How to choose a PEO broker in San Antonio
Anyone can call themselves an independent broker. Seven questions separate the ones who compare markets from the ones with a favorite provider and a quota.
Use this on us too. If we can't answer any of these cleanly, you should walk.
The seven questions
How are you paid, and does it change based on which PEO I pick?
The only answer that protects you is a flat fee paid by whichever PEO you choose. If compensation varies by provider, the recommendation is not neutral — no matter how sincere the person is.
How many PEOs will you actually quote, and why those?
Expect a real number and a reason tied to your industry and class codes. "We'll shop the whole market" is a non-answer; nobody quotes 500 PEOs.
Have you placed employers in my industry and my mod range?
Construction at a 1.4 mod is a different sale than a 30-person clinic. Ask for the specifics of a comparable placement, not a logo wall.
Will the quotes be built on identical assumptions?
Two proposals are only comparable if the census, benefits contribution, and comp class codes are the same in both. If they aren't, you are being shown a rigged race.
What are the exit and renewal terms in each proposal?
Renewal caps, minimums, and termination notice are where a cheap first year turns expensive. A broker who hasn't read the agreement isn't representing you.
What happens after implementation?
Ask who checks the first payrolls, who calls you at renewal, and how far out. Silence after signature is the most common complaint employers have about brokers.
When would you tell me not to use a PEO?
If they can't describe a scenario where they'd walk away from their own fee, they are selling, not advising. The answer should come fast and specific.
Bring these to the first call
- Current headcount and states with employees
- Your last benefits renewal, including rate increases
- Workers' comp class codes and experience mod
- What you're paying for payroll today
- Any PEO proposals you already hold
With these, a real comparison takes days. Without them, everything is a guess.
What a good broker does after you sign
- Sits in on implementation calls
- Checks the first two payrolls against the quote
- Flags renewal 90 days out, not 15
- Re-bids the market when your risk profile changes
If the relationship ends at signature, you hired a salesperson.
Put these questions to us
Send the basics and we'll answer all seven in writing before you commit to anything — including how we're paid and which markets we'd approach for your class codes.
Free to your business. The PEO you choose pays the broker fee — and it's the same fee whichever one you pick.
Questions employers ask us first
Is a PEO broker the same as a PEO?+
No. A PEO is the provider that becomes your co-employer. A broker is an intermediary who compares providers on your behalf and is paid by the one you select.
Does a broker cost me anything?+
No. Broker compensation is built into PEO pricing already, so using one does not raise your cost — and a good one lowers it by making the market compete.
Can I just get quotes myself?+
You can, and for two or three providers it's manageable. The difficulty is normalizing them: different PEOs quote different assumptions, and the cheapest headline fee is frequently the most expensive deal.
How do I know a broker is really independent?+
Ask question one above and ask it plainly. Independent brokers answer it in a sentence; captive ones change the subject to service quality.
Next: what a PEO costs
Pricing models, typical ranges, and what's billed on top of the admin fee.
PEO cost & pricing →Or: is a PEO even the right model?
The side-by-side against a payroll company and an ASO.
PEO vs. payroll company →