ADP TotalSource vs BBSI PEO
Press [Add to Compare] to Edit, Add or Remove Vendors
- Excellent payroll services
- Automatic employee tracking
- Multiple packages for different business sizes
- Easy mobile app
- Employee self-service
- Employee Self-Service Portal
- Expert HR guidance
- Industry specific services
- Interface may be confusing
- May be expensive
- Does not advertise prices
- Lack of pricing transparency
- No mobile application
- No demo
- Not IRS-certified
- Fewer offices across the country
ADP TotalSource (NASDAQ – ADP) provides a comprehensive cloud-based solution for employee life cycle management that spans HR administration, talent management, employee benefits, payroll, and regulatory compliance. They have over 60 years of experience and employ many professionals in HR, talent, and compliance, which they use to give you considerable purchasing power for premium advantages— without the premium costs. They offer four payroll options that serve all business sizes, with features that range from basic payroll, taxes, and compliance assistance all the way to a premium suite of tools that includes HR support, training, business advice, and legal assistance. Pricing information for these options is not advertised as it is tailored to company size and requirements, so you must fill out a form for a quote. They are a large PEO company that claims to have more than 80% of the Fortune 500 businesses as clients and around one million clients in 140 countries, and they accordingly employ over 60,000 associates to meet their clients' needs.
BBSI (Barrett Business Services Inc.) is a PEO founded in 1972, starting out as a staffing company. BBSI, which is also its symbol on NASDAQ, is headquartered in Vancouver, WA. It provides its services to small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) spanning eight industries. They serve all 50 states in the US, with offices in 14 states. Their services include business strategy, HR consultation, risk and safety, payroll administration, workers' compensation, staffing and recruitment, employee benefits, retirement benefits, and various technology solutions. With a team of people who meet with clients on-site to understand their culture and dedication to establishing a safe workplace, BBSI provides businesses with customized services. They do not specify plans or pricing on their website, preferring prospective clients to contact them so that they can "create a pricing structure that fits their needs." They are certified by the Employer Services Assurance Corporation (ESAC), whose accreditation is considered the gold standard for PEO reliability and financial assurance. They have repeatedly earned the yearly "Great Place to Work" certification.
- Business Size : Small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs)
- Cost : Not advertised
- Customer Experience : Excellent
- IRS-Certified : True
- Expert HR Guidance : True
- BBB Rating : A+
- NAPEO Member : True
- ESAC Accreditation : True
- Business Size : Small and medium-sized (SMB)
- Cost : Quote-based
- Customer Experience : Good
- IRS-Certified : False
- Expert HR Guidance : True
- BBB Rating : 3 out of 5
- Trustpilot Score : N/R
- NAPEO Member : True
- ESAC Accreditation : True
- Comprehensive HR, talent, and compliance
- Automatic employee tracking
- Powerful technology and data-driven insights
- Mobile app
- Online product demo
- AI-driven principles, such as for candidate relevancy
- Pay-as-you-go workers' compensation model
- They offer a Business Unit
- Dedicated business strategy
- Large Businesses—Undisclosed
- Medium-Sized Businesses
- Small Businesses
- Large Businesses
- Medium-Sized Businesses
- Small Businesses
- 401(k)
- Accident
- COBRA Administration
- Critical Illness
- Disability
- Employee Self-Service
- HSA/FSA
- Medical, Dental, Vision
- Shopping & Entertainment Discounts
- Work-Life Employee Assistance Program
- 401(k)
- Accident
- COBRA Administration—Undisclosed
- Critical Illness—Undisclosed
- Disability—Undisclosed
- Employee Self-Service
- HSA/FSA—Undisclosed
- Medical, Dental, Vision—Undisclosed
- Shopping & Entertainment Discounts
- Work-Life Employee Assistance Program—Undisclosed
- Onboarding
- Report Builder
- Risk Mitigation
- Time & Attendance
- Unemployment Insurance
- Workers' Compensation
- Workplace Compliance & Safety
- Onboarding
- Report Builder
- Risk Mitigation
- Time & Attendance
- Unemployment Insurance—Undisclosed
- Workers' Compensation
- Workplace Compliance & Safety
- Direct Deposit
- Garnishments
- Global Payroll—Undisclosed
- Payroll History & Tracking
- Reimbursement Management
- Salary Revision & Raise Management
- Tax Services
- Time-Off Requests & Scheduling
- US Payroll
- Direct Deposit
- Garnishments—Undisclosed
- Global Payroll
- Payroll History & Tracking
- Reimbursement Management—Undisclosed
- Salary Revision & Raise Management
- Tax Services
- Time-Off Requests & Scheduling—Undisclosed
- US Payroll
- All-In-One Software Tool
- Cloud Analytics, Insights, & Reporting
- Customized Reports
- Global EOR Platform
- Third-Party Cloud Application Integration—Undisclosed
- Virtual Assistance
- All-In-One Software Tool
- Cloud Analytics, Insights, & Reporting—Undisclosed
- Customized Reports
- Global EOR Platform
- Third-Party Cloud Application Integration—Undisclosed
- Virtual Assistance
- Construction
- Consulting—Undisclosed
- E-Commerce—Undisclosed
- Education
- Engineering—Undisclosed
- Financial Services
- Food & Beverage
- Government
- Healthcare
- Hospitality
- Legal Services—Undisclosed
- Life Sciences—Undisclosed
- Manufacturing
- Marketing/Advertising—Undisclosed
- Media/Entertainment—Undisclosed
- Nonprofit/Social Services
- Professional/Technical Services
- Retail
- Technology—Undisclosed
- Construction
- Consulting
- E-Commerce
- Education
- Engineering
- Financial Services
- Food & Beverage
- Government
- Healthcare
- Hospitality
- Legal Services
- Life Sciences
- Manufacturing
- Marketing/Advertising
- Media/Entertainment
- Nonprofit/Social Services
- Professional/Technical Services
- Retail
- Technology
- Comprehensive Resume Search & Service
- Early Access to Earned Pay
- Student Loan Repayment Program
- Talent Growth & Retention
- Third-Party HCM Integration
- Comprehensive Resume Search & Service
- Early Access to Earned Pay—Undisclosed
- Student Loan Repayment Program
- Talent Growth & Retention
- Third-Party HCM Integration
- —Undisclosed
- FAQs
- Help Guides—Undisclosed
- Live Chat
- Mobile App
- Phone
- FAQs
- Help Guides
- Live Chat
- Mobile App
- Phone
ADP TotalSource vs. BBSI PEO
ADP TotalSource and Barrett Business Services, Inc. (BBSI) are two leading PEOs that cater to small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). Both companies aim to streamline HR, payroll, compliance, and employee management tasks for businesses, though their offerings, technologies, and approaches differ significantly.
This comparison examines the scope of services, technology, compliance solutions, pricing, scalability, and customer support to help businesses decide which provider aligns better with their needs.
Scope of services
ADP TotalSource serves retail, healthcare, construction, and education businesses. They serve companies of all sizes but focus on companies with 5–250 employees and offer services like payroll administration, HR support, employee benefits, and workplace compliance. ADP assigns HR business partners to guide clients through HR management and provides access to add-on features like leadership training and recruitment tools.
BBSI, on the other hand, caters to diverse industries, including construction, manufacturing, hospitality, landscaping, and trucking. Their services emphasize risk management, compliance, and employee safety. BBSI’s offerings include payroll processing, workers' compensation solutions, HR consulting, business planning, and benefits management.
Technology and user experience
ADP leverages their Workforce Now platform, an integrated system that supports HR, payroll, compliance, and employee self-service. The platform’s mobile app enhances accessibility, although some users find the system’s interface outdated and its learning curve steep. Despite these drawbacks, the app’s features simplify tasks like payroll management and benefits enrollment.
BBSI provides tools like the myBBSI portal and BBSI U, which streamline payroll, benefits, and training—however, the lack of a dedicated mobile app limits on-the-go functionality. Customers appreciate the portals’ simplicity for basic tasks, though some report challenges with navigating complex features and managing forgotten passwords.
Compliance solutions
ADP TotalSource provides comprehensive compliance support by managing payroll taxes, benefits administration, and employee regulations. They cover W-2 preparation, unemployment insurance, and healthcare reform, ensuring businesses comply. ADP also offers tailored guidance for payroll and tax administration, integrating these services into their Workforce Now platform.
BBSI takes a more hands-on approach, focusing on industry-specific compliance needs. They assist with OSHA standards, workers’ compensation, and payroll regulations, offering pay-as-you-go options for workers’ comp to manage risk effectively. Their dedicated risk managers develop tailored solutions for businesses, making them a strong choice for industries like construction and manufacturing.
Pricing and scalability
Neither ADP nor BBSI provides transparent pricing details online. ADP charges a percentage of payroll and is known for higher pricing than competitors, though their scalable services suit growing businesses. BBSI customizes pricing based on client needs, making them potentially cost-effective for smaller operations.
However, their pricing ambiguity and long-term contracts may complicate budgeting.
Customer support
ADP offers multiple support channels, including access to HR business partners and specialists. While their support infrastructure is extensive, some clients report inconsistent experiences and challenges in reaching live representatives.
BBSI assigns a Business Unit team for personalized guidance, which clients praise for their hands-on approach. However, support quality varies across offices, and slow response times are occasionally reported. BBSI’s lack of a mobile app also limits the convenience of accessing support.
Final words
ADP TotalSource and BBSI offer valuable PEO solutions, but their approaches cater to different business needs. ADP excels in scalability and technology-driven compliance, making them ideal for businesses seeking robust, all-encompassing support.
In contrast, BBSI stands out with their hands-on, industry-specific services, offering personalized compliance and risk management solutions for niche markets. Understanding your business’s size, industry, and priorities will help you determine which PEO best aligns with your goals.
Save Big on PEO
Fill out a quick form to claim special offers on PEO
