The Most Important Question to Ask When Shopping for a PEO

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Shopping for a PEO? If so, you’ve got a lot of things to compare and the situation may feel as if you’re comparing apples to oranges. Different pricing structures, different services, different benefits … So much to look at and consider!

One of the biggest mistakes that business owners make when shopping for a PEO is selecting the one with the best overall price tag. The most important question to ask before signing a contract is “Will you ‘unbundle’ your billing?” Breaking down the “all-encompassing plan” will permit you to know exactly what you’re paying for, and how much – making the comparison from one PEO to another a lot easier.

We know that analyzing proposals takes time away from your busy day and profitable business activities, but forgetting to ask this simple question and simply selecting the best-priced can cost you in the long run!

At Employer Solutions Plus, our dedicated staff of PEO experts can prepare a custom analysis of proposals for you upon request and we’ll break down each and every component of the PEOs’ proposed contracts. Benefits to benefits, payroll to payroll, admin to admin – what you’re paying for should be clear!

Clients of Employer Solutions Plus save themselves time, money, and stress. Call today to take the guesswork out of PEO cost analysis: 727-698-6207.

5 Ways to Cut Operational Costs

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Running a 1-man shop was pretty great, wasn’t it? Operational costs were relatively low …. no office lease, no employee benefits, no payroll, just one or two insurance providers.

However, most successful businesses grow over time. From one employee …. To two…. To three…. To one day waking up and having a department of 20 fulltime employees!

Gone are the days when your business’ monthly accounts payable page consisted of your own health insurance and an occasional dining expense for client entertainment! But chin up; an increase in operational costs is often a sign of growth. It’s important not to get tied up in the growth phase though, and forget about the expenses that are piling up. Did you know that keeping ongoing and recurring expenses under control is an important part of ensuring continued growth and success? It’s not just about increasing income!

Employer Solutions Plus recommends analyzing these 5 operational expenses. Decreasing them will result in a bigger and better bottom line each month.

  • Payroll Administration: Payroll fees often depend on the number of employees that you have and the number of payroll periods each month (which determines the number of checks prepared each month). The market is highly competitive though and pricing should be relatively negotiable. Do you have unnecessary charges each month for payroll services you aren’t utilizing? Could you save $2.00 per paycheck each month by switching to another provider? It may not seem like a lot, but if you have 60 employees that get paid on the 15th and 30th each month, that’s 120 checks – you’ll save a few hundred dollars a month by switching!
  • Lease Agreements: Landlords are more willing to renegotiate a lease in an economic downturn or when an existing tenant inquires about the rent. Have you been a great tenant for several years now? Use that to your advantage! Your landlord would probably prefer that you stay put versus starting over with someone new!
  • Credit Card Processing: If your business accepts credit cards, you’re probably paying your processor too much for convenience. We understand that convenience comes with a price, but like payroll administration, credit card processing is a very competitive market.
  • Benefits: Health insurance is a large and recurring expense for most businesses. Click here to read a little bit more about ways to lower your company’s health insurance costs – immediately!
  • PEO: Do you work with a PEO? If so, they’re probably saving you a lot of time and money when it comes to employee management and HR administration. But, there are nearly 800 PEOs in the United States – How do other PEOs compare in price? Is there a better fit for your organization?

Don’t have time to shop around? At Employer Solutions Plus, we represent multiple providers in payroll administration, PEO solutions, and benefits. This allows us the flexibility to customize a cost effective solution to meet the individual needs of our clients (while saving you money, too!). Contact us to discuss your business’ expenses; everyone has some room to save!

Am I In Need of Outsourced HR?

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Have you been contemplating outsourcing some of your HR-related tasks? Answer “NO to just a few of the questions below and you’re probably right: it’s time to offload some HR responsibilities!

Did you know that outsourcing HR to a trusted partner can actually help grow your business? With HR and employee management taken care of, you can focus on your core competencies and sales.

  1. Do you have a full database of HR forms and templates to maintain a compliant HR department?
  2. Are you familiar with the 180+ federal employment laws?
  3. Do you have access to discounted background checks and drug screening for new hires? Do you even conduct background checks?
  4. Do you offer benefit rich plans to your employees?
  5. Do you have a fast and accurate system for payroll reporting?
  6. Do you have a workers compensation policy in place that truly protects you?
  7. Do you have convenient pay-as-you go workers compensation policy linked directly to your payroll?
  8. Have you improved cash flow and predictability in operating costs through your current form of HR management?
  9. Do you have enough time each month to focus on bottom line activities and growing your business?
  10. Are you an “employer of choice?”

At Employer Solutions Plus, we represent the “best of” outsourced HR services. We represent multiple providers in PEO Strategies, Payroll Only Solutions, Health Insurance Options / Employee Benefits and Ancillary Benefit Program. This allows us the flexibility to customize a cost effective solution to meet the individual needs of our clients.

Isn’t it time to relax and rest easier when it comes to managing your HR related responsibilities? Contact us to get started!

Employer Solutions Plus Client Highlight: Tampa Law Firm

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Situation:

A renowned Tampa Law Firm with 30 employees was looking for ways to operate more cost-effectively and efficiently. The Law Firm was using a traditional payroll company for payroll services and outside vendors for health benefits, 401k plans, and workers compensation insurance.

The firm was lacking in the expertise and management of policies, procedures and compliance. In addition, state unemployment had significantly increased that year and the firm had some employee issues that resulted in a sizable outflow of cash.

The firm engaged Employer Solutions Plus to analyze its current situation and offer a number of cost effective alternatives.

Solution:

Employer Solutions Plus provides PEO Strategies, Payroll Only Solutions, Health Insurance Options, Employee Benefits and Ancillary Benefit Programs. We represent multiple providers in each product category which allows us the flexibility to customize a cost effective solution to meet the individual needs of our clients.

At first, the Tampa Law Firm was unsure about a PEO’s ability to actually save their Company money. After multiple meetings and negotiations, Employer Solutions Plus was able to save the client a significant amount of money from moving just the firm’s payroll over to a PEO platform. In addition to saving money, the firm gained a completely customized on-line payroll system with the ability to easily access payroll reports, employee data, employee forms and more.

Additional vendor management provided by Employer Solutions Plus resulted in the following:

  • The ability to control costs with a single source solution to discount state unemployment and workers compensation
  • A continuation of working with the firm`s outside vendor for health insurance. But, Employer Solutions Plus brought in a health insurance broker that came up with creative ways to offer more plans, make it more cost effective for the employees, and offer ancillary benefits to help put money back in the employees’ pockets.
  • One on one health insurance enrollment so that employees understood what plans were best for them.
  • EPLI insurance at no additional cost to help against future employee issues
  • Updated policies and procedures as well as customized handbooks
  • Guidance with employee terminations and new hire procedures

One immeasurable solution is the peace of mind delivered to the owner/partner of the firm, who now knows that with one call or email the firm’s payroll, taxes, benefits, workers comp, compliance and more can be taken care of.

For More Information:

Is your vendor set-up in need of a professional analysis? If you’re looking for ways to save money and operate more effectively and efficiently, contact Employer Solutions Plus.

What is Online Payroll Reporting?

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Say goodbye to expensive in-house printing, the never-ending piles of reports on the 15th and 30th, and your ongoing need for additional storage space within the office. This day in age, with all of the technological resources available, there’s no reason to not have anytime online access to everything you need surrounding payroll.

The only problem with technology is that convenience often comes with a price. Online payroll reporting programs are not free – As a small business owner, how can you possibly reap the payroll reporting benefits and programs the much larger companies enjoy? By relying on a valuable payroll partner of course!

When you outsource your company’s payroll tasks to a payroll company, or a PEO, you not only gain their expertise, but also gain their technology.

Online payroll reporting will offer most if not all of the following benefits (depending on the program):

  • 24/7 Access: Your files are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Out of office or on the go? No problem! Check in at any time.
  • Multiple User Access: Just because a payroll company or PEO is managing your payroll, doesn’t mean that you can’t have direct access to all payroll information. Online payroll systems grant multiple users access, whether it’s you, or your accountant, that is in need of more information.
  • Taxes: Federal, State and Local Taxes are calculated, paid and filed for you.
  • Easy set-up for direct deposit and ability to print checks in-house.
  • Support: Online payroll reporting is relatively simple and self-explanatory, but when you work with a professional payroll company or PEO, help is never more than a phone call or click away.
  • Quick and easy access to past files. No need to dig through the basement or closet for 2008’s payroll information. Just select the tax year and click to access records!
  • Great search functionality: Look up an individual employee’s information by name or employee number.

Are you interested in a more efficient and effective way of managing payroll? Please contact us to learn more about the payroll administration solutions available at Employer Solutions Plus.

New Year, New Options …. It’s Time to Review Your Vendors

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It’s that time again – time to reflect on the past year and plan for the future. Whether you’re searching for an all-inclusive approach to managing your organization’s vendors in 2013, or just looking for a more cost-effective employee benefits plan, Employer Solutions Plus has you covered!

Do you currently have a vendor budget? Establishing an itemized budget for vendor services such as payroll administration, employee benefits and more provides you with projected expenses for the coming year, and is a simple tool for evaluating and monitoring your performance. Where are your current weaknesses? Where is there too much risk? Is your workers’ compensation policy the very best coverage you can afford?

Even if you are currently satisfied with your organization’s vendors, there may be more competitive options out there for you; such as authorizing a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) to manage all employee management services and set up a more economical, streamlined approach. It certainly does not hurt to shop, especially if you have a valued partner to do it for you.

At Employer Solutions Plus, we review your existing vendors and provide recommended alternatives at no cost to you, which not only saves you money, but time as well.

Our New Year’s Review covers:

  1. Payroll Administration
  2. Employee Benefits
  3. Human Resource Management/Administration
  4. Risk Management (Including Workers’ Compensation Insurance)
  5. PEO Options

What will you do in 2013 with the money you save on vendor expenses? Hire someone and expand your team? Invest a few more dollars into marketing initiatives? Lease a larger space?

At Employer Solutions Plus, we represent multiple providers in each product category listed above. This allows us the flexibility to customize a cost effective solution to meet the individual needs of our clients. Contact us today for your New Year’s Review.