Thought Leadership

Practical, data-driven articles from Mark J. Burger, CPA, drawing on his experience in accounting, tax, business advisory, and PEO arrangements. Explore insights on PEO fee structures, contract terms, renewal conditions, and workforce decisions to better understand the financial and operational considerations involved in choosing and managing a PEO.

Thought Leadership

The Proven Way Smart Employers Eliminate Costly HR Compliance Risks

A 2026 Small Business HR Compliance Cost Model HR Risks: What the Numbers Actually Say in 2026 A PEO will help exposures like a willful OSHA violation carries a maximum penalty of $165,514. The average employer-sponsored family health plan now costs $26,993 per year, according to the 2025 Kiser Family Foundation (KFF) Employer Health Benefits

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Thought Leadership

2026 Multi-State PEO Compliance: What Every Smart Employer Needs to Know Now

You Have Remote Employees in Five States. Does Your PEO Actually Know What That Means for Your Compliance Exposure? In 2025 and 2026, the multi-state regulatory landscape accelerated at a pace that most Professional Employer Organizations have not matched. New paid leave programs, shifting noncompete thresholds, state-level artificial intelligence employment laws, and wage transparency mandates

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Thought Leadership

Your PEO’s Health Plan Is Costing You More Than It Should. Here Is How to Know for Certain

The Average Cost of Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance The average cost of employer-sponsored health insurance reached $17,496 per employee in 2025, according to Mercer’s National Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Plans, a 6 percent increase well above the rate of inflation and wage growth. The average family premium now stands at $26,993, according to the KFF 2025

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Thought Leadership

Revolutionary PEO Blueprint: Skyrocket Employee Retention

The Engagement Crisis Facing Small and Medium-Sized Businesses Employee engagement in the United States remains at 31 percent in early 2026, unchanged from 2024 and down from the 36 percent peak recorded in 2020 according to Gallup research. Globally, engagement hovers between 21 and 23 percent, representing one of the lowest periods in recent history.

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Thought Leadership

Certified PEOs: How to Identify Quality Providers and True Strategic Partners

Identifying Quality Certified PEOs with Clear Roles, Strong Client Support, and Measurable Benchmarks According to NAPEO, businesses that partner with Professional Employer Organizations grow 7 to 9 percent faster than companies managing HR functions in-house. The key to realizing these benefits is finding a Certified PEO that operates as a true strategic partner with clearly

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