TriNet

TriNet is best for small and midsize businesses with 5 to 50 employees that want to hand off payroll, benefits, and HR compliance to a professional employer organization (PEO). You co-employ your workers through TriNet, which lets your team access big-company health and retirement benefits at group rates. TriNet handles payroll taxes, federal and state compliance, and HR paperwork so you can focus on running your business. It offers two main options: a fully managed PEO service or an HR Plus plan for companies that want expert guidance alongside their existing HR setup.

• •Pricing is not publicly listed and requires a sales conversation
• •Per-employee costs can become expensive for businesses with tight margins
• •Co-employment model means sharing some employer responsibilities with TriNet, which can feel limiting
• •May be more than a very small team (under 5 employees) actually needs

TriNet is a strong fit for growing businesses with 10 to 50 employees that are tired of juggling payroll, benefits, and compliance on their own. The biggest upside is access to Fortune 500-level benefits packages that would otherwise be out of reach for a small team. The main downside is cost and opacity — pricing is custom and not published, so you'll need to go through a sales process before knowing what you'll pay, and the per-employee fees can add up quickly as your team grows.