The broker and the PEO do different jobs
A professional employer organization, or PEO, provides services such as payroll, employee benefits and HR support. A broker helps you evaluate providers. The broker does not run your payroll or issue your benefit plan.
Your broker
Helps clarify your needs, compare proposals and explain the tradeoffs.
Your PEO
Delivers the services in your agreement and supports the setup.
Your business
Chooses the provider and continues to run the business and manage the team.
In a PEO relationship, the agreement divides certain employer responsibilities. NAPEO’s PEO FAQs explain this arrangement, called co-employment.
How is AlignRight PEO Advisors paid?
The PEO pays us. You do not pay us a broker fee.
You still pay the PEO for the services and coverage in your agreement. Compare the total proposal and what it includes.
Ask any broker which providers they can work with, how they are paid and whether pay differs by provider. Also ask what support continues after you choose. These are fair questions before starting a relationship.
What useful broker advice looks like
A useful review connects your needs to the proposal and points out what is still unknown. Here is what a shortlist note could look like.
A promising option, with two things to check.
A 25-person business works in two states. Its priorities are keeping access to key doctors and getting a clear HR contact.
- Why it may fit
- The sample proposal lists support in both states and a named HR contact. Those points match the team’s needs.
- The concern
- The exact health plan network is missing. A named contact also does not tell us how quickly the team will get help.
- Evidence we need
- The exact plan documents, a current network check for key doctors, and written support hours and escalation steps.
- Our next question
- “Can you confirm the plan network and show us who takes over if our HR contact is unavailable?”
Next step: Keep this option on the list while we check those gaps. Compare it with the other proposals before making a recommendation.
The same approach applies to comparing the full cost and planning the handoff: explain the fit, flag the concern and get the missing evidence.
When should you involve a broker?
Consider a broker if you want several options but do not have time to line up every proposal yourself. You may also want help when your renewal is hard to understand or your team’s needs have changed.
You can approach a PEO directly too. If you already know which provider you want, ask its team for a clear proposal and check it against your needs. The choice depends on how much comparison help you want.
- Ask what the broker will compare and what is outside the review.
- Ask why each option made the shortlist.
- Ask what is missing before you make a decision.
What happens on our first call?
We start with a 15-minute call about your company, what you want to change, and whether we are a good fit to work together. Bring your team size, work states and main concern. You do not need a finished shortlist.
If we agree to move forward, we gather the details for a deeper review. Then we shape a shortlist with you, compare quotes and demos, and help you choose. After you choose, we stay involved through the handoff, questions and renewal.
Know what fits. Understand why.
Start with your needs, then review your PEO options with a broker.