Florida runs on small businesses, and its payroll rules look simpler than they are. There is no state income tax to withhold, yet the minimum wage rose to $15.00 an hour on September 30, 2026.
Reemployment tax, E-Verify, and industry-specific workers’ comp rules add more work. The DBPR Board of Employee Leasing Companies licenses every Florida PEO. Reemployment tax runs through quarterly RT-6 filings with the Department of Revenue.
Why Florida Employers Choose a PEO
Florida calls PEOs employee leasing companies. The Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) licenses them under Chapter 468, Part XI, and Rule 61G7. Before you sign with a Florida PEO service provider, check that its exact legal entity holds a current DBPR license.
The Department of Revenue (DOR) treats PEOs and employee leasing companies as the same kind of entity for reemployment tax. Your company still controls daily operations. A narrow De Minimis registration exists for small out-of-state firms with no Florida office.
INSIGHT: What does a Florida PEO have to get right?
Compliance here goes beyond processing paychecks. Licensing, reemployment tax, E-Verify duties and workers’ comp all follow state-specific rules.
- Employee leasing companies are licensed and regulated by DBPR.
- A newly licensed PEO has 30 days to elect the DOR client method for reemployment tax.
- Private employers with 25 or more employees must use E-Verify (FloridaCommerce).
- Construction employers generally need workers’ comp with 1 or more employees (DFS).
The Florida Constitution bars a personal income tax, so there is no state withholding. Payroll services Florida employers buy still cover FICA, FUTA and federal income tax.
The state layer is reemployment tax, charged on the first $7,000 of each worker’s wages. New employers pay 2.7%, and 2026 rates run from 0.1% to 5.4%. Wages go on the quarterly RT-6, filed through a new eFile and Pay system since August 2026. Good Florida payroll services already use it.
Benefits and risk are why many firms join a PEO anyway. Group health plans, 401(k) options, claims handling, and safety programs come bundled. Under Florida workers’ comp rules, construction firms need coverage at 1 employee and other industries at 4, with separate farm thresholds. PEO services in Florida often include that coverage.
E-Verify matters as well. Private employers with 25 or more employees must use E-Verify within 3 business days of a start date. A PEO for Florida clients carries that duty unless a written agreement moves it to you.
INSIGHT: What makes Florida payroll different in 2026?
Florida skips state income tax withholding, but adds reemployment tax, a $15 wage floor, E-Verify duties and industry-based workers’ comp rules.
- $15.00 minimum wage from September 30, 2026 (FloridaCommerce).
- Reemployment tax on the first $7,000 of wages per worker (FloridaCommerce).
- 2026 reemployment tax rates from 0.1% to 5.4% (Florida DOR).
- E-Verify required for private employers with 25 or more employees (FloridaCommerce).
A licensed PEO Florida businesses join runs payroll, payroll taxes, benefits, HR, and often workers’ comp through employee leasing. For the general model, see my explainer on what a PEO is.
Payroll-only vendors never take an employment role, and an ASO layers HR help on top without one. You can also check Florida PEO services against the IRS Certified PEO (CPEO) list, a separate federal signal.
I reviewed 15 providers, from Tampa Bay and Central Florida firms to companies serving the whole state. Most rankings of the best PEO companies in Florida lean toward the largest names. For national names, my best PEO companies guide covers them.
Top 15 PEO Companies in Florida
Decide first whether you want a DBPR-regulated leasing relationship or only payroll and tax filing. The PEO companies in Florida below include both styles.
Next, check your workers’ comp trigger: 1 employee in construction, 4 elsewhere, or the farm rules. The top PEO companies in Florida price that risk very differently.
Location counts too. Tampa Bay, South Florida, and Southwest Florida each have local firms, and payroll services Central Florida owners use often come from Orlando and Winter Park.
Tech and consulting firms should look for professional-services experience when they compare payroll services for IT companies Florida providers offer.
My criteria were DBPR license status, reemployment tax handling, E-Verify support, FLSA payroll accuracy, and the workers’ comp model. I also weighed benefits, any CPEO or accreditation claim, HR support, and pricing clarity. No single best PEO in Florida fits every one of them.
All fifteen providers appear in A-to-Z order. The sequence says nothing about quality, preference, or ranking.
Accurate Employer Solutions
Provider Type:
Licensed PEO, Tampa
Company Description:
Accurate Employer Solutions (AES) is a Tampa-headquartered licensed PEO serving employers nationwide. It brings payroll, benefits, HR, workers’ comp and compliance under 1 team. Clients range from small teams to multi-state firms, and an AI assistant answers basic questions.
Key Specialty Area:
One-team PEO for Tampa employers of any size
Service Cost:
Quote-based, with an online PEO fit assessment
Top Advantages:
- NAPEO and FAPEO member, per its site
- Leadership involved in day-to-day client service
- Free assessment to test whether a PEO fits
Scope of Services:
- Payroll and tax administration
- Benefits administration and HR guidance
- Workers’ comp claims and compliance support
Our Verdict
I would start with AES if a Tampa company wants to test the PEO model before committing to it.
Avalon HR
Provider Type:
PEO, Pensacola
Company Description:
Avalon HR is a Pensacola PEO serving Florida and Alabama. Founder Don Rider’s payroll firm became an employee leasing company in 2008 under the Avalon HR name. Its site shows CPEO, NAPEO, and ESAC badges.
Key Specialty Area:
Payroll-rooted PEO for the Panhandle
Service Cost:
Quote-based after a free consultation
Top Advantages:
- IRS-certified entities: Avalon HR 2 LLC and Avalon HR LLC
- Local support team based in Pensacola
- Safety programs and unemployment claims handling
Scope of Services:
- Payroll services with direct deposit
- Employee benefits and HR solutions
- Workers’ comp and safety risk management
Our Verdict
For an Emerald Coast employer, I see Avalon as a local option with federal CPEO assurances.
Convergence Employee Leasing
Provider Type:
Employee leasing company, Jacksonville
Company Description:
Convergence Employee Leasing has offered PEO services since 2006 from Jacksonville. It is a Florida PEO provider that also covers Georgia and Alabama, for blue, gray, and white-collar clients. Its site lists 3 Florida employee leasing licenses.
Key Specialty Area:
North Florida payroll, taxes, and workers’ comp
Service Cost:
Quote-based
Top Advantages:
- Florida licenses EL-348, EL-413 and EL-426 shown on its site
- Guidance page on Florida’s E-Verify law
- Calls answered by a real person
Scope of Services:
- Paycheck and payroll tax processing
- Workers’ comp coverage and claims management
- Employee portal and W-2 access
Our Verdict
Convergence makes sense to me for a Jacksonville contractor with crews in Georgia or Alabama.
Florida Resource Management
Provider Type:
Family-owned PEO, Sarasota
Company Description:
Florida Resource Management is a family-owned PEO founded in 2012 and based in Sarasota, with offices in Port St. Lucie and Pensacola. It says it serves about 500 clients across 7 Southeast states.
Key Specialty Area:
Southeast coemployment on the PrismHR platform
Service Cost:
Quote-based
Top Advantages:
- PrismHR portal for payroll, HR, and benefits
- Payroll funding to bridge cash flow
- Safety management and drug screening
Scope of Services:
- Payroll processing and HR support
- Workers’ comp and benefits
- Safety management and payroll funding
Our Verdict
My pick for a Gulf Coast business that needs payroll funding during seasonal cash gaps.
Frontline PEO
Provider Type:
PEO for small businesses, Fort Myers
Company Description:
Frontline PEO is a Fort Myers PEO focused on small businesses. Its PEO services for Florida owners cover HR admin, payroll, risk, compliance, benefits, and workers’ comp. It also streamlines onboarding and employment verification.
Key Specialty Area:
Small-employer PEO for Southwest Florida
Service Cost:
Quote-based
Top Advantages:
- Help with FICA, FUTA, and SUTA compliance
- Unemployment claims and EEOC support
- 401(k) plans without daily admin work
Scope of Services:
- HR admin and payroll
- Employee benefits and 401(k)
- Workers’ comp and claims management
Our Verdict
I would call Frontline for a Lee County business with under 25 employees and no HR staff.
J. Gregory PEO
Provider Type:
PEO, Lake Suzy
Company Description:
J. Gregory PEO is a Florida-focused PEO headquartered in Lake Suzy. It handles payroll, HR, benefits, workers’ comp, and compliance through a single, relationship-led team. Clients also get members-only discount programs for their staff.
Key Specialty Area:
Single-team PEO for Southwest Florida firms
Service Cost:
Quote-based
Top Advantages:
- One coordinated team for all employer services
- Members-only discount programs for client staff
- Several regional workplace awards shown on its site
Scope of Services:
- Payroll and tax administration
- Human resources support and benefits
- Workers’ comp and compliance
Our Verdict
J. Gregory fits a DeSoto or Charlotte County business that values one point of contact, I think.
Key HR
Provider Type:
PEO, Orlando
Company Description:
Key HR was founded in Orlando in 2002 by Jennifer Stephan and now serves all 50 states. It is a long-standing PEO Central Florida employers know, with Spanish-language pages.
Key Specialty Area:
Industry-focused PEO with ESAC accreditation
Service Cost:
Quote-based; a free HR audit comes first
Top Advantages:
- ESAC accreditation for 3 consecutive years, per its site
- Industry programs for construction, restaurants, and franchises
- enWage platform for payroll and benefits
Scope of Services:
- Payroll administration and HR compliance
- Employee benefits and workers’ compensation
- Risk management and employee leasing
Our Verdict
I would shortlist Key HR for an Orlando franchise group or contractor with bilingual staff.
LeelynHR
Provider Type:
PEO and payroll provider, Tampa
Company Description:
LeelynHR is a Tampa provider that began in 1989 as AccuCheck in Troy, New York. It offers payroll and tax, HR and compliance, benefits, and workers’ comp with a concierge service model.
Key Specialty Area:
Concierge payroll and HR with real people
Service Cost:
Quote-based; request a quote online
Top Advantages:
- Team of certified payroll professionals
- Clients assigned to people, not ticket queues
- Roots in payroll since 1989
Scope of Services:
- Payroll and tax administration
- HR, compliance, and employee benefits
- Workers’ comp and risk management
Our Verdict
LeelynHR suits a Tampa firm leaving a self-service payroll app for named support, in my view.
Phoenix Payroll Solutions
Provider Type:
Employee leasing company, Punta Gorda
Company Description:
Phoenix Payroll Solutions is a Punta Gorda employee leasing company led by Kirt Bennett since 2013. It is a payroll service Florida owners use for pay runs, payroll taxes and workers’ comp.
Key Specialty Area:
Payroll-led employee leasing with E-Verify help
Service Cost:
Quote-based
Top Advantages:
- President spent 11 years as CFO of another PEO
- E-Verify support for covered employers
- Workers’ comp included with payroll
Scope of Services:
- Payroll and payroll tax filing
- Workers’ compensation and risk management
- HR, employee benefits and E-Verify
Our Verdict
Phoenix is a practical choice, I think, for a Charlotte County firm that mainly wants payroll and workers’ comp.
Prosperity PEO
Provider Type:
PEO, Bradenton
Company Description:
Prosperity PEO is a Bradenton PEO serving construction, hospitality, warehouse, retail, and health care clients. Its site says it assumes workers’ comp liabilities and handles claims. Benefits include medical, dental, life, and 401(k) options.
Key Specialty Area:
Workers’ comp claims handled for Manatee County firms
Service Cost:
Quote-based
Top Advantages:
- Employee leasing group license GL207 shown on its site
- Payroll hours sent by phone, fax, email or online
- Industry pages for trades and restaurants
Scope of Services:
- Payroll administration and direct deposit
- Workers’ compensation and claims
- Employee benefits and HR
Our Verdict
My pick for a Bradenton trade contractor that wants workers’ comp claims handled.
RealTime PEO
Provider Type:
PEO, Winter Park
Company Description:
RealTime PEO was founded in 1994 in Winter Park, and its executives bring 50+ years of combined PEO experience. It offers central Florida PEO services with tailored plans for each client’s hiring and risk profile.
Key Specialty Area:
Custom plans with a named support contact
Service Cost:
Quote-based, with a free payroll analysis
Top Advantages:
- Client retention near 90%, per the company
- Calls answered by a person who knows the account
- Custom plans by hiring and risk profile
Scope of Services:
- Payroll and tax management
- Benefits, HR and compliance
- Risk management and HR technology
Our Verdict
RealTime suits a Seminole or Orange County business that wants a customized plan, in my view.
SouthEast Personnel Leasing
Provider Type:
PEO, Tampa Bay
Company Description:
SouthEast Personnel Leasing dates back to 1986 and keeps its headquarters in the Tampa Bay area. Owned by John and Debbie Porreca since 1995, it is a Florida PEO company serving clients nationwide.
Key Specialty Area:
Pay-as-you-go workers’ comp and payroll
Service Cost:
Quote-based
Top Advantages:
- Pay-as-you-go workers’ comp platform
- Client notices on E-Verify and tax changes
- Nearly 40 years of operating history
Scope of Services:
- Payroll administration and tax filing
- Workers’ compensation and employee benefits
- Safety, claims and risk management
Our Verdict
I would look at SouthEast for a Pasco or Pinellas business that wants workers’ comp billed by payroll.
TASK PEO
Provider Type:
PEO, Tampa
Company Description:
TASK PEO is a Tampa professional employer organization based on West Hillsborough Avenue. It provides coemployment with workers’ comp, HR, health and welfare benefits, and payroll and tax. Its short site is built around those 5 services.
Key Specialty Area:
Tampa coemployment with workers’ comp
Service Cost:
Quote-based
Top Advantages:
- Coemployment services, solutions and opportunities
- Workers’ comp within the core package
- Local office in northwest Tampa
Scope of Services:
- Workers’ compensation coverage and claims
- Human resources and health benefits
- Payroll and tax services
Our Verdict
TASK is worth a call, I think, for a small Hillsborough County firm wanting a simple local PEO.
United Tech Employee Management
Provider Type:
Licensed PEO, North Palm Beach
Company Description:
United Tech Employee Management is a family-run PEO in North Palm Beach, licensed in Florida, South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee. It has no minimum employee count, and its owners have lived in South Florida for over 30 years.
Key Specialty Area:
Palm Beach PEO with general liability
Service Cost:
Quote-based
Top Advantages:
- No minimum number of employees
- Florida license number 449 shown on its site
- General liability insurance through the same provider
Scope of Services:
- Payroll, taxes, and W-2s
- Medical, dental, vision, and 401(k)
- Workers’ comp, HR and unemployment claims
Our Verdict
My pick for a Palm Beach micro-business with only 2 or 3 employees.
Vested HR Solutions
Provider Type:
PEO, Palm Harbor
Company Description:
Lucas Pappas started VestedHR in 2019, and the company is based in Palm Harbor. It is a national PEO with 2 service tiers built on payroll, benefits, compliance and workers’ comp. Its whole support team works in the US.
Key Specialty Area:
Tiered PEO with US-based advisors
Service Cost:
Quote-based, with a free price analysis
Top Advantages:
- ESAC accreditation stated on its site
- 2 service tiers, VestedFoundation and an expanded level
- No hidden fees, per the company
Scope of Services:
- Payroll processing and HRIS access
- Benefits administration and workers’ comp
- HR, compliance, and risk management
Our Verdict
I would consider Vested for a Pinellas company that wants to start lean and add HR services later.
How Much PEO and Payroll Services Cost in Florida
Most PEO companies in Florida owners talk to quote a flat monthly fee per worker or a percentage of gross payroll. Workers’ comp class codes often move the final number most.
Expect a lower bill from a Florida payroll service, which charges per run or per head. It leaves out coemployment, pooled benefits and most risk work. That trade-off suits firms that already have a benefits broker and their own workers’ comp policy.
The PEO fee typically covers payroll and tax administration, benefits and HR support, reemployment tax handling, and risk services. Insurance premiums for health and workers’ comp, onboarding work and one-off projects usually appear as separate lines.
Statutory costs come next: FICA, FUTA and reemployment tax on the first $7,000 of wages, at your own or the PEO’s assigned rate. Florida adds no state income tax withholding.
None of the 15 providers publishes a price, so you must compare payroll services in Florida quote by quote, using the same census. I also ask how renewals are priced, since workers’ comp rates can shift after the first year.
INSIGHT: Which filings does a Florida payroll service provider handle?
Florida drops state income tax withholding, but payroll still means federal returns, quarterly reemployment tax, and E-Verify duties for covered employers.
- RT-6 wage reports filed every quarter (Florida DOR).
- Each quarter’s RT-6 is due by the last day of the following month (Florida DOR).
- Employers with 10 or more employees must e-file reemployment tax wage data (Florida DOR).
- Federal Form 941 and W-2 filings stay part of routine payroll (IRS).
Flat fees and percentage pricing behave differently as wages grow. My guide to how much a PEO costs shows where each model wins.
If a coemployer feels like too much, my PEO vs HRO article covers the lighter option of HR outsourcing.
FAQs on PEO and Payroll Services in Florida
What does a PEO in Florida do?
In this state, a PEO is usually licensed as an employee leasing company. It handles payroll and payroll taxes, employee benefits, HR administration, workers’ compensation and reemployment tax reporting, while you keep directing the business. Oversight sits with the DBPR Board of Employee Leasing Companies. The service agreement determines who handles each duty, so I review the liability and E-Verify sections before signing anything. Duties the contract omits remain yours.
Does a PEO need a license in Florida?
Yes, in most cases. A company working as an employee leasing company needs a DBPR license under Chapter 468, Part XI. A narrow De Minimis registration covers some out-of-state firms. They must have no Florida office and only a small number of leased workers in the state. I always search the exact legal entity in the DBPR database, because a brand name and its licensed company can differ. The license should be current on the day you sign.
How much does a PEO cost in Florida?
Pricing is a custom quote, based either on a monthly amount per worker or a share of payroll. The final figure moves with headcount, industry, benefit choices, workers’ comp class codes, claims history, and service scope. Keep the admin fee apart from health and workers’ comp premiums when you compare. Ask every provider to price the same employee census so that the quotes can actually be compared line by line. Include setup fees and any monthly minimum in that comparison.
Is workers’ compensation required in Florida?
It depends on the industry. Construction employers generally need coverage with 1 or more employees, while other employers need it at 4 or more, counting part-time staff. Agriculture follows its own thresholds. A PEO may provide or administer the policy. Ask whether you sit under its master policy or your own, and who handles claims after an injury. Get the certificate of insurance in writing.
What is the minimum wage in Florida in 2026?
The state minimum wage rose to $15.00 an hour on September 30, 2026. That rate stays in place through December 31, 2027, and annual inflation adjustments resume after that. Federal overtime rules apply in Florida, so covered nonexempt staff earn time-and-a-half after 40 hours in a workweek. Florida has no daily overtime rule like some other states. Tipped staff have a separate cash wage floor set by the state.
What payroll taxes do Florida employers pay?
Because Florida levies no personal income tax, paychecks carry no state withholding. Employers still withhold federal income tax and pay Social Security, Medicare, FUTA, and Florida reemployment tax. For 2026, reemployment tax applies to the first $7,000 of each worker’s wages, with a 2.7% starting rate for new employers. Rates range from 0.1% to 5.4%, depending on claims history. Ask your provider whether it reports under its own account or yours.
Helen is Anywherer’s Market Analyst & Content Researcher, with extensive experience in analyzing global employment markets and HR technology trends. She is skilled at turning complex market data into clear, well-researched insights that inform every piece of content. With a strong grasp of the EOR, PEO, and international hiring space, Helen plays a key role in keeping Anywherer’s research accurate, up to date, and genuinely useful for readers.
