CarolinaPEO

CarolinaPEO is not itself a PEO but functions as what the industry calls a PEO Brokerage, a referral source that matches clients and agents with the professional employer organization suited to their specific needs. Based in Charlotte, the firm serves clients in 40 states with client employees spread across all 50, working to relieve small businesses of the administrative load that comes with managing employees directly.

The work centers on identifying the right PEO relationship and then staying involved once it's in place. Founder and CEO Jef Fullagar leads that process alongside Senior PEO Consultant Jim Knudsen, Chief of Staff Johnny Gaither, Director of Client Engagement Julie Blum, and IT Director Michael Hough, with the group focused on finding a fit and managing it over time rather than handing off a single introduction and moving on.

Companies turn to a PEO to save money and time on the administrative side of employment, and CarolinaPEO points to average savings of 40 percent on health insurance and 30 percent on workers' compensation as part of the case for making the switch. The firm describes its approach as Southern Service Delivered Nationwide, reflecting a Charlotte home base paired with a client footprint that extends well beyond the Carolinas.