Fourth vs Justworks

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.

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.