Inside the quote
Payroll and tax administration, benefits administration (health, dental, vision, 401(k), EAP, ACA support), HR support and MyLife Advisors, workplace-safety consulting, workers’ comp claims support, compliance guidance.
Named PEO · ADP TotalSource
What ADP TotalSource costs — and the questions the quote won’t answer on its own
ADP TotalSource is the PEO arm of the largest payroll company in the country, an IRS-certified PEO with benefits coverage in all 50 states. It does not publish a flat price. Here is what’s public and what to ask.
Short version: quote-based, structured either per employee per month or as a percentage of payroll depending on the deal; ADP’s own guidance cites the industry range of 2–12% of wages. See how it compares →
Quote-based
No published flat price; per employee or percentage of payroll
2–12%
Of wages — the industry range ADP itself cites for PEO costs
5 employees
Reported minimum headcount (secondhand; confirm in your quote)
How ADP TotalSource prices
TotalSource quotes are built from headcount, state footprint, services selected, benefits choices, and workers’ comp exposure. The structure can be a flat per-employee fee or a percentage of payroll — ask which, because a percentage model rises with every raise and every hour of overtime. ADP’s own PEO cost article gives no TotalSource figure; it cites the industry estimate of 2–12% of wages. Independent reviews report a five-employee minimum, which we have not verified with ADP.
Billed separately
Benefit premiums (always), payroll taxes themselves, and add-ons such as the enhanced talent suite, time tracking and scheduling, and custom API integrations.
Certification
ADP TotalSource entities appear on the IRS certified PEO (CPEO) list, which affects how federal employment taxes are handled in a mid-year transition.
Scale
Benefits coverage in all 50 states and a national carrier footprint — a real advantage for multi-state employers and remote teams.
Who ADP TotalSource tends to fit
- Employers already on ADP payroll who want benefits and HR under the same roof
- Multi-state and remote-heavy companies that need coverage everywhere
- Companies that value a large, established provider over a boutique service model
- Less likely to fit: very small groups near the minimum, and employers who need a named HR person rather than a support center
Fit is our read from pricing structure and public positioning, not a review of ADP’s service.
Ask these before you sign with ADP — or anyone
- Is the fee flat per employee or a percentage of payroll — and what happens to it when you give raises or add overtime?
- What is the fee on employees 1–10 versus 50+? Most PEOs step the rate down with headcount; ask for the schedule.
- What is the renewal cap? If the contract doesn’t limit year-two increases, assume there isn’t one.
- Is workers’ comp on a master policy, and what class codes did they assume for your crews?
- What are the exit terms — notice period, who owns the benefits plan year, and what it costs to leave mid-year?
- What is billed outside the fee: implementation, state registrations, background checks, 401(k) administration?
Where we stand on TotalSource
We don’t place ADP TotalSource often. When it is already on your desk, bring the proposal and we line it up against two to four PEOs we quote regularly — same census, same comp assumptions, same benefits contribution — with the fee structure (flat vs. percentage) and the add-on list in writing. Then you can see the gap, if there is one, and decide. What a PEO costs, in general →
ADP TotalSource is a trademark of its owner. My PEO Pros is an independent broker and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by ADP TotalSource. Pricing facts are from ADP TotalSource’s public website or clearly labeled third-party estimates as of November 2026; your quote is the only number that counts.
A percentage-of-payroll fee looks small on the proposal and grows every time you give someone a raise. Flat per-employee or percentage is the first question I ask any PEO, and ADP will quote either.Jeff Gibson, SHRM-CP · Founder & PEO Advisor
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Does ADP TotalSource publish its pricing?
No. It is quote-based. ADP’s own article on PEO cost cites the industry range of 2–12% of wages rather than a TotalSource figure.
Is there a minimum number of employees for ADP TotalSource?
Independent reviews report a five-employee minimum. We have not confirmed it with ADP; ask in the quote.
Does using a broker make ADP cost more?
No. The PEO pays the broker fee out of a budget it already carries, and the fee is the same whichever PEO you choose. You get the same ADP quote — plus alternatives on identical assumptions.
Can you get me an ADP TotalSource quote?
We don’t place TotalSource often. If you already have a TotalSource proposal, bring it and we’ll price it against the PEOs we quote regularly so you can see where it stands. The comparison is free either way.