find out why 91% of employers reported their employees were more satisfied under a PEO.*

* Report based on MetLife’s 18th Annual U.S. Employee Benefit Trends Study 2020

HR services to help your business achieve incredible results

What can a PEO do for you?

Save time and money

Hiring a PEO frees you up to focus on your business and can help deliver a rapid return on investment—on average, more than 27% improvement in ROI.*

* National Association of Professional Employer Organizations, September 2019. Individual business results may vary, including results of TriNet clients.

Helps your business stay compliant

Keeping up with employment rules and regulations takes time away from your business. A good PEO provides the expertise you need to help you comply with federal, state and local regulations governing payroll, benefits, terminations and hiring.

Gain access to big-company benefits

Access to leading employee benefit plans is no longer reserved for large companies. The right PEO for your business should offer access to quality health care coverage in the regions where you operate.

Find out if a PEO is the right option for your business.

You have options when it comes to deciding on the right HR solution. From payroll to benefits to compliance mitigation, there’s a lot to consider. Take our assessment to find out if a PEO is the best option for you.

PEO clients reported employees were
more satisfied with their benefit offering

0%

Employers working with a PEO (where PEO had a significant impact on benefits selected)

* Report based on MetLife’s 18th Annual U.S. Employee Benefit Trends Study 2020

0%

Employers not working with a PEO

* Report based on MetLife’s 18th Annual U.S. Employee Benefit Trends Study 2020

How a PEO model works

A PEO business model operates under a co-employment model in which the PEO, as the co-employer, is the employer of record and based on the allocation of responsibilities under the contract assumes certain responsibilities for payroll and tax filing. The client maintains control over workforce decisions like hiring and firing, compensation, culture and more. The PEO model also allows co-employees access to a range of benefits and other services.

What TriNet brings to the table

HR support for you and your employees—whether it’s benefits or payroll questions, assistance is available by phone or online.
A simple online payroll solution for managing payroll and navigating evolving tax codes.
HR software for you and your employees to manage time off, view pay and benefits information and update data from your mobile device with one log in
Best practices guidance on complex employment-related regulations and compliance
Access to the comprehensive benefits your employees need and want

How we’re different

At TriNet, we understand that each business is unique. That’s why our HR solutions are tailored to your industry and company size. Take advantage of an integrated service and technology experience. At TriNet, you’ll have access to a team of HR specialists with industry expertise to give you valuable guidance—whether it’s HR administration, best practices insights or selecting your TriNet benefits offering. Our HR outsourcing services will help you manage sensitive employee situations, so you can get back to business.

On average PEOs bring:

0%

annual return on investment

$1,775

per year savings per employee

* National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO) 2019

Additional PEO resources

Do I Need a PEO for My Business? Here's How to Tell

While it may be overwhelming to think of tackling all aspects of your business while still trying to achieve your dreams, the good news is you don't have to worry about everything on your own. A professional employer organization (PEO) can help with your HR needs, making it easier to stay compliant and on top of the ever-changing world of HR, while freeing you to focus on the many other aspects of running a small business.

Read Now

What is a Professional Employer Organization (PEO)?

Managing HR is time-consuming and expensive. With outsourced HR, you can save costs and get time back in your day to focus on your company's growth.

Read Now

What’s the Difference Between a PEO and ASO — and Why it Matters

At TriNet we provide HR services to over 16,000 small and medium size businesses (SMBs) across the U.S. and across several different industries including technology, life sciences, financial services, professional services, nonprofit, retail and more

Read Now

Companies Benefitting from Our PEO Services

The help your business needs in these times

"I can't imagine going through this period without the payroll, benefits and HR services that TriNet has provided. The level of assistance both through the COVID-19/PPP loan webinars and from our points of contact for payroll processing and customer service have exceeded all expectations."

Kelly Hansen

Redwood Brands LLC.

Frequently Asked Questions

Find out if a PEO is the right option for your business.

You have options when it comes to deciding on the right HR solution. From payroll to benefits to compliance management, there’s a lot to consider. Take our assessment to find out if a PEO is the best option for you.

Take Assessment
What is a professional employer organization (PEO)?

A PEO provides small and medium-size businesses with HR admin support and services. This can include payroll, access to benefits that small businesses may not typically provide, workers compensation, and risk mitigation services.

Learn more about PEOs
What is outsourcing human resources?

Outsourcing human resources means hiring an outside company to help you manage HR administration, such as payroll and strategic human resources planning, including talent retention, risk mitigation and legal compliance.

Download the eGuide, Top 5 Reasons SMBs Choose PEOs.

Get eGuide
What does co-employment mean?

Co-employment is how we refer to the business relationship between a small business and a PEO. The business owners remain in control of day-to-day activities and direction of the company, but allocates some responsibilities relating to their employees to the PEO. A detailed service agreement is made before working together.
Why should my business work with a PEO?

There are numerous advantages to working with a PEO. You can access better benefits, mitigate employment-related risk and help lower the cost of running your own internal HR team. Best of all, you’ll have more time to focus on growing your business.

Download the eGuide, Six Key HR Strategies for Scaling Your Business.

Get eGuide
What’s the difference between a PEO and an ASO?

The term “ASO,” on the other hand, stands for Administrative Services Organization. The most important difference between an ASO and a PEO is that the service provided through an ASO does not establish a co-employer relationship. For example, an ASO does not process payroll and remit and report payroll taxes under its own FEIN, nor can it be the sponsor of any health and welfare benefits offered to its customers’ employees.
A PEO offers its services as a “co-employer” or through a “co-employment” relationship. Co-employment refers to the fact that the PEO allocates, with each of its clients, employer responsibilities relating to the employees the client brings into its arrangement with the PEO, which are usually referred to as worksite employees. Typically, the PEO and client responsibilities are expressly described in a service agreement between the PEO and the client. With a PEO, business owners retain complete control over their workforce, company culture and brand.
An ASO does not establish a co-employment relationship with its customers, does not process payroll or report taxes under their own tax ID. ASOs don’t acts as sponsors of benefits plans or provide small businesses with access to benefits. The customer remains the sole sponsor.

Read our blog for more details on the differences between a PEO and an ASO.

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PEO Services for SMBs

What can a PEO do for you?

Save time and money

Helps your business stay compliant

Gain access to big-company benefits

Find out if a PEO is the right option for your business.

PEO clients reported employees were more satisfied with their benefit offering

0%

0%

How a PEO model works

What TriNet brings to the table

See what outsourced HR can do for your business.

How we’re different

On average PEOs bring:

0%

Additional PEO resources

Do I Need a PEO for My Business? Here's How to Tell

What is a Professional Employer Organization (PEO)?

What’s the Difference Between a PEO and ASO — and Why it Matters

Companies Benefitting from Our PEO Services

The help your business needs in these times

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn how TriNet’s comprehensive HR solutions can help your business.

Your Information

PEO clients reported employees were
more satisfied with their benefit offering