7 QUESTIONS TO ASK WHILE

PEOsSHOPPING

EMPLOYERSRESOURCE.COM

Why We Created this GuideWe created this guide for those who have heard about PEO companies andthe advantages they offer to businesses and are starting to look around atthe options. With over 700 PEOs operating in the states this can beoverwhelming. We offer these 7 questions to help business owners as theydecipher which is the best fit for their company.

Why Businesses Choose the PEO Advantage

Advanced Benefits offerings and ManagementGeneral HR task reliefComplete Payroll Services- processing, reporting, tax deposits, delivery etc..Compliance with Fed and State employment laws and regulations,compensation laws, labor law, multi-state employer compliance,unemployment claims, tax compliance, safety compliance (OSHA)Healthcare reform guidanceReduced liability- Providing employee handbooks and policy guidance,workers compensation claims management and prevention, disputeresolution, and shared liability through co-employmentAccess to Seasoned HR professionals- covering a broad range of HRtopics at a deep level to assist with difficult HR claims and processes

Relief from administrative tasks that take up your valuable time andfocus. Access to better health, retirement, and workers' compensation benefitsReduce accounting and payroll costsAccess to a suite of experienced HR professionals for everything fromretention to management to recruitingReduce employer liability and manage your risk more effectivelyFreedom - More time and energy can be spent on tasks directly related tothe growth and success of your core business.

Businesses that choose to partner with a PEO recognize the key advantagesthey offer an employer in the areas of:

How a PEO Provides These Advantages

The 7 QUESTIONS TO ASKWHILE SHOPPING FOR A PEO

Question #1 "What does your agreement look like?"

It is important to find a PEO that establishes transparency and simplicity upfront. Do your research and look for reviews that claim there were hiddenfees and costs, find out what they were and then ask the PEO about thisbefore signing anything.

Speaking of signing, what does the agreement look like? Is it a novel that wouldtake days to read through? You probably don’t want to sign something so longthat it could pull a veil over your eyes. Is there a penalty clause? Earlytermination fee? The shorter the contract, the better. Look for transparency andhonesty in their salespeople as well.

Why this question?

Question #2"How long have you been in business?"

Why this question?Ask about their company history. How long have they been in the industry?Experience is one of the most important things to look for in a PEO youpartner with. A company who is 2 years old might not have the staff with theinvaluable years of experience, and the in-depth knowledge that comesfrom being in the industry for decades. For this reason, look specifically foremployees in the company who offer experience and insight. Theseexperienced staff members will pay huge dividends for you in the future.

Question #3"How many of your clients have been withyou for more than 5 years?"

Another reason to look for longevity in your PEO is the unique advantagesthese PEO companies have in flexibility with their carriers. If they havebeen around for years, and they run into a unique challenge with a client,because of the relationships they've built with carriers and their networkthey will be in a much better position to help you.

Why this question?

Question #4"Do you have the ability to operate in all50 States?"

Why this question?You know better than anyone, your business can change quickly. Yourbusiness could have 100% growth with one new large contract, one majormarket break through, one new major referral. It is critical that you considerif your PEO has the ability to handle your growth. A PEO who has the abilityto operate in all 50 states will be able to scale with you and help you growquickly without the headaches. This creates tremendous opportunity foryou as a small business to have the upper hand on your competitors. Fastgrowth usually means HR related disasters, not when you select the rightPEO.

This is a great question that can tell you very quickly a lot about how thePEO treats their clients. If they truly help their clients, and their service is ofhigh quality their clients tend to stick around. Look for 75% or more of theirclients to have been with them for 5 years or more. If their percentage islower than this, it is a good sign they have issues keeping clients happy oroffering competitive rates. This will reveal a lot about a PEO company.

Question #5"Can you help my business stay out ofcourt?"

Why this question?

Question #6"Do you have a safety program that paysme for good performance?"

Why this question?Ask them if they offer any type of cash rebates to reward you forexceptional safety performance years. When you are working hard to keepa safe workplace and your workers’ comp claims down, they should rewardyou for it. Make sure that you get rewarded for this hard work you do thatultimately helps out the PEO company as well. Ask them what percentageof their clients typically earn these rebates.

This is a major advantage that some PEO companies can tremendouslyhelp with. This can be one of the biggest long term cost savers for businessowners. The ways that a PEO can keep you out of the courtroom are many,but it can be broken into these broad categories. Make sure the PEO youare looking at is strong in each of these areas and have solutions for eachof these areas.1) A strong safety program that will shield you from harmful workers’compensation claims and disputes. 2) Alternate dispute resolution programs that solve cases before steppingfoot in a courtroom (huge cost savings).3) Thorough attention to detail concerning your business and all aspects ofcompliance with taxes, employment laws, payroll, and the rest of the over60 different gov/agencies you have to comply with. This tends to correlatewith their client service quality and how they manage client communication,client load, how many clients they have compared to staff etc….

Question #7"Do you use call centers, or do I get tospeak with someone that knows me and mybusiness?"

Why this question?Problems do arise, there will be times when you need to get in touch withyour PEO quickly. Are you OK with being routed through a call center andthe possibility of speaking with a different client service person every timeyou speak with your PEO? National PEO companies tend to make use ofcall centers because their client to client service coordinator ratio is toolarge. When you have a critical problem that needs to be handled quickly, itcan be very frustrating when dealing with a new person who is unfamiliarwith you and your business. Ask them who in their company will be takingcare of you. Ask them how many other clients that person also “takes careof”. This is a big issue that causes lots of headaches for employers workingwith PEO companies. PEO companies are supposed to reduce headachesfor you, not add to them.

It’s easy to assume that local service means superior service here, but thisis not always the case. Certainly not in the PEO world, where many timesthe local PEO, understaffed, inexperienced, and over their head, is oftenstruggling with not only wearing too many hats, but also trying to handle toomany clients.

These 7 questions will help you make a smart decision and consider thelong term ramifications when choosing between PEO Companies.

HOW DOES EMPLOYERSRESOURCE STACK UP?

Question #1 "What does your agreement look like?"Our agreement is one page front and back. We also give you a guaranteesigned by our CEO that guarantees 100% satisfaction or complete refundplus we’ll pay for your setup at a different company

Question #2"How long have you been in business?"We have been in business for 29 years. We are entering our 14thconsecutive year of renewals with the same Workers’ Comp carrier which istestimony to our commitment to long term relationships. We haveexperienced PEO veterans who have been in the industry for 20+ years.

Question #3"How many of your clients have been with you for more than 5years?"

Question #4

90% of our clients have been with us for over 5 years, and we have morethan a handful of clients who have been with us for over 20+ years.

"Do you have the ability to operate in all 50 States?"We are licensed in all 50 states and are prepared to handle your rapid growth.

Question #5"Can you help my business stay out of court?"

Question #6"Do you have a safety program that pays me for goodperformance?"We provide cash rebates for our clients with good claims history.

Nobody does a better job keeping employers out of the courtroom. OurAlternate Dispute Resolution program and Safety Program are simply thebest in the industry.

Question #7"Do you use call centers, or do I get to speak with someone thatknows me and my business?"You will NEVER be transferred through a call center when you work with us.You will have a friendly client service coordinator who knows you and yourbusiness by name. We have strategically placed processing centers fromcoast to coast, providing national PEO strength with superior service, thebest of both worlds.

If you are shopping for a PEO, we would love the opportunity provide you afree no obligation quote. Give us a call and try asking us these questions.

Your call will be answered by a friendly voice and you’ll be one step closer torunning your business more efficiently, having less worry, enjoying sharedliability, and cutting costs.

We look forward to meeting you, shaking your hand for the first time, andhearing your story.

Let's talk!

www.employersresource.com 1-800-574-4668