Putting people first.
It’s our business. Professional Employer Organization (PEO) Services
A Professional Employer Organization (PEO) handles your payroll, HR, benefits, and risk & compliance. You get your time back. We take on the liability.
As your company grows, so does the administrative burden. Tax codes, workers’ compensation claims, and healthcare questions eat up the hours you should be spending on strategy.
A Professional Employer Organization (PEO) fixes that through a model called co-employment. We become the employer of record for tax and insurance purposes. We file the payroll taxes under our ID, secure workers’ comp, and negotiate robust health benefits.
Do I lose control of my company?
Not at all. You maintain 100% control of your daily operations, your hiring decisions, and your company culture. We act as your administrative shield.
Give your team the
Fortune 500 treatment.
You shouldn’t lose top talent just because you can’t match a massive corporation’s healthcare package. Through our co-employment model, Nextep pools your team with thousands of others to unlock large-group buying power.
Our strategic benefits specialists work with you to tailor a custom benefits package that fits the unique needs of you and your employees. We individually underwrite each group so your rates are based strictly on your own demographics, not bloated by other companies.
Built for people,
not call centers.
Some massive PEOs trap growing businesses in automated phone queues and confusing pricing structures. We built a transparent, human-first alternative.
01
Award-winning
customer service
The Giant PEOs
Route your urgent HR questions to anonymous call centers or automated ticket queues. To them, you’re just an account number.
The Nextep Way
You’re assigned a local, dedicated Client Success Manager from day 1 to serve as your constant touchpoint and advocate, backed by a team of experts.
02
Flat-fee
predictability
The Giant PEOs
Some PEOs hide their fees in bundled rates and charge a percentage of your total payroll. Every time you give a raise or bonus, you’re penalized with higher admin fees.
The Nextep Way
We charge a transparent, flat fee per employee. You get completely itemized billing so you always know exactly where your business dollars are going.
03
Intuitive
mobile access
The Giant PEOs
Some rely on clunky, outdated portals that force business owners to act as manual middlemen for basic employee requests.
The Nextep Way
The Elevate by Nextep™ app and Elevate Edge platform give your team 24/7 self-service access to paystubs, W-2s, and benefit ID cards on any device.
Learn More About PEO
Expert insights on navigating PEO, compliance, and HR technology.
What to Expect from a PEO Partnership
Choosing a PEO is a massive decision. Here’s a rundown of how it works and what to look for.
Read GuideDemystifying PEO Pricing in 5 Steps
Pricing should be crystal clear and honest. It starts with understanding how to identify a PEO that prioritizes pricing transparency.
Read GuideHow Small Businesses Can Offer Fortune 500 Benefits with PEO
Nextep can secure the top-tier benefits you’re looking for while saving you time and money.
Read Guide
Common Questions
What is a PEO?
A Professional Employer Organization (PEO) is an outsourced HR partner that takes on the administrative heavy lifting of payroll, human resources, employee benefits, and risk & compliance so business owners can focus on growing their company.
How does co-employment work? Do I lose control of my business?
You never lose control. In a co-employment agreement, the PEO becomes the employer of record for paycheck, tax, and insurance purposes (taking on the liability), while you maintain 100% control over daily operations, hiring, firing, and company culture.
What is the difference between a PEO and an ASO?
An Administrative Services Organization (ASO) handles basic paperwork, but leaves 100% of the legal and compliance liability on your shoulders. It also cannot pool your workforce to secure Fortune 500 health benefits or help with workers’ compensation or unemployment claims. A PEO takes on the employment liability and leverages group buying power for tier-one benefits.
Does Nextep act as an Employer of Record (EOR)?
Yes. In our co-employment partnership, Nextep acts as your EOR for payroll taxes, workers’ compensation, and administrative liability, while you retain 100% control over your daily business operations, hiring, and company culture.
How much does a PEO cost?
Many PEOs charge a percentage of your total payroll, meaning your fees increase every time you give a raise or bonus. Nextep charges a predictable flat fee per employee, ensuring transparent pricing that scales safely with your growth.
Build your winning team.
You focus on your bottom line. We take on the compliance, payroll, employee benefits, and HR liability as your PEO.