What is a Professional Employer Organization (PEO)?

A Professional Employer Organization (PEO) is a company that enters into a co-employment relationship with your business, taking on responsibility for payroll processing, payroll tax compliance, HR administration, employee benefits, workers' compensation, and risk management. The PEO becomes the employer of record for tax purposes, while you retain full control over your employees' day-to-day work. PEOs like KeyHR allow small and mid-sized businesses to access Fortune 500-level HR services and benefits at a fraction of the cost of building an in-house HR department.

How is a PEO different from a payroll service?

A payroll service processes your payroll but leaves you as the employer of record with full compliance liability. A PEO like KeyHR becomes your co-employer — filing payroll taxes under our EIN and assuming legal responsibility for payroll tax compliance. PEOs also provide HR compliance, employee benefits, workers' compensation, and risk management services that payroll processors do not offer.

How much does a PEO cost?

PEO fees are typically structured as a percentage of total payroll (usually 2–12%) or a flat per-employee-per-month fee. NAPEO research shows that businesses using a PEO save an average of 27.2% on HR administration costs compared to managing these functions in-house, when accounting for the full cost of staff time, software, benefits purchasing, and compliance penalties avoided.

How long does it take to switch to a PEO?

Most businesses complete the transition to KeyHR within two to three weeks. Our onboarding team handles data migration, parallel payroll runs, employee portal setup, and benefits enrollment. We design the transition to be seamless — your employees typically notice only improvements, like access to the Enwage self-service portal and better benefits options.

Does a PEO work for businesses in all 50 states?

Yes. KeyHR is licensed and operating in all 50 states. We handle multi-state payroll compliance, state-specific HR requirements, and workers' compensation coverage nationwide. Multi-state compliance is one of the most common reasons businesses partner with a PEO.

Yes. KeyHR is an ESAC-accredited PEO (Employer Services Assurance Corporation), a member of NAPEO (National Association of Professional Employer Organizations), and a member of FAPEO (Florida Association of Professional Employer Organizations). KeyHR has been named to the Inc. 5000 list of America's fastest-growing private companies three consecutive years.

KeyHR Named to Inc. 5000 Three Consecutive Years

ORLANDO, FL — KeyHR, a national Professional Employer Organization (PEO) headquartered in Orlando, Florida, has earned a coveted spot on the Inc. 5000 list of America's fastest-growing private companies for the third consecutive year — a distinction achieved by only a small fraction of businesses that have ever appeared on the list.

Quick Answer

Why was KeyHR named to the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies three consecutive years?

KeyHR earned a spot on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies for three consecutive years by delivering measurable results for Florida small businesses in an industry where most providers focus on large enterprise clients. KeyHR growth was driven by its focus on underserved markets: construction contractors, home health agencies, restaurants, and Spanish-speaking business owners who needed bilingual HR support. The company grew 252 percent over the three-year measurement period by combining competitive workers comp rates, Fortune 500-level benefits access, and dedicated account management.

252% Growth Over Three Years

The 2022 recognition came with a remarkable milestone: 252% three-year revenue growth, placing KeyHR among the elite tier of high-growth companies in the United States. The Inc. 5000 is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious rankings in American business — past honorees include companies like Microsoft, Dell, Domino's Pizza, LinkedIn, Pandora, and Zillow before they became household names.

For a Professional Employer Organization to achieve this level of growth is particularly notable. The PEO industry is highly competitive, with large national players dominating market share. KeyHR's consecutive appearances on the Inc. 5000 signal that businesses across the country are increasingly choosing a nimble, service-focused alternative over the industry giants.

What Is Driving KeyHR's Growth?

Several factors have fueled KeyHR's rapid expansion:

The Enwage platform: KeyHR's proprietary payroll and HR management software gives clients real-time visibility into payroll data, benefits enrollment, time tracking, and compliance — all in one place. This technology-first approach differentiates KeyHR from legacy PEOs still relying on outdated systems.
National reach with local service: Unlike many regional PEOs, KeyHR is licensed and operating in all 50 states, giving multi-location businesses a single partner for all their HR and payroll needs.
Small business focus: KeyHR specializes in serving businesses with 2 to 500 employees — the segment most underserved by large PEOs and most in need of cost-effective HR solutions.
Post-pandemic demand: The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically accelerated demand for HR outsourcing as small businesses struggled to navigate changing labor laws, remote work compliance, and benefits management. KeyHR was positioned to meet that demand.

CEO Jennifer Stephan on the Recognition

"We provide small business owners a full HR department for less than a quarter of what it would cost to hire just one HR professional. This recognition from Inc. validates what our clients already know — that outsourcing HR and payroll to KeyHR is one of the best business decisions they've ever made."
— Jennifer Stephan, CEO, KeyHR

Stephan founded KeyHR with a mission to level the playing field for small and mid-sized businesses, giving them access to the same quality of HR services, benefits, and compliance support that Fortune 500 companies enjoy. The Inc. 5000 recognition is a testament to how powerfully that mission resonates in the market.

What the Inc. 5000 Means for KeyHR Clients

For businesses considering a PEO partnership, KeyHR's Inc. 5000 recognition carries significant weight. It signals:

Financial stability: A company growing at 252% over three years is financially healthy and invested in long-term operations — critical when you're trusting a partner with your payroll and employee data.
Proven model: Rapid growth in a competitive market means KeyHR's approach is working. Clients are staying, referring others, and expanding their relationships.
Innovation commitment: High-growth companies reinvest in technology and talent. KeyHR's growth directly funds continued development of the Enwage platform and expansion of its service team.

NAPEO, FAPEO, and ESAC Accreditation

Beyond the Inc. 5000, KeyHR holds memberships and accreditations that represent the highest standards in the PEO industry. KeyHR is a member of NAPEO (National Association of Professional Employer Organizations) and FAPEO (Florida Association of Professional Employer Organizations), and is bonded and accredited by ESAC (Employer Services Assurance Corporation) — the PEO industry's equivalent of a financial guarantee bond.

These accreditations, combined with the Inc. 5000 recognition, make KeyHR one of the most credentialed and fastest-growing PEOs in the country.

Looking Ahead: Win. Thrive. Dominate.

KeyHR's internal motto — Win. Thrive. Dominate. — isn't just a marketing tagline. It's a philosophy that guides how the company approaches growth, client service, and innovation. As the PEO industry continues to expand (NAPEO estimates the industry serves over 4 million worksite employees and contributes $276 billion in GDP), KeyHR is positioned to capture a growing share of businesses looking to outsource HR, payroll, and benefits.

For businesses that want to stop spending time on HR paperwork and start focusing on growth, KeyHR's track record — three Inc. 5000 appearances, 252% growth, and thousands of satisfied clients nationwide — speaks for itself.

KeyHR Named to Inc. 5000 List of America's Fastest-Growing Companies — Three Consecutive Years