Best PEO Service Providers

PEO is the acronym for “professional employer organization.”

These outsourcing firms provide business services for functions like payroll, HR tasks, administrative roles, and other crucial activities to running a company.

PEO service providers are incredibly appealing for business owners because they reduce the workload of mundane but critical tasks.

Outsourcing these roles are cost-effective as well. Instead of having a full-time HR staff on your payroll, it’s much cheaper to contract that work. Plus, PEO service providers have the ability to negotiate rates related to employee health insurance or workers’ compensation expenses.

Whether you’re interested in hiring a PEO service for the first time, or looking to switch providers, this guide has you covered.

The 7 Best PEO Service Providers

There are countless PEO services available on the market today. From local providers to national names, and everything in between. Some PEO services are industry-specific, while others are intended for businesses of a certain size.

Finding the best PEO provider for your business can be challenging if you don’t have any guidance.

I narrowed down and reviewed the seven best PEO service providers below. I’ll cover the features, benefits, costs, and any drawbacks of each one as we continue.

Justworks

Justworks is a full-service PEO provider offering payroll, human resources, compliance, and employee benefits under a single umbrella package.

The company launched in 2012 but has quickly grown in both size and popularity over the last few years. They went from 40 employees in 2015 to 300 in 2018. Today, Justworks has more than 600 employees and relationships with major companies like United Healthcare, Kaiser Permanente, and ClassPass.

In addition to employee benefits like health, vision, and dental insurance, Justworks also provides a wide range of compliance services. They handle W-2 and 1099 filings, unemployment insurance, and workers’ compensation.

Justworks has an automated payroll system for direct deposit, paying vendors and contractors, and integration with your business accounting software like Quickbooks and Xero.

Another benefit of Justworks is that they can accommodate the needs for businesses of all sizes. So if you start working with them now, they can scale with you as your company grows.

Here’s an overview of their plans and pricing based company size:

Basic — Payroll, HR Tools, Benefits, and Compliance

• Less than 25 employees — $49 per month per employee
• 25-99 — $44 per month per employee
• 100-174 — $39 per month per employee
• 175+ — Custom pricing

Plus — Access to Medical, Dental, and Vision

• Less than 25 employees — $99 per month per employee
• 25-99 — $89 per month per employee
• 100-174 — $79 per month per employee
• 175+ — Custom pricing

You can save 15% on all plans when you sign up for an annual contract.

I like Justworks because they give you so many options. You’re not forced to take the health insurance package, but it’s available if you want it. If you’re just starting out and new to working with PEO service providers, you could always start with the Basic plan and upgrade to Plus when you’re ready.

Justworks offers 24/7 customer support. The company is modern and still growing at a rapid rate, so I expect them to continue providing excellent service in the future.

The only real downside of Justworks is their lack of experience. There are other PEO service providers who have been in business for decades.

Insperity

Speaking of experience, Insperity has been around for 30+ years. They provide full HR solutions for small businesses as well as enterprises with up to 5,000 employees.

In 1997, the company went public on the NYSE. They have a long list of awards, accreditations, achievements, and glowing reviews from their customers.

Insperity’s full-service HR solution includes:

• Employee benefits
• HR administration
• Payroll
• Risk management
• Compliance
• Talent management
• Tech services

For those of you who don’t need a full-service solution, you can also use Insperity for individual services.

While Insperity does accommodate the needs of businesses with 150-5,000 employees, I’d recommend their services to small and medium-sized business owners with less than 150 employees.

With Insperity, you’ll have access to the iOS and Android mobile apps to monitor and manage your business on the go. It’s a great option for those of you who enjoy leveraging the latest technology to streamline your processes.

For those of you who prefer working with large organizations, Insperity is definitely a top choice to consider. They did $3.8 billion in revenue back in 2018.

Although the company is big, they still provide excellent customer service and know how to work with small business owners.

Another top feature of Insperity is its flexibility. Unlike other PEO providers on the market, Insperity won’t lock you into a long term contract. You can cancel at any time, as long as you give them 30 day’s notice.

Insperity does not list prices for their services online. You’ll need to speak with their customer service sales team to get a custom quote.

A potential drawback of using Insperity for PEO services is that their health plan options are limited. Unlike other providers, Insperity only offers health plans from a single health insurance provider. So if your company wants to give your employees multiple options for healthcare, you should look elsewhere on our list. But this usually isn’t a problem for small business owners.

ADP TotalSource

ADP is an industry leader in technology. Since 2011 they have been providing software for human resources to businesses of all shapes and sizes.

But in addition to their robust technology, ADP TotalSource is a full-service PEO solution.

ADP is another top option for small to medium-sized business owners. Whether you have 1-49 employees, 50-999 employees, or 1,000+ members on your team, ADP has a plan for you.

ADP TotalSource is used for human resources, talent management, payroll, employee benefits, and risk assessment.

As a small business owner, you can use ADP to provide enterprise-grade medical, dental, and vision care to your employees. Furthermore, ADP also offers 401(k) plans.

The technology used by ADP is the biggest standout of this PEO provider. Everything from HR to payroll, benefits, and recruiting can be accessed and managed through a mobile app or easy to use web dashboard.

But arguably the best feature of ADP is the customer service.

Naturally, your employees will have questions. Whether it be about their pay, benefits, or something else that would fall into the HR category. Rather than bothering you with those questions, your staff can simply contact an ADP representative directly.

ADP’s knowledgeable and friendly staff will guide your employees in the right direction to answer any questions or help them pick a plan that fits their needs.

I like ADP because they also have industry-specific solutions for businesses in the following categories:

• Restaurant and hospitality
• Manufacturing
• Healthcare
• Construction
• Government and education
• Nonprofit
• Professional and technical services
• Financial services

ADP provides PEO services and technology in over 140 countries worldwide.

The only potential downside of using ADP TotalSource is the company’s size. Since ADP is so large, it’s possible that your small business could feel like it’s getting lost in the shuffle.

Paychex

More than 670,000 businesses trust Paychex. While the company is best known for its online payroll services, they are also a full-service PEO provider.

One of the biggest standouts of Paychex is the way that they provide PEO services. Your business will get a dedicated HR professional. In some cases, this dedicated HR manager can even be on-site at your office.

By working directly with your employees, Paychex takes HR outsourcing to the next level.

Since Paychex works so closely with your company, it makes it easier for them to assess workplace risks and address key areas of liability.

These are some of the top features and benefits of using Paychex as your PEO provider:

• Insurance plans
• Attendance
• Employee benefit accounts (HSA, FSA, HRA)
• 401(k) plans
• Payroll administration
• Unemployment insurance

Like other PEO providers, Paychex also offers individual services if you don’t need a full-service plan. You can search for solutions by task, business size, or role. Paychex even offers outsourced office management services.

From paperless hiring and onboarding to issuing payroll, Paychex does it all.

The only negative thing I can find about Paychex is that the interface is a bit outdated and not as user-friendly compared to options like ADP TotalSource.

The price for Paychex PEO services is based on the number of employees you have. Contact their sales team for a free consultation and quote.

Oasis Outsourcing

Oasis Outsourcing was originally founded in 1996. The company was recently acquired by Paychex in 2018, although Oasis still operates under its own name.

PEO services provided by Oasis Outsourcing include:

• Human resources
• Employee benefits
• Risk management
• Payroll
• Technology solutions

Oasis can help your small business get great deals on healthcare by bundling your plan with other clients. They’ll help you set up employee retirement plans as well.

Like other providers on our list, Oasis has some industry-specific solutions.

• Banking
• Architecture
• Hotels
• Education
• Restaurants
• Retail
• Private equity
• Legal
• Property management
• Financial services

I’d recommend Oasis to startup companies because they are versatile, but smaller than some of the other choices out there. Oasis can give startups the special attention that they need, even with just a handful of employees.

While some PEO providers allow for month-to-month commitments, Oasis will force you into a one-year contract. So for those of you who don’t want to get locked in, this won’t be the best option for you.

With that said, Oasis does offer a 90-day money-back guarantee window. So you’ll have some time to change your mind if you’re not satisfied in the first few months.

Contact Oasis Outsourcing to get a custom quote for your company’s needs.

TriNet

TriNet is one of the oldest and most experienced PEO service providers in the industry. After launching in 1988, the company has been serving businesses for more than 30 years.

As of today, they are currently working with over 16,000 clients and roughly 332,000 employees.

The PEO services provided by TriNet are similar to some of the others in the industry. They offer niche-specific solutions for:

• HR consulting
• Benefit options
• Payroll
• Risk mitigation
• Technology

TriNet stands out as one of the best PEO providers because of their service and attention to detail. Their team will be on standby for your employees.

Whether it’s during the hiring process, onboarding, or just day-to-day questions about their benefits or employee status, TriNet is there for all of those needs.

TriNet does not try to appeal to larger organizations. In fact, services are segmented by employee size into these three categories:

• 5-19 employees
• 20-99 employees
• 100+ employees

I’d recommend TriNet to those of you who fall on the lower end of this scale. A company with 500 or 1,000+ employees should look elsewhere.

TriNet offers a wide range of employee health benefit options through insurance companies like United Healthcare, Kaiser Permanente, Aflac, Aetna, and MetLife.

TriNet also has partnerships with big brands to offer small businesses and employees marketplace discounts. Some of those brands include Verizon, AT&T, Hyatt, and Avis.

To get a custom quote for your small business, simply fill out a short form field on the TriNet website.

Infiniti HR

While some providers force you to bundle all PEO services in one package, Infiniti HR allows you to pick and choose which ones you need.

Do you only need an outsourced human resources department, but not payroll? No problem. Infiniti HR can set you up with that.

In addition to the traditional PEO services that we’ve seen so far (HR, payroll, risk management, employee benefits, etc.), Infiniti HR also specializes in recruitment. This PEO provider will help get top-level talent to your team.

Another standout for Infiniti HR is the type of businesses that they serve. They work with lots of franchise organizations like Supercuts, Best Western, and Massage Envy.

Whether you own one franchise location or multiple franchises across the country, Infiniti HR will be a top choice for you to consider.

Infiniti HR has been in business for just over ten years. They are still growing and improving their services on what seems like a daily basis.

The Infiniti HR mobile app is expected to be released by the end of 2020. This technology improvement will definitely make their services more appealing.

How to Find the Best PEO Service Providers

There is quite a bit of information that must be taken into consideration when you’re evaluating a PEO service provider. Since so many companies seem to offer similar services, choosing the best fit for your business can be a challenge.

I’ll take you through the methodology that we used to come up with this guide. You can use these features as well during your search process.

Pricing

The first thing you should look at is the price of the PEO solutions. This will make it easier for you to eliminate options that might be out of your price range.

Unfortunately, not every PEO provider includes prices on their website. Since so much about this industry is customized, you’ll need to speak with a sales representative to get a quote.

But if you’re looking for a provider with transparent prices, Justworks will be a top option for you to consider.

Employee Benefits

While a PEO provider is supposed to reduce costs make your life easier as a business owner, it should also have a positive impact on your employees.

Things like retirement plans, health insurance, dental, and vision offered by a PEO will be appealing to your staff. Not only will this keep your employees happy, but it will also help you hire top-level talent.

Some PEO providers work with just one health insurance company, while others provide a wide range of options. So if diverse plans from varying providers is important to you, then make sure you find a PEO solution that can accommodate those needs.

Employee Self-Service

The best PEO providers offer technology for employee self-service. Whether it’s an app or web portal, your staff can access crucial information related to their pay, employee status, or benefits.

If the self-service options are not sufficient, you want to make sure that your PEO provider will be available to answer any questions via phone, email, or live chat for your employees.

Your staff should be able to do this without having to go directly through you to speak to an outsourced HR representative.

Business Size and Industry

A startup with five employees and a franchise with 2,000 employees across 50 locations will not be in the market for the same PEO service provider. Look for you providers that work with companies similar to the size of your business.

Furthermore, some PEO providers specialize in certain industries. Ideally, you want to work with a provider who understands your industry, whenever possible.

Conclusion

What’s the best PEO service provider?

The answer depends on a wide range of factors. Not every business is looking for the same thing in a PEO solution. Some businesses want a full-service PEO package, while others just want an outsourced HR representative.

Here’s a recap of the best PEO providers that we reviewed in this guide:

• Justworks — Best overall PEO service provider.
• Insperity — Best PEO services for small to medium-sized businesses.
• ADP TotalSource — Best PEO technology and employee customer service.
• Paychex — Best PEO provider for on-site HR and payroll.
• Oasis Outsourcing — Best PEO services for startups.
• TriNet — Best PEO provider for very small businesses.
• Infiniti HR — Best PEO service provider for franchises.

I’m confident that you can find exactly what you’re looking for from one of the providers on this list. I made sure to include something for everyone.

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Best Document Management Software

Document management software has become a crucial component of running a business in 2020. So many organizations are either going paperless, have remote employees, or both.

These new trends make it unrealistic to keep documents and paperwork in physical filing cabinets or boxes in an office.

Document management software allows you to declutter your office, improve security, and access files or data from anywhere. This software also enhances efficiency when sharing documents or collaborating with team members.

Are you ready to digitally upload, track, and securely archive your documents? You need document management software to achieve this.

Whether your company is going paperless, or you just want to digitize your records for improved organization, this guide has everything you need to know about DM software (DMS).

The 7 Best Document Management Software

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of document management solutions on the market today. Cloud storage tools like Google Drive or Dropbox could technically fall into this category as well.

But for the purpose of this guide, I focused on DMS for businesses. For this instance, there are really only seven solutions that I would recommend.

The reviews below include a brief summary, features, benefits, prices, and any potential drawbacks of each software. Use this as a resource to find the best document management software for your unique situation.

eFileCabinet

eFileCabinet is one of the best document management solutions on the market today. Since 2001, this company has helped individuals, small business owners, and enterprise-level companies organize data and files online.

The software makes it easy for you to stay organized and find a document, regardless of how many you have on file.

You can search for documents or locate them based on folder templates or pre-defined file names. eFileCabinet also keeps a portfolio of your most used documents for quick access.

The eFileCabinet solution does all of the hard work for you. Simply upload a document, and the software will file it for you. The automated workflow streamlines your time-consuming tasks to improve efficiency in the office.

All of your documents can be accessed from anywhere with a web browser or mobile app. You can upload documents directly from your phone using the camera on your device. eFileCabinet also allows you to sign contracts.

One of the biggest standouts for this solution is the collaboration features. The system allows you to create different levels of security, so only certain people can access data.

eFileCabinet has encrypted file sharing and requests, two-factor authentication, and role-based permissions. You can even set IP or location-based authentication.

The software integrates with popular third-party services like DocuSign, Salesforce, and Microsoft Office.

Here’s an overview of the plans and price points for eFileCabinet:

• Starter — Starting at $15 per month (25 GB of storage)
• Advantage — Starting at $55 per month (1 TB of storage)
• Business — Starting at $99 per month (5 TB of storage)
• Unlimited — Starting at $199 per month (Unlimited storage)

All prices are listed per user and billed on an annual basis. Once you upgrade from the Starter plan to Advantage, you’ll need to pay for a minimum of three users.

I’d only recommend the Starter plan to individuals. Sole proprietors or very small businesses can probably get away with the Advantage plan, but the Business package will likely be the best for the majority of you.

With eFileCabinet, you get to choose if you want your storage either on-site or on the cloud. Personally, I prefer the cloud storage. But there are advantages to on-premises as well.

M-Files

M-Files represents the future of document management. The software leverages AI technology to automate your organizing process.

When you upload content to M-Files, the platform automatically organizes the data based on what it is, as opposed to just where you want to store it.

You even have the ability to connect M-Files to your existing network and systems to protect your information and categorize everything with AI, automatically and securely.

Another top benefit of M-Files is that they offer industry-specific solutions. Some popular industries that they service include:

• Financial services
• Construction and engineering
• Oil and gas
• Real estate
• Manufacturing
• Professional services

M-Files is great for larger teams that need to access documents at different times. If someone on your staff needs a file that was uploaded and saved by another colleague, they won’t need to search through different folders to see what the document was saved as.

With AI technology, all you need to know is what type of document you’re looking for. Then you can organize the content based on criteria like project title, author, customer, or expiration date.

M-Files will automatically detect duplicate content. Rather than having multiple versions of the same or slightly different documents on your storage system, it will automatically update the latest document to one singular file. This way you always know that you’re viewing or working with the latest version.

With M-Files, you can store a wide range of document types, including emails. The software also allows you to collaborate with external users who don’t have M-Files. That content can be shared as a secure link.

M-Files offers cloud storage, on-site storage, and hybrid storage solutions as well.

You can try M-Files free for 30-days by filling out a form on their website. Pricing for M-Files is not listed on their website. You need to contact their sales team to inquire about a custom solution.

Templafy

Templafy is a relatively new DMS. After launching in 2014, they have been providing all-in-one document management solutions for enterprises all over the world. It’s designed specifically for large businesses and helps streamline tasks to save time when it comes to storing and accessing files.

More than 300 enterprises across 80+ countries use Templafy for document management. This translates to more than one million users.

Using intelligence software, Templafy will automatically show the most relevant content to each employee based on their usage and position.

Your marketing team doesn’t need to see accounting documents, and vice versa.

One of the biggest pain points with DMS, in general, is having to create new documents using another platform. Templafy eliminates this pain point by giving users the ability to create and edit new content directly within the system.

Both new and uploaded content can all be managed in a simple and singular feed on your dashboard.

Templafy’s cloud storage software means you can access documents from anywhere, including on your smartphones and tablets.

You can integrate Templafy with Microsoft Office 365, G-Suite, and other platforms that you’re using to run your business on a daily basis. You can even integrate Templafy with CRM solutions like Salesforce or Microsoft Dynamics.

Big brands like Pandora and IKEA trust Templafy to manage their documents with enterprise-grade software.

In addition to managing documents and files, Templafy has solutions for maximizing employee productivity and creating an evergreen IT infrastructure.

Security is another top benefit of using Templafy. You and your team can securely store and access content from anywhere, using any device, whether you’re online or not.

Like most enterprise software, Templafy provides custom solutions for each unique company. So they don’t list any prices online. You can try Templafy for free before you commit to a contract by reaching out to their sales team.

DocuWare

For those of you who are looking for a high-quality cloud-based solution for document management, look no further than DocuWare.

This DMS is unique because it has specific solutions for tasks within your business processes:

• Document management
• Invoice processing
• Employee management
• Sales
• Marketing

DocuWare has everything you need for digital transformation and going paperless using cloud technology.

This is another software that’s used by large businesses and enterprises. Sony, Toshiba, Levi’s, and Kellog’s are just a handful of their most well-recognized customers.

But with that said, DocuWare stands out as a top option for small and medium-sized businesses as well.

Small business owners can use DocuWare to automate their digital workflow, securely organize and store documents, and automate certain tedious tasks.

DocuWare allows you and your staff to edit or annotate documents directly on the platform. Not every DMS on our list gives you this capability.

I like DocuWare because it has features designed to connect remote employees and your deskless workforce. Anyone can easily access content at home or on the go from any device.

More than 12,000 businesses in 90+ countries trust DocuWare for document management. So you know that the company is legitimate with a track record like that.

It has specific use cases for things like contract proposals, finance processes, and HR tasks as well.

The pricing for DocuWare follows a common theme in this guide. They offer a free trial, but you need to contact their customer support team directly for a custom quote.

Hightail

Hightail is a document management solution with a specific purpose—sharing and collaboration.

Other DMS on the market have features for file sharing as well, but Hightail takes this to the next level.

I recommend Hightail to businesses that need the ability to send large files securely.

Sharing is simple. Just drag or upload a file from your device or cloud storage solution into your Hightail account. Enter the information for who you want to share it with, and automatically send an email notification to the recipient.

With Hightail, you’ll be able to track the delivery and downloads of content you shared. So you know exactly who opened it and when.

Hightail lets you send files of up to 500 GB. You can add password protection to files and set expiration dates as well.

Here’s an overview of the plans and pricing for Hightail:

Lite — Free

• 100 MB file send limit
• 7 day file expiration
• Comments for feedback enabled
• Sync from third-party integrations

Pro — $12 per month per user

• 25 GB file send limit
• Configurable file expiration
• File previews enabled
• Send tracking and delivery notifications
• Password protection
• Phone and live chat support

Teams — $24 per month per user

• 50 GB file send limit
• Custom branding
• Organization and archiving tools
• Version control with side by side comparisons
• Real-time discussions for collaboration
• Members management

Business — $36 per user

• 500 GB file send limit
• Enterprise-grade security
• Dedicated customer support team
• Organizational level permissions
• Admin reports

As you can see, the pricing is largely based on the file sending limits. But the features get significantly better with each plan as well.

The free option is actually pretty good if you don’t need to send huge files, and even the entry-level Pro plan is suitable for a number of individuals.

If you’re interested in a paid plan, you can try Hightail free for 14 days.

MasterControl

MasterControl is a DMS made for businesses where security is a top priority and concern. Certain industries have strict regulations for companies to comply with.

MasterControl understands those compliance concerns and created a document management solution that meets any security requirements.

One of the top features of MasterControl is its ability to track changes and revisions. If a document needs to be reviewed by a particular person, you can schedule a time and send out reminders as well.

MasterControl can also limit revisions based on access. You have complete control over who can make changes to a document.

You can also create custom watermarks, sequential numbering, and location tracking to control copies of your files.

MasterControl is 21 CFR Part 11 compliant. This means that documents have a time-stamped audit trail, as well as e-sign functionality that complies with federal regulations.

Another unique standout of MasterControl is its learning center. You’ll have access to tons of free videos, documents, and other resources to educate you about the platform and security compliance in general.

If you need enterprise-grade security for document management in a strict industry, MasterControl will be a top option for you to consider. Contact their sales team for a custom quote.

PaperTracer

PaperTracer has solutions for small, medium, and enterprise-level businesses. It’s a simple solution for document management.

With PaperTracer, you’ll have the ability to automate your contracts and digitize all of your documents in a centralized database. PaperTracer has tracking and reporting capabilities and HIPPA compliant solutions as well.

Your document management solution is completely customized. You can benefit from a cloud-based implementation with end-to-end workflow solutions.

E-signature capability is also available with PaperTracer.

PaperTracer is a top solution for businesses in healthcare and legal industries.

Here’s a brief overview of the available plans, although all pricing is customized.

Small

• Up to 10 users
• Electronic signing
• Searchable database
• Upload and scan to PDF
• Advanced reports and dashboards
• Input forms

Mid Size

• Up to 100 users
• Contract authorizing
• Custom fields
• Custom workflows
• Implementation

Enterprise

• Unlimited users
• Unlimited input forms
• Single sign-on

Demos and free trials are available for all three plans. I’d recommend PaperTracer for small and medium-sized businesses. While they do have an enterprise-grade solution, there are better options for that on our list.

How to Find the Best Document Management Software

Choosing a document storage solution can be challenging if you don’t know what to look for. There are certain features and benefits that you need to keep an eye on when you’re evaluating a prospective software.

I’ll show you the methodology that we used to come up with the choices in this guide. You can use the same system to help narrow your search.

Storage Location

In most cases, document management solutions are either cloud-based or on-site. Some companies offer just one, while others let you choose which one you prefer.

For example, eFileCabinet offers both on-premises and cloud-based storage. M-Files has both as well, and also has a hybrid solution. Other solutions, like DocuWare are completely cloud-based.

I personally prefer cloud solutions because you can access content from anywhere. But for security reasons, some companies want files stored locally on their network.

File Sharing and Collaboration

What can you do with your files once they are uploaded and stored? While organizing files is obviously important, it’s useless for some companies if the documents can’t be shared with teams or external users.

Look for a DMS that accommodates your internal needs for editing or collaborating on files. Features like automated version updates and in-platform editing capabilities are crucial here.

The size of your files will also depend on which solution is best for your business. If you need to share large files, Hightail is the best choice.

Security

Most business-related files and data are sensitive. So it’s important to have a document management solution that can securely store information.

Some solutions offer access permissions based on individual clearance levels or even location.

Other platforms specialize in compliance for unique industries, like healthcare, legal, or government businesses.

Price

Pricing for DMS is usually based on storage limits and users. At each price tier, you can expect the plan to have additional features and benefits.

The majority of the solutions on this list offer custom plans and pricing. So to get a better idea of how much your document management software will cost, you’ll need to consult with a sales representative.

For those of you who are looking for a cost-effective solution and instant sign-ups, eFileCabinet will be a top choice for you to consider.

Integrations

Ideally, you want to find document management software that works with the platforms you’re already using. Whether it’s CRM like Salesforce, or document editing and creation software like Microsoft Office 365, certain platforms have a wide range of integrations for you to choose from.

However, other solutions that are niche-specific are a bit more limited. So make sure you use software that will actually benefit your workflow process.

Conclusion

Document management software is extremely diverse. Each solution offers unique benefits for businesses based on size, industry, or specific needs.

What’s the best document management software? It’s impossible to say since every option is so different. Here’s a quick recap of the platforms reviewed above:

• eFileCabinet — Best administrative controls and third-party integrations.
• M-Files — Best document management software for automated organizing with AI.
• Templafy — Best enterprise-grade document management software.
• DocuWare — Best cloud-based DMS for small to medium-sized businesses.
• Hightail — Best document management software for sending large files.
• MasterControl — Best DMS for strict security and compliance standards.
• PaperTracer — Best for small or medium-sized legal and healthcare companies.

If you’re looking for a basic all-in-one document management solution, eFileCabinet will probably be your best bet.

But for those of you with unique circumstances and needs, you can find custom software from one of the providers on our list.

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Best Video Conferencing Services

Video conferencing plays a crucial role in the business world. Whether it be for communicating with remote employees, clients, prospects, or team members at other locations, nearly everyone needs video conferencing software at one point or another.

In our personal lives, we use technology like Skype or Facetime to communicate with video. But that software isn’t sufficient enough for a large-scale video conference.

If you’re ready to take your conference calls to the next level with video, you need to read this guide.

I’ll explain everything you need to know about how to choose the best video conferencing service for your business. Regardless of your company size, industry, or conferencing needs, there’s definitely an option for you below.

The 8 Best Video Conferencing Services

There are hundreds of video conferencing choices on the market today. So finding the best one for your business can be overwhelming if you don’t know what to look for or where to start.

Fortunately, I’ve already done all of the research and heavy-lifting for you. I narrowed down and reviewed the top eight choices for video conferences. We’ll cover the top benefits, prices, and potential drawbacks of each option as we continue.

GoToMeeting

GoToMeeting is a top choice for video conferencing and conference room capabilities. The platform makes it easy for you to turn any video conference into a highly collaborative workspace.

This is one of the top video conferencing solutions for accommodating both remote workers and clients alike.

Another top benefit of GoToMeeting is its ability to integrate with the systems your business is currently using. It’s used by sales managers, business owners, and IT teams as well.

GoToMeeting also offers an all-in-one hardware and software kit for those of you who want to transform your physical conference room into a digital one. This hardware is more advanced than the built-in cameras, microphones, and speakers on your current devices.

Some other top features and benefits of using GoToMeeting for video conferencing include:

• Cloud collaboration
• Automatic bandwidth adjustments
• Available on Mac, PC, iOS, and Android
• Single-click start and join sessions
• Multi-channel support
• Integrated scheduling

Unlike the other platforms that we’ve reviewed so far, GoToMeeting has just two plans for you to choose from:

• Professional — $14 per month 
• Business — $19 per month

The plans are very similar. GoToMeeting offers unlimited meetings and unlimited meeting durations with both options. You’ll also benefit from things like Salesforce integration, Slack meeting launcher, and an admin center with each.

The biggest difference between Professional and Business is that they can host up to 150 and 250 participants, respectively.

In addition to more participants, the Business plan gives you access to transcripts, keyboard and mouse sharing, unlimited cloud storage, and mobile cloud recording.

I think it’s a no-brainer to sign up for the Business option instead of Professional. The added benefits are worth the extra $5 per month.

GoToMeeting does offer enterprise-grade plans for up to 3,000 participants. But those prices aren’t available online. You’ll need to speak to a sales rep for a custom quote.

Save 16% on your GoToMeeting plan with an annual contract. You can try GoToMeeting for free with up to 250 participants for 14 days.

Zoom Meetings

Since launching in 2011, Zoom has quickly become an industry leader in the video conferencing space. The software is trusted by large businesses like Ticketmaster, Uber, Pandora, and GoDaddy, to name a few.

I like Zoom because of its simplicity and versatility. They have a plan for businesses of all shapes and sizes, including a free option.

Zoom has video conferencing capabilities with up to 1,000 participants, and up to 49 videos on the screen simultaneously.

The platform is secure, with role-based user security options, password protection, and waiting rooms. Zoom makes it easy for your team to collaborate with screen sharing, filing sharing, and other interactive features.

Zoom is modern, so naturally, the service can be accessed from a mobile app as well. This is perfect for participants who are on the go and unable to reach a computer for a meeting.

Here’s an overview of the different plans, features, and prices for Zoom Meetings:

Basic — Free

• Unlimited one on one meetings
• Up to 100 participants
• 40 minute limit on group meetings
• Unlimited number of meetings

Pro — $14.99 per month per host

• All basic features
• 24 hour meeting limit
• User management tools
• Admin feature controls
• Reporting tools
• 1 GB of cloud recording

Business — $19.99 per month per host

• All Pro features
• Minimum 10 hosts
• Up to 300 participants
• Dedicated phone support
• Company branding
• Cloud recording transcripts
• Admin dashboard

Enterprise — $19.99 per month per host

• All Business features
• Minimum 50 hosts
• Up to 1,000 participants
• Unlimited cloud storage
• Dedicated customer support manager
• Executive business reviews
• Bundle discounts available for Zoom Rooms and webinars

As you can see, there is a plan for everyone. The free option is an excellent choice for an entrepreneur or freelancer who only needs to video chat once in a while for brief meetings.

Beyond personal use, you’ll need to upgrade to the Pro or Business plans to get the most out of Zoom Meetings. Fortunately, Zoom makes it easy for you to scale to another plan as your company grows.

Just be aware that your plan will impact the level of customer support you receive. To get premium support, you’ll need to upgrade.

Cisco Webex

Cisco is a brand name that’s synonymous with superior technology. So it should be no surprise that Cisco Webex ranks so highly on our list for video conferencing software.

With Webex, you can host massive virtual events with up to 100,000 participants and run an interactive webinar for 3,000-person audiences.

Cisco Webex is perfect if you need to run on-demand training lessons for large groups as well. This is a great tool for onboarding employees at scale throughout multiple locations.

The Webex mobile app is another standout feature of the platform. Hosting and joining meetings are both simple and accessible from anywhere.

Cisco Webex is built for teams. Arguably the best part about this video conferencing software is the cloud collaboration features. It’s easy to share files and screens with other meeting participants to stay organized and make the conference more interactive.

Cisco offers four different plans for you to choose from, including a basic free option.

Free — $0 per month

• Up to 50 participants
• 40 minute limit on meetings
• Unlimited meetings
• 1 GB of cloud storage

Starter — $16.95 per month per host

• Up to 50 participants
• Unlimited meeting duration
• 5 GB of cloud storage
• Recording transcriptions
• User management
• Application and file sharing

Plus — $22.95 per month per host

• Up to 100 participants
• Assign alternate hosts
• Allow others to schedule meetings for the host
• Customizable Webex URL
• Admin portal
• 24/7 customer support

Business — $32.95 per month per host

• Up to 200 participants
• 10 GB of cloud storage
• Branding and custom options
• Single sign-on
• Active directory sync
• Minimum five licenses per month

At first glance, the Cisco Webex prices appear to be higher than Zoom Meetings. However, you can save 20% per month with an annual contract.

It’s also worth noting that the Webex Plus plan doesn’t have any host minimums, and the business plan has just a five license minimum. Zoom has a 10 and 50 host minimum for their plans at similar price points.

So Cisco Webex will be a better option if you want those business or enterprise-level features for a smaller team.

Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams is business a messaging solution with video capability offered by Microsoft. The platform is designed specifically for internal communication in the workplace.

With chat, audio, and video capabilities for group sizes of 10 or 10,000, Microsoft Teams is the ultimate in-house communication solution.

Slack is a direct competitor of Microsoft Teams. But Microsoft Teams shines with its superior technology and video conferencing features. However, the setup, usage, and onboarding are a bit more complex. So just be aware of that ahead of time.

Microsoft Teams is best when it’s accessed from a desktop device or web app. They do have a mobile application, but overall the web version is easier to navigate.

Here’s a quick overview of the plans and pricing:

• Microsoft Teams — Free
• Office 365 Business Premium — $12.50 per user per month
• Office 365 E3 — $20 per user per month

Both paid plans are only available with an annual contract. The Free plan and entry-level paid plan both have a limit of 300 users, while the Office 365 E3 option is unlimited.

You’ll still have access to quite a bit of features with the free version, including video calls. But you’ll need Office 365 Business Premium to get the most out of this software.

Paid plans have 140+ app integrations, 1 TB of storage, scheduled meetings, meeting recordings, and administrative support.

The biggest downside of Microsoft Teams is that it’s limited. It’s not really a true video conferencing service. Instead, it’s better for one-on-one video meetings or smaller groups.

If you want to host large-scale video conferences and make presentations to clients, you should look elsewhere for a more suitable solution.

Zoho Meetings

Zoho Meetings is arguably the most straightforward video conferencing solution on the market today. Instead of overwhelming you with different features and pricing options, there is just one plan for video meetings.

Pricing is simple; it’s $10 per month per user, or $8 per month for an annual contract.

The plan comes with everything you need in a video conferencing service. However, it’s limited to just 100 participants per meeting and storage of up to 10 recordings.

This isn’t enterprise-grade software by any stretch of the imagination, but it’s an affordable and suitable choice for lots of small business owners.

Some of ZohoMeetings’ top features include:

• RSVP scheduling
• Screen sharing
• Moderator controls
• Embed meeting links
• In-session chat
• Lock meetings

You’ll also have the ability to switch a presenter, give someone control, and remove users from a video conference.

As expected, Zoho Meetings integrates seamlessly with Zoho CRM. So if you’re already using a Zoho product, this will be a top option for you to consider.

While Zoho Meetings isn’t the most extensive video conferencing service out there, it’s a high-quality solution for small business owners who just need basic features.

ClickMeeting

ClickMeeting is a bit different compared to some of the other video conferencing services that we’ve reviewed so far. This platform has a specific standout—webinars.

It’s a great option for those of you who want to hold large online events, market your products with video demonstrations, and host online courses or training sessions with live video.

Of course, ClickMeeting does offer traditional video conferencing solutions for team meetings and business collaboration, but that’s all you need then I’d probably lean towards another option on our list.

Pricing for ClickMeeting is complicated. There are two plans, but the prices are based on how many webinar attendees you want to have.

Here’s an overview of those price points per month for each plan:

Live

• Up to 25 — $30
• Up to 50 — $45
• Up to 100 — $79
• Up to 200 — $149
• Up to 500 — $179
• Up to 1,000 — $309

Automated

• Up to 25 — $45
• Up to 50 — $55
• Up to 100 — $95
• Up to 200 — $179
• Up to 500 — $229
• Up to 1,000 — $359

For video conferences with more than 1,000 attendees, contact the ClickMeeting sales team for a custom enterprise solution.

You can try ClickMeeting free for 30 days and run webinars with up to 25 attendees to try it out. Save up to 20% off your with annual billing instead of a month-to-month contract.

The Automated plan is your best option for broadcasting professional video webinars. This plan comes with advanced features like auto-streaming to Facebook or YouTube, automated follow-up emails to attendees, Google Analytics integration, and certificates of attendance.

As you can see, ClickMeeting is definitely pricey compared to the other options on our list, which is why I wouldn’t recommend it for just basic video conferencing use. But the price is worth it if you’re planning to use the webinar features.

Join.me

Millions of people use Join.me for video conferencing. The platform offers solutions for individuals, teams, and businesses. From startups to Fortune 500 companies, Join.me is a popular choice.

The website boasts its best-known customers like like TOMS, Foursquare, OpenTable, and Pinterest.

Join.me is easy. The signup process is as quick as it gets. There’s no need to consult with a sales representative or get a custom quote. Just visit their website, and you can start a call in minutes.

To start a new video conference, simply invite others to “join” your meeting (hence the name). You can invite people via email or with a custom link.

With Join.me, you can customize the video conferencing background, customize the URL, and share your screen with just one click. You can invite people to your meeting even if they aren’t already using the Join.me platform.

Here’s an overview of the plans and pricing options:

Lite — $10 per month per user

• Up to 5 participants per meeting
• No video streams*
• Unlimited meetings
• No time limits
• Personal link and custom background

Pro — $20 per month per user

• Up to 250 participants per meeting
• Up to 10 video streams
• Recording capabilities
• 50 GB of cloud storage
• Meeting scheduling

Business — $30 per month per user

• Up to 250 participants per meeting
• 1 TB of cloud storage
• Bulk user import
• Feature permissions
• Enterprise authentication
• Salesforce integration

Unfortunately, the Lite plan doesn’t include video conferencing, so you can skip over that one. It’s also worth noting that all plans are offered with an annual contract only. Month-to-month plans are unavailable.

However, you can try Join.me free with a 14-day free trial.

Compared to other options on the list, Join.me is a bit limited in terms of meeting participants and the number of video streams per meeting. But it’s a fine option for those of you who won’t need more than ten simultaneous video streams per conference.

RingCentral Meetings

RingCentral is more than just a video conferencing platform. It’s also a VoIP business phone service.

With RingCentral, you can ditch your traditional business phone plan for a more modern solution. If you have the phone plan, you’ll get video conferencing features as an added bonus.

But you can always purchase RingCentral Meetings as a standalone product. For the purpose of this review, those are the plans that we’ll focus on.

Free — $0 per month

• Up to 100 participants
• Unlimited one on one meetings
• 40-minute limit on group meetings

Essentials — $14.99 per month per user

• Up to 100 participants
• Unlimited group meetings
• 24/7 phone support
• 1,000 call minutes per license

Advanced — $19.99 per month per user

• Up to 100 participants
• 2,500 call minutes
• Real-time usage dashboard
• SLA available

The free plan is actually pretty decent if you compare it to others on the list. While you’re capped at 40 minutes per meeting, you can still have up to 100 participants.

At the same time, the paid plans are also limited to just 100 participants, which is low compared to the competition. However, you can add-on larger meeting options to your plan for an upcharge.

RingCentral also has great enterprise solutions. You’ll need to contact their sales team to get a custom quote. But you can save some money by bundling RingCentral Meetings with a VoIP business phone.

How to Find the Best Video Conferencing Services

Now that you’ve had a chance to review the top solutions on the market, how can you find the best option for your unique situation? This is the methodology that I used to come up with this guide.

I’ve identified each feature set that matters the most and why you need to take it into consideration when you’re evaluating prospective platforms.

Conference Size

Every video conferencing plan has some limit on the number of participants who can join a meeting. This can be as 25 or as high as 100,000.

Make sure you choose a service and plan that can accommodate the number of people you need for your video conferences. You don’t want to overpay for a plan that has participant limits that you’ll never reach. But more importantly, you don’t want to be in a situation where your participant list is too large for your platform and plan.

Video Streams

You might be able to have a large number of participants in a conference, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that every user will be able to broadcast a video stream.

For example, RingCentral plans have up to 100 participants per meeting, but limit you to just ten simultaneous video streams.

So don’t be swayed by the participant limits alone. Always check to see how many users can actually stream a video at the same time.

Collaboration Tools

Collaboration tools are crucial for groups and teams.

Features like screen sharing, built-in chat, file sharing, and cloud collaboration is very useful for presentations and group projects. It’s also helpful when a video conferencing service integrates with existing tools and platforms that you’re already using to run a business. You can look for features like Salesforce integration or Google Analytics integration.

Price

Obviously, the cost will play a roll in your decision-making process.

For the most part, video conferencing services are billed on a monthly basis per user. Prices typically fall in the $10 to $40 range per month per user for traditional video conferencing. However, you can pay significantly more than that for advanced features like video conference webinars. Solutions like ClickMeeting has plans starting at over $300 per month.

Conclusion

Take your virtual meetings to the next level with video conferencing software.

What’s the best video conference service on the market? The answer depends on who you ask and what you’re looking for. Here’s a quick recap of the platforms reviewed above.

• GoToMeeting — Best video conferencing service for small business.
• Zoom Meetings — Best video conferencing service for scalability.
• Cisco Webex — Best video conferencing software for cloud collaboration.
• Microsoft Teams — Best video conferencing software for internal communication.
• Zoho Meetings — Affordable video conferencing service with basic features.
• ClickMeeting — Best video conferencing software for webinars.
• Join.me — Annual contract video conferencing plans for small meetings.
• RingCentral — Best video conferencing service with VoIP business phone plans.

Based on this guide, I’m confident that you can find the best choice for your business. No matter how unique your situation might be, these options can accommodate your needs.

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Best Background Check Companies

Running background checks is an essential part of the hiring process. The information revealed in a background check can give you crucial information about a prospective employee.

According to a recent survey, 96% of employers run at least some type of background screening before they hire someone.

So if you’re running a business, you need to be doing this as well. But where can you get a background check done? Are all background checks the same?

If you run a quick Google search, you’ll learn that there are countless types of background checks offered by hundreds of different services. It’s tough to figure out which ones will actually give you the information that you’re looking for.

That’s what inspired me to write this guide. I’ll show you the top background check services on the market today, and help you decide which one is the best for your business.

The 5 Best Background Check Companies

In a market flooded with background check services, there are really only five companies that I would consider using as an employer. I’ll explain the pros, cons, and pricing of each service below.

GoodHire

As the name implies, GoodHire is clearly intended for employment background checks. It’s one of the most popular background check services for small business owners. But it’s also used by some larger and well-known companies like Tuft & Needle and Draft Kings.

More than 75,000 businesses trust GoodHire to run background checks.

72% of GoodHire customers say that these background checks are faster than other services that they’ve used in the past.

One of the reasons why GoodHire is such an excellent choice for small business owners is because of the flexibility in their pricing.

Since a small business owner doesn’t hire as frequently as a larger organization, you won’t have to pay a monthly fee for background checks. If you plan to run less than 25 background checks per year, then GoodHire will only charge you for each report. Only need five checks? Just pay for the five; it’s that simple.

The cost of a background check depends on how much information you want to find:

Basic — $29.99 each

• 1 business day
• SSN trace and associated countries
• National criminal database search
• Sex offender search

Standard — $54.99 each

• 1-2 business days
• SSN trace and associated countries
• National criminal database search
• Sex offender search
• Domestic watch list search
• 7 year county criminal court search

Premium — $79.99 each

• 2-4 business days
• SSN trace and associated countries
• National criminal database search
• Sex offender search
• Domestic watch list search
• 7 year county criminal court search
• 1 education verification
• 1 employer verification

As price increases, the background checks become more extensive. GoodHire also gives you the option to add-on other screenings and services like:

• Ongoing monthly monitoring — $2.50 per month per employee
• Education verification — $14.99
• Employment verification — $14.99
• Professional license verification — $14.99
• Motor vehicle records search — $14.99
• Credit report — $14.99
• International employer verification — $53.99

GoodHire provides additional assistance for drug screenings and healthcare sanctions as well. At the end of the day, they have nearly every type of background check that a small business owner would need before hiring someone.

One downside of using GoodHire is that they charge a one-time setup fee to verify your company. This $49.99 cost might be tough to justify if you’re only running a couple of checks per year. But if you plan to use the service at least a dozen times or so, it’s worth it.

The add-ons can also drive up the cost of your checks. So if you need lots of add-ons for each background check, it might be worth requesting a custom quote from their sales team.

B&B Reporting

B&B Reporting has been in business for more than two decades. On average, they turnaround reports in less than 24 hours. B&B Reporting also has a 19% criminal hit ratio, which is above the industry average.

I like B&B Reporting because they use superior technology. This cloud-based platform makes it easy for you to order and review background checks online.

Each background check is completely customized. Choose exactly what types of records you want to search for or verify, and the price will vary based on those inquiries.

Unlike other background check services on the market today, B&B reporting does not require a monthly minimum or charge you for an initial setup cost.

The B&B Reporting technology allows you to send electronic consent forms to applicants to initiate the process. They also have a visual dashboard that shows you the status of candidates and reports at a quick glance.

With B&B Reporting, you can run background checks for:

• Multi-jurisdictional criminal search
• County criminal search
• Statewide criminal search
• Federal criminal search
• Public records
• Professional references
• Employment verification
• Motor vehicle records
• Education verification
• Licenses and professional certifications verification
• Employment credit checks

Again, B&B Reporting is another background check company that provides basically everything you could possibly ask for when screening an employee.

The biggest downside of this service is that the pricing isn’t very transparent and getting started isn’t so simple. To start running background checks and get a quote, you need to fill out a form online to discuss your screening program with a sales agent.

Prices for the services won’t be listed until you’ve been verified and set up an account with B&B reporting.

AccurateNow

If you want a simple and straightforward way to run background checks for your small business, AccurateNow will be a top choice for you to consider.

The platform is advertised for small and medium-sized companies. But I’d recommend it to microbusinesses and companies with very small teams.

AccurateNow is affordable and does not require any monthly minimums for background checks. They are FCRA compliant, which will help you avoid lawsuits while screening employees.

To get started with AccurateNow, you’ll need to register your account, e-sign their agreement, and get approved before you can start ordering reports. This company does charge a one-time setup fee of $25 to verify your business.

Once you’ve been verified, you can order the following reports:

Basic — $29.95

• Social security trace
• Address history
• Current criminal county search
• National criminal check
• National sex offender registry

Standard — $59.95

• Social security trace
• Address history
• 7 year criminal history
• National criminal check
• National sex offender registry
• Global watch

Premium — $74.95

• Social security trace
• Address history
• 7 year criminal history
• National criminal check
• National sex offender registry
• Global watch
• 1 education verification
• 1 employment verification

As you can see, these plans are very similar to the ones offered by GoodHire, which we reviewed earlier. The biggest difference between AccurateNow and GoodHire is the add-on options.

AccurateNow doesn’t offer as many add-ons, but the add-ons they do offer are cheaper. GoodHire’s add-ons typically start at $14.99, whereas AccurateNow begins at $9.95.

All of this makes AccurateNow a better choice for smaller businesses that don’t need features like international employment verification. But this does make AccurateNow a bit more limited than some of the other options on our list.

Intelius

Intelius is slightly different compared to other background check services that we’ve reviewed so far. It’s marketed toward the average person, as opposed to employers.

However, an employer could still use this service to find information about a prospective hire.

You can use Intelius for free to search for names, phone numbers, and addresses. But the results will be extremely limited. It will show you the person’s age and a few associated cities.

To get the most out of Intelius, you’ll need a premier account. These reports include:

• Full name
• Possible relatives
• Phone numbers
• Email addresses
• Social networks
• Employment
• Education
• Current and past address
• Age and date of birth
• Known aliases
• Criminal records
• Marriage and divorce history
• Lawsuits, bankruptcies, and liens

With Intelius, you’ll pay a fixed monthly fee to run unlimited reports. Memberships are month-to-month and cost $29.95. You can try your first month for a discounted rate of $14.95.

The price of Intelius is definitely appealing, but the reports are limited compared to other companies. If you have a large business that runs tons of background checks, you could use Intelius as a way to pre-screen candidates before running a more thorough report.

For example, the $29.95 per month fee could save you money in the long run if you avoid wasting upwards of $100 on extensive reports.

A red flag on Intelius would be enough to narrow down your candidate pool. Then you could always run a full background check through another platform.

Verifirst

Verifirst has been running background checks for 15 years. They offer a wide range of services including:

• Customer ID verification
• Employment screening
• Tenant screening
• Corporate screening

While all of these options are viable, I’d prefer to use Verifirst for niche-specific solutions. Their tenant screening services stand out the most to me.

Whether you own one investment property or run a larger property management business, Verifrist has what you need to find the most qualified tenants.

If you’ve been managing properties for a while, you know that renting a unit to the wrong person can be a costly mistake. Not only are you putting your property at risk, but this decision can also result in thousands of lost rent, legal fees, and turnover costs.

Verifirst offers specific background checks for tenant screening. These reports include:

• Identity checks
• Criminal searches
• Rental history
• Eviction records
• Credit and financial history

In addition to the actual reports, Verifirst makes it easy for you to manage applicants and view everything online. You can access this web-based platform 24 hours per day and grant access to an unlimited number of users.

This is perfect for those of you who run a property management business. Furthermore, Verifirst integrates with popular property management systems that you’re already using.

You’ll also benefit from complimentary pre-screenings of an applicant’s income and analysis of their assets.

Verifirst lets you run multiple screenings simultaneously, which is ideal for joint applications or leases with co-signers.

All pricing on Verifirst is custom. So you need to contact their team to get started and learn more about the rates for running reports.

Overall, Verifirst is the best background check company for tenant screening. But I’d look for other options if my business was in another industry.

How to Find the Best Background Check Services

When searching for the best background check company, there are certain feature sets that you need to keep an eye out for. This is the methodology that I used in this guide. I’ll explain why each one is important as you’re narrowing down your choices.

Types of Background Checks

Not every background check service is the same. Some are intended for personal use, connecting with relatives, or finding information about your neighbors. None of these are really useful for employers.

When running a check on potential hires, these are some of the most common types of searches you’ll want on the report:

• SSN trace and identity verification
• County, state, and federal criminal search
• Sex offender registry
• Employment verification
• Professional certifications and licenses verification

Depending on the type of business you have, you might also want to run motor vehicle records, or various international screenings.

Turnaround Time

Basic information like identity verification is usually instant. Other reports can take a few days, depending on what you’re searching for.

It’s important to understand how long your reports will take. If it’s taking companies a week to get reports back to you, then it’s way too long. You don’t want that much time to pass, as it extends the hiring process longer than it needs to be.

Company Size

The size of your business is crucial when looking for a background screening service. Smaller companies obviously don’t run checks as frequently. So as a small business owner, you should find a service that doesn’t require monthly or annual minimums.

Very small businesses don’t always need extensive reports either. A basic identity verification and criminal check is usually sufficient.

Initial Setup and New Background Checks

If you’re running a background check for the first time with a new service, you might need to get your business verified before you get started. This process is easier with some services compared to others.

Sometimes you can just sign up online, but in other instances, you’ll need to request a quote and speak to an agent to get set up. In some cases, you’ll need to pay a one-time setup fee as well.

Once approved, look for background check services that make it as easy as possible for you to run a new search. Companies like B&B Reporting let candidates e-sign consent forms, which speeds up the process.

Report Accuracy

At the end of the day, accurate reporting is probably the most important part of the background check process.

It would be terrible if a report came up clean, but the person actually had a criminal history. This is something you need to know about before hiring someone.

All of the companies in this guide have been around for years, which should help you rest easy when you’re running reports. But it’s always a good idea to check and see what databases they are using for screenings.

Conclusion

Background checks are common practice in the hiring process. As a business owner, this is something that needs to be taken seriously.

If you’re looking for the best background check services, these are the companies that you need to consider:

• GoodHire — Best overall background check company.
• B&B Reporting — Background check services with superior cloud-based technology.
• AccurateNow — Best background check company for small business.
• Intelius — Best for pre-screening potential job candidates.
• Verifirst — Best background check service for tenant screenings.

You can’t go wrong with a service like GoodHire. It’s made for employers and has every possible report you’d need to screen for. But with that said, these other options are viable choices as well, especially if your company falls into a certain category with specific needs.

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Best Credit Card Processing Services

If you want to accept credit card payments from your customers, you need to find a payment processing service. This holds true for both ecommerce and in-person retail sales.

However, all credit card processors are not the same. So it’s tough to name one as the definitive best option.

Finding the right credit card processing service for your business is crucial, since the fees, performance level, and customer experience will vary based on your choice.

An ecommerce giant and small local coffee shop shouldn’t be using the same processing company.

Whether you’re looking to switch processors or you’re accepting credit card payments for the first name, this guide will help steer you in the right direction. My methodology will make it much easier for you to find the perfect credit card processing service for your business.

The 8 Best Credit Card Processing Services

The credit card processing industry has become extremely competitive over the years. With ecommerce on the rise, companies have adapted accordingly. New players are emerging in this space as well.

But with so many options to choose from, there are really only eight different payment processors that I would recommend.

You’ll likely be familiar with at least a couple of these names, but others are lesser-known.

For each processor, I’ll breakdown the pricing, benefits, drawbacks, and explain which types of businesses should consider the processing service.

Stripe

If you’re accepting payments online, Stripe should be one of your top choices. In fact, Stripe ranked first on my list of the best payment methods for your ecommerce site.

Stripe is built for developers, so you might be a little overwhelmed when you first land on their website. However, you’ll quickly realize that this payment processor is easy to use, regardless of your technical experience.

For those of you who want to take advantage of the developer features, you’ll be impressed with the Stripe API and UI toolkit.

Another top benefit of Stripe is its built-in fraud protection system. This will help you manage and avoid ecommerce chargebacks.

It’s easy to integrate Stripe with your ecommerce store, regardless of the platform that you’re using. Stripe accepts a wide range of payment options, including digital wallets like Apple Pay, Microsoft Pay, Google Pay, and Visa Checkout.

Stripe helps simplify your checkout process. According to a recent IDC report, businesses using this payment processing service were able to increase their revenue by 6.7%.

The report also found that Stripe resulted in 59% higher productivity, 81% fewer unplanned outages, and 24% lower operating costs.

Speaking of costs, Stripe is an affordable payment processor, even if you’re just starting out. The fixed pricing model is very straightforward:

• Online transactions — 2.9% + $0.30
• International cards — Additional 1% per transaction
• Currency conversion — Additional 1% per transactions
• ACH debits — 0.8% with a $5 max per transaction
• In-person payments — $2.7% + $0.05

If you use Stripe to set up recurring charges for subscription customers, your first $1 million is free. After that, you’ll pay $0.5% on all recurring charges.

I like Stripe because you pay the same flat rate for all credit cards, including digital wallets and premium cards like American Express.

For those of you with unique business models and large payouts, you may qualify for a customized pricing solution. Contact the Stripe sales team about volume discounts, interchange pricing, and multi-product discounts.

Overall, Stripe is an ideal solution for any ecommerce business. It is highly technical, which can be a drawback for companies that don’t have a developer on staff.

Helcim

Helcim is an all-in-one payment processing service for retail locations and online stores. It’s a top choice for small business owners.

Transparency is the reason why Helcim ranks so high on our list. Their interchange pricing structure shows you exactly how much you’ll pay above the interchange rate set by the credit card companies.

Helcim has arguably the best rate guarantee in the industry. They will never increase your rates for the lifetime of your account. While the fees for certain cards might go up, the Helcim margins will always remain the same.

When you sign up for Helcim, you’ll choose between two base plans:

• Retail — $15 per month
• Online — $35 per month

While Helcim does have the online feature, I’d personally just consider them for in-person payments.

Your rates will vary by industry, monthly processing volume, and average transaction amount.

The industry options are:

• Retail
• Restaurant
• Online
• Charities
• Real estate and property management
• Online international

Here’s a detailed look at the pricing rates for retail merchants based on monthly volume.

If you compare these rates to other processing services out there, you’ll see that Helcim interchange pricing costs are below average. So it’s an excellent way for small businesses to save some money on credit card processing, even if they are in the lower pricing tiers.

Helcim contracts are month-to-month, and they don’t charge any cancellation fees.

You can integrate Helcim with QuickBooks to improve your small business accounting process as well.

Helcim offers a POS system, with an app that’s free with your plan. However, the app does not integrate with the credit card terminals as of now, which isn’t ideal. Terminals purchased through Helcim range from $229 to $649 per unit.

While Helcim prices are competitive and generally low, it’s not the best choice for those of you who are only processing less than $3,000 per month. You can probably find a more cost-effective alternative elsewhere.

Square

More than 2 million businesses use Square to process payments. Square offers POS systems with built-in payment processing. This company ranked first on my list of the best POS systems, so the fact that they double as a payment processor is an added bonus.

Any business accepting in-person payments needs to take a closer look at Square.

Square also processes payments online, on the go, through recurring invoices, and manually for orders taken over the phone. But with that said, the in-person POS processing is where Square really shines.

Another standout of Square is the ability to get paid fast.

While most processing companies usually take a couple of days for funds withdrawals, Square gets money in your bank account in the next business day. They also offer instant transfers for a fee.

Square’s pricing is straightforward and transparent. You’ll pay the same rate for every card, including Discover and American Express.

They don’t charge any startup fees, monthly fees, cancelation fees, authorization fees, statement fees, terminal fees, or other common industry-standard markups.

Square pricing varies slightly by industry and POS hardware, but here are the most common rates offered:

• Square Point of Sale — 2.6% + $0.10 per transaction
• Square For Retail — 2.5% + $0.10 per transaction
• Ecommerce transactions — 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
• Card not present transactions — 3.5% + $0.15 per transaction
• Card on file transactions — 3.5% + $0.15 per transaction

Square provides you with everything you need for success when processing payments. They have active fraud prevention, account takeover protection, dispute management, other security measures like PCI compliance and end-to-end encryption.

Signing up and getting started with Square is simple.

The only major drawback of Square is that its customer service is not available 24/7. Most processing companies can be reached on weekends, nights, or other odd hours.

If I were running a physical retail store and wanted a POS system and payment processor from the same company, I’d choose Square.

PayPal

PayPal has been a giant in the world of processing transactions for more than a decade. It’s a name that we’re all familiar with, and there’s a good chance that you’ve used PayPal in some form or another in your personal life.

While PayPal has always been known for its P2P payments, it’s also a great choice for businesses to use as a payment processing service.

You can use PayPal to accept payments both online or in-person. It’s the best option for low-volume businesses to get paid online.

I recently wrote an article comparing PayPal vs. Stripe for ecommerce. While Stripe definitely has its fair share of advantages, the PayPal technology is much simpler. It’s also extremely easy to set up. You won’t need to worry about all of the developer features like you do with Stripe.

Let’s take a closer look at PayPal’s processing fees:

• Online payments and invoicing — 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
• Mobile and in-store payments — 2.7% per transaction
• Manual entry transactions — 3.5% + $0.15 per transaction

As you can see, the pricing is nearly identical to Stripe.

One of the best parts about using PayPal as your online payment processor is that you’ll be able to accept PayPal, Venmo, and PayPal credits in addition to all major credit and debit cards.

This is a massive advantage over other payment processors, where you would need to integrate PayPal separately.

While I personally like PayPal’s online features, the flat rate of 2.7% per transaction for mobile and in-store payments is appealing for low-volume merchants as well.

The biggest downside of using PayPal is that customers will be taken to the PayPal website to finish processing all online transactions. You can eliminate this step and integrate PayPal directly into your site, but there is an added fee for that.

Speaking of added fees, PayPal has a long list of add-ons and other incidentals that they charge for. They are transparent about these prices, but make sure you review all of them in your contract so you fully understand the terms.

Overall, you know you’re getting a trusted and reputable brand if you use PayPal to process credit card transactions for your business.

Flagship Merchant Services

Flagship Merchant Services is a bit different compared to other credit card processors that we’ve reviewed so far. If you land on their website, you’ll quickly see that there aren’t prices listed anywhere.

In fact, their website is just one page. There’s nowhere to really navigate and learn much more about their services.

The benefit of Flagship Merchant Services for credit card processing is that everything is totally customizable. They offer flexible terms and month-to-month pricing for all businesses.

Types of pricing plans are customizable as well. Flagship Merchant Services has tiered pricing and interchange plus options, whereas other payment processors typically just offer one or the other.

More than 25,000 small business owners trust Flagship Merchant Services to process their credit card payments.

While this payment processor might be a bit smaller or lesser-known than some of the other options on our list, working with a smaller company has its benefits.

Flagship Merchant Services offers exceptional 24/7 customer service. You’ll get a free EMV terminal or Clover Mini POS system when you sign up. If they can’t lower your processing rates, they’ll send you a $50 AMEX gift card.

The downside of this payment processor is the setup and getting started. No prices or contract details are available online. So you’ll need to speak to a sales rep to request a quote, which isn’t convenient for everyone.

Payment Depot

Payment Depot processes more than $4 billion in credit card sales with over 3 million transactions per month. Their system is simple; they charge a membership fee to give you access to wholesale processing rates.

Think of Payment Depot as the Costco for credit card processing. The prices are lower than the competition, but you need to be a member.

For this reason, Payment Depot is the best option for high-volume merchants.

Payment Depot does not take a percentage of each transaction. They simply charge a fixed amount per transaction based on your membership tier on top of the interchange fee.

Here’s an overview of the plans, features, and pricing:

Basic — $49 per month + interchange 

• $25,000 monthly processing limit
• $0.15 per transaction
• Reprogram your existing equipment for free
• Free gateway

Most Popular — $79 per month + interchange 

• $75,000 monthly processing limit
• $0.10 per transaction
• Free standard terminal
• Data breach protection
• Premier 24 hour support

Best Value — $99 per month + interchange 

• $200,000 monthly processing limit
• $0.07 per transaction
• Free standard terminal
• Free pin pad

Premier — $199 per month + interchange 

• Unlimited processing
• $0.05 per transaction
• Free standard terminal
• Free pin pad
• Free terminal upgrade every two years

All plans come with a 90-day free trial.

Payment Depot is used by big brands like Dominos, Boost Mobile, Subway, Arco, and Sprint. I wouldn’t consider this payment processor unless you’re over the $25,000 monthly limit.

As you can see from the rates, you can save lots of money on processing fees with a Payment Depot membership.

Overall, this is an impressive payment processing service. The only downside is that it’s not realistic for most smaller businesses to consider.

CDGcommerce

CDGcommerce offers custom credit card processing services for different industries. Some popular categories include:

• Retail
• Restaurant
• Service
• B2B
• Ecommerce
• Nonprofit

Clearly, all of these different business types will have varying needs. But overall, CDGcommerce is the best choice for nonprofit organizations.

That’s because CDGcommerce doesn’t charge any monthly fees or require monthly minimums for nonprofits. You can get an integrated mobile card reader, set up recurring billing, and benefit from special nonprofit rates.

The rates will vary based on volume and specific needs, but nonprofit processing typically starts 0.20% + $0.10 per transaction, plus interchange costs.

If you fall into one of the other categories, CDGcommerce has flexible pricing options based on your monthly volume.

One Rate Pricing: $1,000 – $10,000 monthly volume

• Flat rate and fixed monthly fee
• Customer tracking
• Loyalty promotions
• Invoicing, virtual terminal, ecommerce solutions
• Fully integrated credit card terminal
• Nonprofit campaign and donation management

Interchange Plus Pricing: $10,000 – $200,000 monthly volume

• Full transparency
• Pass-through pricing
• $100,000 data breach protection plan
• PCI security tools and solutions

Wholesale Membership: $200,000+ monthly volume

• Discounted pricing based on annual membership
• All benefits of the other plans

Again, the specific rates will vary for each business based on a number of factors. You need to contact the CDGcommerce sales team to request a quote.

I chatted with an online sales rep just to see how long this would take, and I got a quick answer in just a couple of minutes. This wasn’t an official quote, but it’s nice knowing that they are quick to respond. That’s where I got the starting rates for nonprofits, which isn’t listed anywhere on the website.

Payline

Payline is another lesser-known payment processing service. But they have a wide range of solutions for mobile payments, ecommerce payments, and in-person payments.

They can meet the needs of small business owners, enterprises, and everyone in between.

However, Payline is the best option for a very specific type of business—high-risk merchants.

For one reason or another, certain merchants are considered a high risk to credit card processing companies. It could have to do with the history of your company, or maybe it has to do with the types of products that you’re selling (CBD, firearms, vaping, etc).

It’s tough for these merchants to find a credit card processing service that will work with them, and even harder to find one that will offer favorable rate terms.

So if you fall into the high-risk merchant category, Payline will be your best option.

Payline will even work with businesses in online gaming, casinos, multi-level marketing, and adult industries.

Rates and plans are customized for each merchant. But if you’re struggling to find a payment processor that will accept your business, I’d schedule a call or apply online with Payline.

How to Find the Best Credit Card Processing Services

There are certain features that you need to keep an eye on when you’re evaluating a credit card processing service. This is the methodology that we used here at Quick Sprout to filter results and come up with the list above.

Pricing Type

There are two main pricing structures for credit card processing.

• Fixed
• Interchange

With fixed pricing, it’s the same rate for each transaction, regardless of the credit card that the customer uses. Stripe, Square, and PayPal are examples of processors with fixed prices.

For interchange pricing, you pay the amount charged by the credit card company, plus the markup fees of the processor. Helcim has interchange pricing.

Flagship Merchant Services offers both fixed-rate plans as well as interchange pricing, since they provide custom solutions for different businesses. Some credit card processors, like Payment Depot, will charge you a monthly rate to access wholesale prices.

It’s crucial to figure out which pricing structure works best for your business because the structure will ultimately affect how much you pay.

Monthly Volume

In most cases, high-volume merchants can get lower processing rates per transaction. You can request a custom quote from nearly every credit card processor, even if they have fixed rates advertised on their website.

With that said, there are certain services that are best for high-volume merchants, and others that are better for low-volume merchants.

I’d recommend PayPal for low-volume processing and Payment Depot for high-volume credit card transactions.

Industry

The type of business you have will affect your credit card processing terms. Rates vary if you’re processing cards online, in-person, or over the phone for “card not present” transactions.

Stripe is the best provider for online transactions, while Square is better for brick-and-mortar retail locations.

Other payment processing services specialize in nonprofit organizations or high-risk merchant industries. So if you fall into one of those categories, you’ll need to find a processor that can meet those needs.

Funds Withdrawals

How soon can you get your money?

In most cases, funds are available in your bank account after two business days. Sometimes this period can be a bit longer when you’re just starting out.

Other credit card processors offer next-day delivery for funds. Some providers will let you do an instant funds withdrawal for an added fee. So if you need your money immediately, this is definitely something that you need to keep in mind.

Extra Costs

In addition to the transactional fees or monthly plan rates, there are other costs that you need to keep in mind when you’re evaluating a credit card payment processor.

I’m referring to things like hardware, POS systems, and payment terminals. Some providers charge extra for international transactions, setup fees, or cancellations.

So make sure you review all of this before you decide on service based on the transactional rates alone.

Conclusion

Every business needs a processing service to accept credit card payments, whether you’re selling in-store, online, or both.

What’s the best credit card processing company? It depends. All credit card processors are not created equally. Here’s a recap of the best processing services for specific instances and business types:

• Stripe — Best credit card processor for online payments.
• Helcim — Best credit card processing service for small business.
• Square — Best POS system with integrated payment processing.
• PayPal — Best for low-volume credit card processing.
• Flagship Merchant Services — Credit card processing with flexible terms.
• Payment Depot — Best high-volume credit card processing service.
• CDGcommerce — Best credit card processor for nonprofits and specialty industries.
• Payline — Best credit card processing for high-risk merchants.

No matter what type of business you have, I’m sure you fall into one of the categories above. I made sure to include something for everyone on my list.

Use this guide to find the best credit card processor for your company.

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