Axcet HR Solutions Blog │Human Resources Trends, News and Insights

Best PEO Companies: How to Spot a Top Provider

Written by Gerald Diddle | Jun 10, 2025 1:00:00 PM

When you’re evaluating PEOs, it’s hard to know who you can trust. Flashy marketing doesn’t guarantee accurate payroll, reliable service or real results.

The best PEO companies don’t just make promises—they prove their value every day. From national recognition to certified expertise and long-term client loyalty, Axcet HR Solutions delivers the outcomes small business owners care about most.

Here’s what separates top-tier PEOs from the rest—and why Axcet stands out.

The Best PEO Companies Deliver Verified Client Satisfaction

Axcet Is a Three-Time Best of HR Services Award Winner

When you're trusting a partner with your payroll, benefits and compliance, satisfaction isn’t a nice-to-have—it’s a necessity. The best PEO companies prove their value through consistent, measurable client feedback.

Year after year, Axcet earns recognition for delivering an exceptional client experience. We’ve been honored with the Best of HR Services Award from ClearlyRated for three consecutive years, an achievement based solely on verified client feedback.

“This award reflects what matters most to us—that our clients feel supported, heard and confident in the work we do for them every day.”

— Jeanette Coleman, Director of Human Resources, Axcet HR Solutions

Unlike firms that rely on marketing to claim greatness, we let our clients speak for us—because trust is earned, not declared.

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Top PEOs Are Built on Experienced, Stable Leadership

Axcet’s Core Service Directors Average Nearly 25 Years of Tenure

At many PEOs, leadership changes are frequent—and so is the disruption that follows. At Axcet, our clients work with directors who have been with the company for decades, building lasting relationships and deep knowledge of the small businesses we serve.

Across our core service areas—HR, benefits, payroll and risk management—our directors have been with Axcet for 21, 25 and 28 years, respectively. That’s an average tenure of nearly 25 years leading the teams that deliver daily support to our clients.

Their long-standing commitment means clients don’t just get expertise—they get continuity, context and a true partner who knows their business inside and out.

And it’s not just leadership—our payroll team alone brings a combined 127 years of experience to the table. That level of institutional knowledge means your payroll is handled with precision, consistency and insight few PEOs can match.

Certified PEO Status Sets Top Firms Apart

Axcet Has Held IRS Certification Since 2017 Without Interruption

One of the things that separates the best PEO companies from the rest? IRS certification.

Axcet HR Solutions was among the first 10% of PEOs in the U.S. to earn Certified PEO (CPEO) status—and we’ve maintained it continuously since 2017. This designation proves that we meet the IRS’s highest standards for tax compliance, financial stability and operational integrity.

To become certified, a PEO must:

  • Undergo rigorous IRS audits and financial reviews

  • Prove timely, accurate payroll tax payments

  • Maintain positive working capital

  • Submit ongoing CPA-reviewed filings

  • Post a substantial IRS bond to protect clients

Few firms meet the bar. Axcet not only clears it—we’ve set the standard. It’s one more reason we’re considered a “best PEO company” by small and mid-sized businesses that value trust, transparency and long-term partnership.

The Best PEOs Don’t Cut Corners on Expertise

Axcet’s Team Includes SPHR-, SHRM-, CPP- and CPR-Certified Professionals

Our credentials don’t stop at the company level. Every member of our consulting and service teams is a trained, certified professional—because you shouldn’t have to wonder if your HR partner knows what they’re doing.

  • All HR consultants hold or are working toward senior-level certifications, including SPHR, SHRM-SCP, and other HRCI/SHRM designations

  • Our payroll team includes Certified Payroll Professionals (CPPs)

  • Our risk management and safety consultants are CPR certified and trained in incident response

These certifications aren’t just letters—they’re proof that your business is being supported by people who know the rules, care about the details and have the expertise to protect your company.

In HR, payroll and compliance, there’s no margin for error—and no time to second-guess advice. The best PEOs get it right the first time, because their teams know what they’re doing.

Axcet’s certified professionals bring the kind of knowledge that prevents costly missteps and gives business owners confidence from day one.

RELATED: Top Benefits of Hiring SHRM or HRCI Certified HR Consultants >>

Safety Is a Core Value at the Best PEO Companies

Axcet Has Been an OSHA VPP Star Site Every Year Since 2010

Among the traits that define the best PEO companies, a commitment to workplace safety is often overlooked—but it shouldn’t be. At Axcet, it’s core to who we are.

We’ve been recognized as an OSHA Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Star Worksite every year since 2010—a designation reserved for companies with comprehensive, successful safety and health management systems.

This elite status isn’t given lightly. VPP Star Sites must:

  • Maintain injury and illness rates at or below national averages

  • Demonstrate self-sufficient hazard controls

  • Undergo rigorous recertification reviews by OSHA

At Axcet, safety isn’t just a benchmark—it’s a value. Our long-standing recognition as a VPP Star Site reflects our unwavering dedication to protecting both our employees and our clients’ teams.

RELATED: Workplace Health and Safety - A Core Value That Drives Success >>

Leading PEOs Unlock Big-Business Benefits for Small Teams

Axcet Clients Gain Access to Fortune 500-Level Employee Benefits

Small businesses often struggle to compete with large employers when it comes to benefits. Axcet levels the playing field by giving our clients access to Fortune 500-level employee benefits at a rate small businesses can afford. That includes:

  • Group health insurance through UnitedHealthcare

  • Dental, vision, and voluntary benefits

  • Retirement plans and compliance support

  • Wellness resources and EAPs

RELATED: Why Delaying Better Employee Benefits Packages Can Cost You Big >>

Reputable PEOs Combine High-Touch Service with National Support

Axcet Has Served Businesses from Our Kansas City Headquarters Since 1988

Axcet has been headquartered in Kansas City since 1988. While we now support businesses across the country, we’ve never lost the personal touch that only comes from being locally grown and independently owned.

We were also a Kansas City Business Journal Best Places to Work nominee, a reflection of the positive, people-first culture we extend to our clients.

Trusted HR Partners Lead with Purpose

Axcet Gives Back to the Kansas City Community Year-Round

The best PEO companies lead with purpose. At Axcet, giving back is part of the job.

We support survivors through Newhouse KC, help local businesses grow with free HR and safety workshops, and roll up our sleeves for causes like Harvesters, Veterans Community Project and KidsTLC.

Our team organizes food drives, donates pet supplies, wraps holiday gifts—and shows up for the community using both company-provided volunteer time off and their own personal time. Giving back isn’t extracurricular here. It’s our culture.

Because serving others is what we do best.

RELATED: PEO Companies - How to Choose the Right One for Your Business >>

What the Best PEO Companies Have in Common—and Why Axcet Belongs

When you look at the best PEO companies in the country, you’ll find they share a few key traits:

✅ Proven track record
✅ Certified excellence
✅ Client-first culture
✅ Long-term leadership and low turnover
✅ Deep HR, payroll, risk and benefits expertise

Axcet delivers on every one of those—and more. That’s why small and mid-sized businesses trust us not just as a vendor, but as a true partner.

Ready to experience what the best really looks like? Let’s talk about how Axcet can support your business. Schedule a consultation >>