PEO Authority

Justworks

✦ VERIFIED
IRS CPEO CertifiedESAC AccreditedNational PEONY-Headquartered
New York, NY·Founded 2012·Serving 2-200 employees
No reviews yet·
All 50
States Served
5
Services
4
Industries
2-200
Serving

About Justworks

Justworks is a New York-based IRS CPEO certified and ESAC accredited Professional Employer Organization founded in 2012. Built for the modern workforce, Justworks combines co-employment with a clean, tech-first platform that lets small and mid-sized businesses manage payroll, benefits, compliance, and HR from one intuitive dashboard. In 2025, Justworks processed over $31 billion in payroll, filed $8.9 billion in employer taxes, and generated more than 268,000 W-2s for its PEO clients. Justworks offers two transparent PEO pricing tiers: Basic at $79 per employee per month (payroll, compliance, workers compensation, 401k) and Plus at $109 per employee per month, which adds medical, dental, and vision benefits administration. Unlike most legacy PEOs, Justworks publishes its pricing openly with no hidden fees. The platform supports all 50 states and over 4,000 tax localities, making multi-state hiring straightforward. Justworks is best known for giving 5-person startups access to the same United Healthcare, Aetna, and Kaiser Permanente health plans as large corporations. The company also offers international EOR services in 17 countries and contractor payments in 50+ more, making it a natural fit for remote-first and globally distributed teams.

Certifications

IRS Certified PEO (CPEO)
Certification active · Verified by PEO Authority
Certified ✓

The IRS Certified PEO (CPEO) designation is awarded by the Internal Revenue Service to PEO companies that meet rigorous standards for financial health, tax compliance, and operational integrity. Justworks holds CPEO status — a distinction held by fewer than 15% of PEOs in the United States.

Federal Tax Liability
As a CPEO, Justworks assumes sole liability for federal employment taxes on wages paid — protecting your business from tax exposure.
Annual Financial Audits
CPEOs undergo independent CPA audits annually and must maintain a surety bond, ensuring fiscal accountability and solvency.
IRS Reporting
Justworks files employment taxes under their own EIN as CPEO, simplifying your year-end tax obligations and eliminating duplicate filings.
ESAC Accredited PEO
Certification active · Verified by PEO Authority
Certified ✓

ESAC accreditation is awarded by the Employer Services Assurance Corporation, the PEO industry's gold-standard independent accreditor. It requires a PEO to meet more than 40 financial, ethical, and operational standards on an ongoing basis. Justworks holds ESAC accreditation — a distinction held by roughly 10% of PEOs in the United States.

Financial Assurance
ESAC backs accredited PEOs like Justworks with over $15 million in surety bond coverage, protecting clients, employees, and taxing authorities.
Independent Audits
Accredited PEOs submit quarterly independent verifications of tax, benefit, and payroll obligations to maintain their accreditation.
Ethical & Operational Standards
Justworks is continuously monitored against more than 40 financial, ethical, and operational standards set by ESAC's independent board.

Why businesses choose Justworks

✓Transparent flat-rate pricing published online — Basic at $79/employee/mo, Plus at $109 — no custom quote required
✓IRS CPEO certified and ESAC accredited — two of the most rigorous credentials in the PEO industry
✓Processed over $31B in payroll and 268,000+ W-2s in 2025
✓Access to large-group health plans from United Healthcare, Aetna, and Kaiser regardless of company size
✓24/7 support by phone, email, Slack, and chat — live humans, not chatbots
✓Supports all 50 states and 4,000+ tax localities for seamless multi-state compliance
✓International EOR services available in 17 countries for global team expansion

Company Details

Headquarters
New York, NY
Founded
2012
Serving
2-200 employees
CPEO Certified
Yes - IRS Verified
ESAC Accredited
Yes - ESAC Verified
Coverage
Nationwide
Company Type
National PEO

Justworks in Your State

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Pros & Cons

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Pros
✓
Transparent pricing
One of the only major PEOs to publicly list rates — no sales call required to compare plans.
✓
Modern platform
Self-service interface employees actually enjoy using, with a top-rated mobile app.
✓
Dual certification
Both IRS CPEO certified and ESAC accredited, providing maximum financial and tax protections.
✓
Benefits quality
Large-group health plans from top carriers available to companies of any size.
✓
24/7 live support
Human support around the clock by phone, email, Slack, and chat.
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Cons
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Cost at scale
Per-employee pricing becomes expensive above 150 employees compared to percentage-of-payroll models.
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Limited customization
Less configurable than enterprise PEOs — designed for simplicity over flexibility.
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No performance management
Does not include built-in performance reviews or talent management; requires third-party tools.
PEO Authority Editorial Note

Justworks earns its position as one of the most-searched PEO brands by delivering on a simple promise: make HR as easy as possible for small businesses. Its transparent pricing is genuinely rare in an industry notorious for opaque quotes. The main caveat is scale — at 150+ employees, costs begin to rival a dedicated in-house HR operation. Best for: tech startups, professional services firms, and remote-first companies with 5-150 employees that want modern software and predictable monthly costs.

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