━━━ Independent PEO Broker & Advisor
Helping Business Owners Find the Right PEO — Not Just Any PEO
I’m John W. Crochet, founder of MPower Partners Inc. and an independent PEO broker and advisor with more than 16 years of experience in the PEO industry.
I help small and midsize businesses nationwide evaluate, compare and select PEO, payroll, HR, employee benefits, workers’ compensation and related workforce solutions.
Unlike a salesperson representing a single PEO, I’m not limited to one provider or one solution. I work directly with business owners and decision-makers to understand their company, employees, challenges and priorities before determining which providers are worth considering.
I then help compare the areas that can make the biggest difference - cost, employee benefits, workers’ compensation, HR support, payroll technology, compliance, service levels and contract terms - so you can make an informed decision based on the overall fit and value, not simply the lowest quote.
My goal is simple: help you find the solution that best fits your business. Sometimes that's a national PEO. Sometimes it's a smaller or specialized provider. Sometimes it's a non-PEO solution. And sometimes the best decision is staying exactly where you are.
Independent. Objective. Focused on Your Business.
There is no cost or obligation to work with me. If you select a provider through MPower Partners, I am compensated by that provider - not by you.
What Is an Independent PEO Broker & Advisor?
I am an independent PEO broker and advisor, which means I help businesses evaluate and compare Professional Employer Organizations (PEOs) rather than representing or selling the services of only one PEO.
I work for you - the business owner - not for a PEO. I start by understanding your business, your employees, your current situation and what you're trying to accomplish. From there, I help determine which PEOs - or other solutions - deserve consideration.
That may mean helping a business considering a PEO for the first time, but just as importantly, it means helping a company already partnered with a PEO determine whether its current provider is still the right fit.
Even a PEO that was the right choice several years ago may not necessarily be the best choice today. Your business changes. Your workforce changes. PEO pricing, benefits, workers’ compensation programs, technology and service levels change too.
If you already use a PEO, I review your current arrangement to understand what you're paying, what you're receiving and where there may be opportunities for improvement.
From there, we can determine whether it makes sense to evaluate other providers - or whether your current PEO remains the best solution.
Already With a PEO? It May Be Time to “Keep ’Em Honest.
You don't have to be unhappy with your PEO to have the relationship reviewed.
An independent PEO review can help determine whether your current provider remains competitive and whether you're receiving the overall value you should be.
Changing PEOs is not automatically the objective.
Sometimes a review uncovers a better solution. Sometimes it creates an opportunity to improve the existing relationship.
And sometimes I tell the client: “You've got a good deal. Stay where you are.”
Why Work With an Independent PEO Broker Instead of Going Directly to a PEO?
There are hundreds of PEOs operating across the country, ranging from large national providers to smaller regional and specialized PEOs.
The challenge isn't simply finding a PEO. It's determining which PEO is the right fit for your business.
When you contact a PEO directly, its representative can explain that provider's capabilities and determine whether your business fits its programs.
What that representative generally cannot do is objectively compare that PEO against multiple competing providers.
That's the role I provide through MPower Partners Inc.
One Conversation. Multiple Options.
Rather than contacting multiple PEOs individually, you can start with one conversation with me.
I learn about your business and determine which providers are worth considering based on your industry, number of employees, locations, benefits requirements, workers’ compensation exposure, HR needs, technology requirements and other priorities.
For businesses already using a PEO, we start with something equally important:
Understanding what you already have.
If you already use a PEO, I review your current arrangement to understand what you're paying, what you're receiving and where there may be opportunities for improvement.
From there, we can determine whether it makes sense to evaluate other providers -
or whether your current PEO remains the best solution.
- Is my current PEO still competitive?
- Could another provider offer better overall value?
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- Or am I better off staying exactly where I am?
For businesses already using a PEO, we start with something equally important:
Understanding what you already have.
Today, there are more independent PEO brokers and consultants than ever before.
When I founded MPower Partners Inc. in 2011, the independent PEO advisory space looked very different.
I had experienced the PEO industry from inside a single-provider environment and came to believe there was a better way to serve business owners: Instead of starting with one PEO and trying to make the client's needs fit that provider, start with the client's needs and determine which provider - or solution - fits the client.
That became the foundation of MPower Partners.
I didn't build MPower around a particular PEO, benefits platform or payroll system. I built it around the idea that business owners deserve to understand their options before making a decision as important as who will help manage their people, payroll, benefits, HR and workers’ compensation.
More than a decade later, independence has become a much more common model in the PEO industry. For MPower Partners, it has been the model from the beginning.
How I Help You Find the Right PEO - Or Determine Whether You Already Have It.
Discovery Comes First
Before discussing providers, I want to understand your business - your industry, employees, locations, growth plans, payroll, benefits, workers’ compensation, HR challenges, technology needs and what is or isn't working today. If you're already with a PEO, I also want to know why you originally selected that provider and what has changed since then.
Understand What You're Really Paying Today
PEO pricing isn't always easy to compare. Administrative fees are only one part of the equation. Employee benefits, workers’ compensation, SUTA, payroll-related charges and other costs can materially affect the economics of the relationship. I want to understand what you're paying, what you're receiving and whether the overall value remains competitive.
Identify the Right Providers - Not Every Provider
Every PEO has different strengths, appetites, benefits, workers’ compensation programs, technology and service models. Sending your information everywhere doesn't necessarily produce a better result. My goal isn't to find every PEO willing to quote your business. It's to identify the PEOs that should be quoting your business
Create a Meaningful Side-by-Side Comparison
I help compare administrative costs, benefits, workers’ compensation, payroll and HR technology, HR resources, risk management, service structure and contract terms. The goal is to understand: What are you gaining? What might you be giving up? And what are you actually paying for each option?
Negotiate and Ask the Questions That Matter
A proposal is a starting point, not necessarily the final offer. Where appropriate, I work with providers to clarify pricing, address questions, explore alternatives and negotiate areas where the overall offering may be improved. You have to know what to ask - and know when an answer deserves another question.
Make the Decision That's Right for Your Business
The result could be moving to another PEO, selecting a PEO for the first time, choosing an ASO or other non-PEO solution, improving the arrangement with your existing provider - or staying exactly where you are. The objective isn't change. The objective is making sure you have the right solution for your business
A PEO Review Is About More Than the Bottom Line
Over the years, I've come to refer to reviewing an existing PEO relationship as “keeping ’em honest.”
That doesn't mean assuming your PEO is doing anything wrong. It means making sure the relationship continues to earn your business.
One of the biggest mistakes I see is focusing too much on the final number. I've always looked at it differently:
"Don't just look at the bottom line.
Scrutinize the numbers above it."
When I review a PEO, I look at:
- Employee benefits - costs, plans, deductibles, networks and what employees are actually receiving
- Workers’ compensation - rates, classifications, claims, safety resources and program structure
- Administrative and payroll costs - what you're actually paying rather than simply the fee highlighted in the proposal
- SUTA and payroll-related costs - items that can materially change the economics of the relationship
- HR, compliance and risk management - what help you'll actually receive when you need it
- Technology - whether the tools fit your business rather than simply having the longest feature list
- Service - who answers the phone, who owns the problem and how quickly it gets resolved
- Contract terms - what you're agreeing to and what happens if the relationship needs to change
And I look at something else that is often overlooked: What doesn't the PEO provide?
Understanding what a PEO does not do can be just as important as understanding what it does.
Know what you're buying. Know what you're not buying. And assume nothing.
Who I Help
I've worked with companies across a wide range of industries, sizes and risk profiles - from small professional organizations with only a handful of employees to larger, multi-state employers with more complex HR, benefits and workers’ compensation needs.
While I'm based in Texas, I work with businesses nationwide.
01
Small and Midsize Businesses
I don't begin with the assumption that every business belongs in a PEO. I start with the business. Then I look for the solution
02
Companies Already Using a PEO
Maybe rates have increased. Benefits have changed. Service isn't what it used to be. Your company has grown. Or perhaps everything seems fine, but no one has independently reviewed the relationship in several years. You don't have to be unhappy with your PEO to have it reviewed.
03
Oilfield Services, Construction and Higher-Risk Businesses
My background has given me considerable experience working with businesses where workers’ compensation, safety and risk management can have a major impact on the PEO decision. That includes companies in oilfield services, construction, manufacturing, restoration, staffing, logistics, transportation and other higher-risk industries. Not every PEO wants these businesses. And just because a PEO will quote one doesn't necessarily mean it's the PEO I want my client partnered with.
04
Professional, Lower-Risk and Multi-State Businesses
I also work with professional and administrative organizations where priorities may center more heavily on benefits, HR support, technology, compliance and the employee experience. For growing and multi-state businesses, payroll, workers’ compensation and employment requirements across multiple jurisdictions can become another important part of the evaluation.
There Is No “Best PEO” for Every Business.
Business owners frequently ask me: “John, who is the best PEO?” My answer is: There isn't one. The provider I recommend for a 15-employee professional firm may be completely different from the provider I recommend for a 75-employee oilfield service company operating in several states. One size does not fit all. The objective isn't finding the best PEO. It's finding the best PEO for your business.
Why Experience Matters When Comparing PEOs
I've been in the PEO industry for more than 16 years and have operated independently through MPower Partners since 2011.
But I don't believe the number of years by itself is what matters. What matters is what you've learned during those years.
I've watched providers grow, merge and change. Benefit programs change. Workers’ compensation appetites change. Technology changes. Service models change.
Experience helps me know:
- Who should be at the table.
- What isn't obvious in a proposal.
- When something deserves another question.
- What the PEO does - and what it doesn't do.
- When the biggest name isn't necessarily the best answer.
- When not to recommend a change.
I don't measure a successful PEO review by whether the client changes providers. I measure it by whether the client finishes the process knowing they made the right decision.
What Does It Cost to Work With MPower Partners?
There is no cost or obligation to work with me or to rely on my advice and assistance.
I work for you - the business owner - not for a PEO.
If you ultimately select a PEO or other provider through MPower Partners, I am compensated by the provider you choose.
But that doesn't determine my recommendation.
If I believe your current PEO remains your best option, I'll tell you to stay where you are - even though I may receive no compensation for the time I've spent helping you.
My advice is based on what I believe is best for your business, not on which PEO I want you to choose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you review my PEO even if I'm happy with it?
Absolutely. You don't have to be unhappy with your PEO to determine whether your pricing remains competitive and the overall relationship still makes sense. Sometimes I find a better opportunity. Sometimes the review provides leverage to improve the existing relationship. And sometimes I tell the client: “You've got a good deal. Stay where you are.”
How often should I review my PEO?
I believe a PEO relationship should be reviewed periodically rather than waiting until there's a major problem. An annual checkup can help determine whether a more extensive market comparison is warranted. Keep ’em honest.
When should I start reviewing my PEO before renewal?
Earlier than most companies think. As a general rule, I prefer to begin the conversation about 90 days before a significant renewal or desired transition date, and sometimes earlier for more complicated situations. Time creates options.
How many PEOs should I compare?
There isn't a magic number. It's not about how many PEOs will quote your business. It's about which PEOs should quote your business.
Who is the best PEO?
There isn't one. One size does not fit all. The goal is finding the best PEO for your business.
Do I have to change PEOs after you conduct a review?
No. A successful review isn't measured by whether you change PEOs. It's measured by whether you know you made the right decision.
Does MPower Partners only work with businesses in Texas?
No. MPower Partners is based in Texas, but I work with businesses nationwide.
Not Sure You Have the Right PEO? Let's Find Out.
You don't have to be unhappy with your current PEO to ask whether there might be a better solution.
And you don't have to know whether a PEO is right for your business before talking with me.
Some of the best conversations begin with a business owner simply saying: “John, I'm not sure what I have is the best option. Would you take a look?”
Absolutely.
If you're already with a PEO, I'll help you understand what you're paying, what you're receiving and whether your current provider remains competitive.
If you're considering a PEO for the first time, I'll help you understand how the model works, what it can - and cannot - do and which providers deserve consideration.
And if a PEO isn't the right answer, I'm not going to try to convince you that it is.
You Don't Have to Make a Change to Make a Better Decision
Sometimes my review uncovers a substantially better opportunity. Sometimes it helps improve the relationship with the current PEO.
Sometimes an ASO, payroll or another non-PEO solution makes more sense. And sometimes I tell the client: “You've already got a good solution. Stay where you are.”
Any of those can be a successful outcome.
"My objective isn't to get you to change PEOs. It's to help you make a better-informed decision about your business."
Let's Talk About Your PEO
John W. Crochet
Founder & President
MPower Partners Inc.
Independent PEO Broker & Advisor
Phone: 713-829-3866
Email: jwc@mpowerpartnersinc.com
Website: www.mpowerpartnersinc.com
Schedule a No-Obligation Consultation
Choose wisely, my friends.
