National Small Business Week: 3 Ways PEO Brokers Fuel Client Growth

Quick look: National Small Business Week offers a natural opportunity to spotlight the ways brokers help clients grow and adapt. Whether it’s broadening service offerings or refining benefits strategies, partnering with a professional employer organization (PEO) can enhance the value you already bring to your small business clients.

National Small Business Week is observed May 3-9, 2026 and celebrates the entrepreneurs whose drive and ingenuity keep local economies moving. For brokers, it serves as a useful checkpoint to consider how well current human resources (HR) and benefits strategies are supporting client goals, and where additional resources may be needed.

One proven way to strengthen that support is connecting them with a professional employer organization (PEO). The right PEO brings a full suite of HR and benefits solutions designed specifically for small businesses, helping clients operate more efficiently, compete more effectively, and continue to reach their goals.

Why small businesses deserve serious attention

There are over 36 million small businesses in the country, and collectively they form the foundation of the American economy. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2025 Small Business Profile:

• 99.9% of U.S. businesses qualify as small businesses
• Small businesses employ 62.3 million workers, equivalent to roughly 46% of the workforce
• Together, they contribute 43.5% of the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP)

These numbers are a reminder of how much is at stake when small businesses face hurdles, and how much is possible when they thrive.

3 PEO offerings that strengthen small businesses

Brokers play a central role in helping clients navigate complexity and uncover opportunities. Recommending a PEO can complement that role in many ways:

1. Streamlined, expert-led HR

For most small business owners, HR is a constant tug-of-war between what needs to happen and what there’s actually time to handle. A PEO takes that pressure off by managing the full range of day-to-day HR functions, including:

• Payroll and tax administration
• Talent management, acquisition, and recruiting
• Training and development
• Handbook and policy development
• Leave management
• And more

With a PEO partner, business leaders get their time back and the peace of mind knowing their HR is being fully and properly handled.

2. Benefits that go beyond the basics

One of the most compelling reasons SMBs work with a PEO is access to employee benefits that may otherwise be out of reach.

Through co-employment, small businesses can tap into Fortune 500-level benefits like comprehensive health plans, retirement savings options, and various voluntary perks, at a competitive price.

A PEO’s benefits experts also stay up to date on the latest benefit trends, from financial wellness programs to pet insurance, and build compensation packages to help clients attract and retain talent.

3. Compliance without the guesswork

Employment laws are constantly changing, and staying compliant is a moving target that many SMBs struggle to hit on their own.

A PEO keeps clients ahead of the curve by monitoring regulatory changes, flagging potential risks, and stepping in before small oversights become expensive problems. That kind of HR risk management is invaluable for business owners who are already stretched thin.

Which PEO you choose matters

While all PEOs aim to simplify HR, service delivery can vary widely and selecting the right partner is key to a consistent, high-quality client experience.

A more boutique, personalized model, like ExtensisHR’s, is designed to align closely with both broker and client needs:

Clients always come first

No two businesses are alike, and our approach reflects that. We take the time to understand each client’s culture, workforce, and priorities so solutions are aligned from the outset.

Dedicated, accessible support

Every ExtensisHR client is supported by a dedicated Account Manager and SHRM-certified HR Business Partner who function as an extension of their internal team and proactively guide them through compliance questions, employee relations challenges, performance conversations, and more.

Worksite employees also receive the same level of attention, with access to an Employee Solution Center that answers calls in under 15 seconds and resolves 90% of cases the same day.

Recruiting, included

Many PEOs treat recruiting as an add-on, but at ExtensisHR, recruiting services come included, at no additional cost:

• Talent acquisition for most staff-level positions
• Job advertisement creation
• Salary surveys
• Skills and talent pool assessments
• Interview assistance
• Offer letter consultations
• And more

Technology built for the way people work today

ExtensisHR’s Work Anywhere® platform gives small business leaders and their teams a mobile-first hub for managing HR tasks, whether their workforce is in the office, remote, or hybrid. Easy, intuitive access means fewer administrative headaches, better visibility, and more time to focus on company goals.

Credentials that hold up to scrutiny

Trust in a PEO should be backed by evidence. ExtensisHR holds all major certifications:

• Employer Service Assurance Corporation (ESAC) accreditation
• IRS Certified PEO (CPEO) status
• SOC 1 Type 2 certification

For brokers, these credentials are assurance that your clients are in reliable hands.

Results that speak for themselves

ExtensisHR proudly maintains a 93% client renewal rate and a Net Promoter Score more than twice the national average for outsourced HR solutions.

Supporting small businesses together

Small businesses benefit most when they have the right combination of guidance, tools, and support behind them. By incorporating a PEO into your toolkit, you can expand what’s possible for your clients while reinforcing the trusted role you already play.