FAQ – Real Questions from Operators
Q: Will I lose control of my business?
No. Your bank accounts, clients, employees, and daily decisions stay 100% yours. Co-employment only moves payroll tax filing, compliance liability, and employment practices to the PEO. Ownership and operational control do not change.
Q: I already use Gusto or QuickBooks. Why add this?
Gusto and QuickBooks handle payroll processing. They cannot move health premiums to pre-tax treatment through Section 125, put you in a large-group composite-rated pool, or shift IRS audit liability. The PEO adds the structural layer those tools cannot provide.
Q: How does the cost actually compare?
Legacy percentage-based PEOs or ADP-style services often run $3,000–$9,000+ per year on $150,000 net income before any benefits. USA OPS charges a flat $1,800 per year ($150/month) with modular add-ons you control. Because the fee and health premiums are paid pre-tax, the real out-of-pocket difference is usually much smaller than the sticker price.
Q: My insurance broker already handles my benefits.
Brokers sell individual and small-group plans. They cannot place you into a large-group corporate plan that requires co-employment. The composite-rated coverage available inside a PEO master contract is not offered on the open market.
Q: Why hasn’t my CPA mentioned this?
Most CPAs focus on filing returns inside your current structure. Restructuring employment tax treatment and benefits through a PEO is a different category of advice. Many general-practice CPAs have never set one up or run the full math.
Q: What if the numbers don’t work for me?
The calculator uses your actual income, state, current premiums, and 2026 rates. It shows the net advantage clearly. If there is no clear win, it will say so and explain why. We only move forward when the math supports it.
Run the calculator first. It takes about 90 seconds and shows your exact situation before you talk to anyone.