Fourth vs Mercans

Fourth PEO, a leading Human Capital Management (HCM) software company headquartered in Austin, Texas, specializes in Professional Employer Organization (PEO) services for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). With a foundation in HCM since 1999, they have expanded into the PEO sphere, incorporating AI-driven technology into their platform. Catering to industries like restaurant, hospitality, and retail, Fourth offers a range of services, including payroll, HR solutions, benefits administration, tax management, and compliance assistance. While praised for live chat support, a dedicated HR team, and AI-driven tech, drawbacks include the lack of ESAC accreditation and limited pricing transparency. Despite some mixed customer feedback, Fourth remains a reputable choice for SMBs seeking streamlined business operations.

Mercans is a global human resource services and payroll outsourcing company that is headquartered in London, England. Founded in 2003, Mercans offers a wide range of services via a global work platform that connects employers with international talent. They specialize in global immigration, payroll, recruiting, and consulting to help companies achieve their global growth goals. In addition to their global PEO, which is their main product, Mercans also provides Employer of Record (EOR), Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), and Global Employment Outsourcing (GEO) services across 160 countries. Through their PEO, they become co-employers of your workforce, even if your business does not have an entity in the country of employment.

Mercans' services aim to streamline your payroll processes and global recruitment, while reducing operational costs by incorporating all your administrative tasks into one flexible software solution. Their services encompass HR, payroll, benefits, tax and regulatory compliance, expert support, and more, for businesses of all sizes and industries across the world.

The company has received recognition from industry experts NelsonHall and Everest Group for their payroll and EOR services. They have also been nominated for several industry awards, specifically for their PEO services. However, it should be noted that they don't hold any US industry credentials for PEOs, such as certification from the IRS or accreditation from the Employer Services Assurance Corporation (ESAC). They are also not affiliated with the National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO) and are not registered with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Despite this, they have received very positive feedback from their current business clients.