PEO Broker vs. Going Direct to a PEO
Most buyers who 'go direct' never see a second quote. You get a polished pitch from one provider and no objective benchmark. A broker turns that into a competitive process at no added cost to you.
The short answer
Going direct to one PEO means you see one quote from a salesperson paid to sell that PEO. An independent PEO broker like ONYX runs the same requirement across multiple top PEOs, compares them line by line, and is paid the same regardless of which you pick, so the incentive is your best fit, not one vendor's quota.
| With ONYX | Going direct | |
|---|---|---|
| Quotes you see | Multiple top PEOs, compared side by side | One PEO's own quote |
| Whose interest is served | Yours, paid the same regardless of choice | The provider's sales target |
| Pricing transparency | Line-by-line breakdown of admin, benefits, comp | Bundled into a single rate |
| Renewal advocacy | Re-shopped at renewal to keep you competitive | You negotiate alone |
| Cost to you | Free audit; compensated by the selected PEO | No 'fee', but no benchmark either |
You should get a benchmark if…
- You have one PEO quote and nothing to compare it against
- Your PEO renewal increased and you don't know if it's fair
- You want pricing broken out instead of a single bundled rate
Questions
Does using a PEO broker cost more than going direct?
No. ONYX is compensated by the PEO you select, the same way an insurance broker is paid by the carrier. Your pricing is not marked up for using a broker, you simply get competing quotes instead of one.
Can a broker get better PEO pricing than I can alone?
Often, yes, because the PEOs know they are competing. The leverage comes from running a real comparison rather than negotiating against a single provider with no alternative.
More comparisons
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