AlphaStaff vs Justworks

AlphaStaff provides compelling PEO services to over 100,00 employees in the US, even though they don't go out of their way to identify themselves as such. They are essentially an HRO company, founded in 1997 and based in Florida. Their co-employment services include payroll processing, recruitment, HR management and consulting, benefits administration, and so on. This company is highly respected in the PEO industry for its exceptional services and has been acknowledged for its efforts in combating unemployment fraud. They are members of the National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO) and have received accreditation from the Employer Services Assurance Corporation (ESAC) and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants for meeting SSAE 16 and 18 requirements. They are not certified by the IRS, however, nor are they accredited by the BBB, which gives them a C+ rating. There are very few customer reviews written about them, which makes it tough to gauge the real-world quality of their services.

Justworks is a PEO that began operations in 2012, headquartered in New York, NY, originally called Clockwork, Inc. The company has grown rapidly and now serves 9,000 small businesses with less than 100 employees in all 50 states, covering over 160,000 worksite employees. They are certified but not endorsed by the IRS, so they are considered a CPEO. Justworks offers employers a range of services, such as payroll processing, benefits management, tax filing, compliance assistance, employee onboarding and termination, and HR tools and support. Unlike some other PEOs, they offer 24/7 customer service and support by phone, email, chat, Slack, or SMS. Justworks lists two PEO plans on their website, Basic and Plus, at $59 and $99 a month per employee, respectively-- though pricing goes down after the 50th employee. The biggest difference between the plans is that Plus adds medical, dental, and vision insurance. Visitors who register at Justworks' website can download sample plans to compare. Justworks earns a great reputation among its employees as a great place to work, as well as among clients for being reliable and responsive when handling customer inquiries. They are certified by the Employer Services Assurance Corporation (ESAC), whose accreditation is considered the gold standard for PEO reliability and financial assurance.