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Featured · Buoy CHAMP
Make open enrollment affordable.
$573.60estimated employer FICA savings a year, per enrollee
Estimate your savingsRun your team
For the self-employed
Get started
Start with BuoyPEO
Resources
- FAQsWhat a PEO is, what it saves and how switching works
- Find a providerSelect "Find Provider" in the Choice Plus Network
- 2026 Health Coverage Affordability ReportThe data behind rising benefit costs
- CHAMP program overviewTax savings, workflows and care access
Get started
Start with BuoyPEO
buoy PEO
HR, payroll and compliance, handled by experts.
Tailored benefits and HR for businesses of every size and for 1099 contractors. You run the front office. BuoyPEO runs the back office.
- Payroll and taxes in all 50 states
- Medical, dental, vision and 401(k)
- A dedicated HR professional
Why BuoyPEO
Big-company benefits. Your company, your call.
You get the buying power of a large employer and a team that runs the back office. Every decision about your business stays yours.
Big-company buying power
Your team joins a larger group on our platform, for benefits normally reserved for large employers.
Protections included, not upsold
Buoy CHAMP, an insurance review and Harbor Shield audit defense come standard when you join BuoyPEO.
People, not a ticket queue
A dedicated HR professional and a named Buoy navigator who drives setup and enrollment with you.
Watch
See what BuoyPEO does.
Protect your business, streamline your operations and provide benefits your employees need and can afford, whether you have 50 employees or are a team of one.
What is a PEO?
Let's keep it simple.
Running a business involves two kinds of work: managing your team and growing the business, and handling payroll, benefits, HR paperwork, taxes and compliance.
A professional employer organization, or PEO, helps with the second part. Through a structure called co-employment, your business and BuoyPEO share certain employer responsibilities.
You lead the people. BuoyPEO handles much of the paperwork and infrastructure behind them.
How co-employment works
You run the business. BuoyPEO handles the employer administration.
- 01
What stays with you
You choose who works for you, what they do, how they are managed and how your company operates. You keep control of your employees, customers, brand and daily decisions.
- 02
What BuoyPEO handles
Payroll, payroll tax filings, employee benefits, HR support, workers' compensation, onboarding and compliance-related tasks. BuoyPEO shares the legal responsibility of being an employer.
What this means for your business
Your workforce joins a larger employment group.
That can give your business access to benefits, technology and HR resources that may be difficult or expensive to get on your own.
- 01
For an established company
It can feel like gaining a full HR, payroll and benefits department without having to build one internally.
- 02
For an independent professional
An eligible independent professional or self-employed business owner gets a payroll and benefits structure, and stays in control of their own business.
Complete 360° support
Everything your business needs, managed under one roof.
Support and consulting
A dedicated HR consultant for custom employee handbooks, daily operational challenges and strategic guidance, so you can offload employer risk and win back your time.
Hiring and onboarding
A built-in applicant tracking system and digital onboarding portals take you from application to day one, paperless, with automated workflows.
Payroll and taxes
Payroll and tax filings across all 50 states for W-2 employees and 1099 contractors, with integrated mobile time tracking, direct deposit and job costing.
Health and financial benefits
Competitive group medical, dental, vision, disability, life and accident coverage and 401(k) retirement planning, with a self-service enrollment portal.
Compliance and risk management
Stay ahead of changing employment laws and local tax filings with automated alerts and expert oversight, without the legal jargon.
Workplace safety
Tailored safety programs, professional risk assessments and help managing workers' compensation claims.
Training and development
A built-in learning management system with custom learning paths, compliance modules and full training libraries.
Employee engagement and well-being
Performance tracking, regular feedback loops and an employee assistance program for confidential access to mental and emotional health counseling.
Solutions
What BuoyPEO covers.
Run your team
For the self-employed
The Buoy standard
Included in every plan.
Essential business protections shouldn't be hidden behind expensive add-on tiers. When you join BuoyPEO, these come standard.
- Buoy CHAMP: supplemental, zero-deductible healthcare giving your team $0 copay access to primary care, urgent care, 24/7 virtual care and mental health support.
- Insurance review, included: compare available options and pricing on your business and personal coverage with a licensed insurance professional, powered by Insureon for business and VIU by HUB for personal.
- Harbor Shield audit defense: IRS audit defense support tied to your Section 125 benefit structure for the plan year, funded through the plan at no added cost to you, with covered legal costs up to stated limits. Attorneys are independent and retained by you; Harbor Shield is not a law firm.
Who it serves
Small businesses and 1099 contractors. Choose your pathway.
For small to large businesses
W-2 employees and 1099 contractors on one platform.
- Less adminPayroll, benefits and HR compliance for your whole workforce in one place, with lower operational overhead.
- Tip+Tax advantageFor tipped businesses and tipped industries like restaurants, salons, spas, hospitality and rideshare. Modern tip deduction rules and available employer tax credits, in one compliant setup, help tipped workers and business owners keep an average of $4,000 to $7,000 more a year.
- Automatic through payrollTip+Tax flows through your payroll, backed by the compliance team at Anchor Accounting Services, and connects to tools that turn your reported income and tips into a stronger credit score.
For 1099 contractors and independent professionals
Big-company benefits, without giving up independence.
- No 50-employee barrierSolo professionals and microteams get group health benefits, workers' comp and corporate tax structures, with the level of HR support typically reserved for larger companies.
- Gig PEOWith over 81 million independent contractors, freelancers and gig workers in the U.S., traditional benefits usually leave solo workers behind. Gig PEO brings corporate-level healthcare, tax tools and financial perks to independent workers: the safety net of a large company while you remain your own boss.
Health plan renewals
Renewals are spiking. You're not alone.
According to Buoy's 2026 U.S. Health Coverage Affordability Crisis Report, healthcare costs are rising at 2x to 5x the rate of worker wages, leaving small businesses and families trapped by rising expenses. Small businesses face double-digit renewal hikes for the third straight year, while independent workers face rising deductibles and premium shocks.
20% to 30%+
renewal increases many small and midsized employers are seeing in 2026
Rising health costs are squeezing teams and 1099s. From Buoy's 2026 U.S. Health Coverage Affordability Crisis Report.
- average annual cost for family coverage
- $26,993
- jump in net individual marketplace premiums
- 58%
- of working families forced to cut essential spending due to medical bills
- 55%
- average yearly employee contribution for family coverage, plus thousands in out-of-pocket costs
- $6,850
- per-employee IRS penalties for businesses under ACA thresholds
- $3,340–$5,010
Tailored by industry
Built for your people.
True growth isn't one-size-fits-all. A local restaurant, a clinical medical group, a logistics provider or a freelance creator all operate under completely different financial pressures.
We design specialized pathways that fit your exact industry and team setup.
How businesses that use a PEO compare with those that don't. From the National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO), napeo.org.
- growth rate of businesses that use a PEO
- 2x
- lower employee turnover
- 12%
- less likely to go out of business
- 50%
- return on investment, in cost savings alone
- 27%
FAQ
Questions, answered.
What is a PEO?
Through co-employment, a PEO takes on payroll, tax filings, workers' comp, onboarding and benefits so you can focus on clients, team and revenue. Hiring, promotions, customers, brand and culture stay yours.
What does BuoyPEO cost?
Standard is $59 a month per member for the first 50 members and $49 per additional member. Premier is $99 and $89. Gig PEO is $125 a month. Insurance premiums and workers' compensation are billed separately, and your proposal sets out your final costs.
How much could we save?
It depends on your team. Buoy CHAMP comes in every plan, with an estimated $47.80 a month in employer FICA savings per enrolled employee (try the CHAMP calculator). Tipped businesses can use Tip+Tax to help staff keep $4,000 to $7,000 more a year. Get started and your proposal shows the numbers for your team.
How hard is it to switch?
You apply online in the Buoy app, and your named navigator drives setup and enrollment with you. Your team then enrolls in benefits themselves, with self-service enrollment.
How long does it take to get started?
If you're offering benefits, your first payroll typically takes 30 days. If you only need payroll without benefits, it takes about two weeks.
Do I lose control of my employees with a PEO?
No. You decide who to hire, promote and how your business runs. BuoyPEO handles payroll, taxes, compliance and benefits administration.
Can 1099 contractors use BuoyPEO?
Yes. BuoyPEO removes the traditional 50-employee barrier so solo professionals and contractor networks can access group benefits and workers' comp.
Is Buoy CHAMP included?
Buoy CHAMP, an insurance review and Harbor Shield audit defense come standard across BuoyPEO plans. Buoy CHAMP is a Minimum Essential Coverage plan offered under a Section 125 arrangement. It is not major medical coverage and it is not a replacement for a major medical plan.
Ready to hand off HR and payroll?
Build a plan for your team with a Buoy navigator.