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Independent Review

Amplify PEO Review 2026

Chicago-area boutique PEO holding both IRS CPEO and ESAC credentials

Founded: 2017·Best for: 10-150 employees (sweet spot: 15-75)·PEPM or percentage of payroll, quoted per client

Our take

Amplify is one of the smaller PEOs we quote, but the credential stack is genuinely strong: CPEO plus ESAC is a combination most boutiques skip because of the cost and the audit burden. For a Chicago-area employer in the 15 to 75 range that wants a named service team instead of a ticket queue, they belong on the shortlist. What buyers should test is scale, specifically multi-state coverage, carrier options in their own geography, and who actually answers when the assigned contact is out. We treat them as a service-led alternative to the national platforms rather than a technology play.

What Amplify PEO does well

  • ✓IRS Certified PEO, effective 1/1/2025, so federal employment tax liability shifts to the PEO
  • ✓ESAC accredited, which adds third-party financial assurance
  • ✓Multi-carrier medical structure rather than a single master plan
  • ✓High-touch, named-contact service model aimed at small employers
  • ✓Repeat Inc. 5000 honoree, a sign of sustained growth

Watch-outs and limitations

  • ⚠No published pricing; every quote comes through a sales conversation
  • ⚠Much smaller than national PEOs, so bench depth and multi-state reach are narrower
  • ⚠Technology is a competent portal rather than a differentiator
  • ⚠Short operating history compared with legacy PEOs

✓ Best for

• Small and lower-mid-market employers (10-150 employees)

• Chicago and Midwest businesses wanting a named service team

• Buyers who require both CPEO and ESAC credentials

• First-time PEO buyers moving off in-house HR

⚠ Not ideal for

• Enterprise employers needing a large national service bench

• Buyers wanting published, self-serve pricing

• Companies needing deep custom HR tech or API-first integrations

Our ratings

Technology platform3/5
Service quality4/5
Benefits access3/5
Compliance depth4/5

Quick facts

Founded
2017
Pricing model
PEPM or percentage of payroll, quoted per client
Typical cost
Quoted per client; not published
Best company size
10-150 employees
Contract flexibility
Annual agreements typical; confirm notice and exit terms in the CSA

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