ADP Workforce Now
Comprehensive HR and payroll platform for mid-sized businesses with integrated payroll, benefits, talent management, and compliance tools.
Website: www.trinet.com
TriNet (Zenefits) at a glance
- Best for
- SMBs wanting outsourced HR with industry-specific expertise
- Pricing model
- Per employee per month, or percentage of payroll
- Deployment
- Cloud, with iOS and Android apps
- Regions
- United States
- Key integrations
- QuickBooks Online, Xero, NetSuite, Sage Intacct
Last reviewed . Pricing and features change frequently — confirm current details with the vendor.
TriNet is a professional employer organization providing payroll, benefits, compliance, and HR administration to small and mid-sized US businesses. Under co-employment it takes responsibility for payroll tax filing, benefits procurement, and much of the regulatory burden, giving client companies access to benefits pricing normally reserved for larger employers. The company acquired Zenefits in 2022 and absorbed that platform into its own product line.
How accounting firms use it
Firms typically inherit the relationship through a client rather than recommending it. The recurring work is translating PEO output into the client’s financial records: because payroll taxes are filed under the PEO’s EIN, the client’s ledger sees a consolidated service invoice rather than a standard payroll register, and that invoice has to be allocated across wages, employer taxes, benefits, and administrative fees.
This also affects year-end and diligence work. A client on a PEO will not have its own 941 filing history for covered employees, which matters when a lender, acquirer, or credit study asks for payroll tax returns. Firms are usually the ones who spot that gap first.
Key features
Payroll covers salaried, hourly, and multi-state employees with tax filing handled by the provider. Benefits administration spans medical, dental, vision, retirement, and voluntary products, with enrolment and carrier management included. Compliance support includes employment law guidance, workers’ compensation coverage, and state registration.
The differentiator at this size is vertical specialisation — service teams organised around sectors such as technology, life sciences, financial services, and non-profits, which brings sector-specific benefits benchmarking and compliance knowledge.
Who it’s best for
US businesses roughly between 5 and 500 employees that want HR administration outsourced and benefits access improved, particularly those hiring across state lines without internal HR capability.
Clients whose main need is straightforward payroll generally do better on Gusto or Paychex Flex, keeping employer-of-record status and their own filing history. Justworks is the closest PEO alternative and usually the simpler option for smaller clients.
TriNet (Zenefits) FAQ
- What happened to Zenefits?
- TriNet acquired Zenefits in 2022. The standalone Zenefits HR platform was folded into TriNet's offering, and the product is now sold under the TriNet name. Firms with clients still referring to Zenefits are usually describing the HR software layer rather than a separate company.
- How does a PEO affect payroll tax filings?
- Under co-employment the PEO files federal and state payroll taxes under its own EIN, so the client company does not file its own 941s for covered employees. This changes what the firm reconciles at year end and means the client will not have the filing history a standalone employer would — relevant when applying for credits or financing that request payroll tax returns.
- Does it integrate with accounting software?
- Yes. General ledger integrations post payroll journals to QuickBooks Online, Xero, NetSuite, and Sage Intacct, with account mapping configured during onboarding so consolidated invoices split correctly across wage, tax, and benefit accounts.
- How does it compare to Justworks?
- Both are PEOs serving US small and mid-sized businesses. TriNet is larger, supports higher headcounts, and offers vertical-specific service teams for sectors such as technology, life sciences, and non-profits. Justworks is generally simpler and more transparent on pricing, which tends to suit smaller and less specialised clients.
TriNet (Zenefits) Alternatives
Other hr tools for accounting firms, ordered by how much of TriNet (Zenefits)'s functionality they cover.
BambooHR
HR and payroll software helping growing companies manage workforce processes, automated HR, payroll, and employee self-service.
ClockOn
ClockOn is an Australian workforce management platform combining rostering, time and attendance, award interpretation, and STP payroll in one system.
Deel
Global payroll and compliance platform for hiring and paying employees and contractors in 150+ countries with local tax compliance.
Gusto
Cloud-based payroll, benefits, and HR platform that simplifies payroll and HR management for small to medium-sized businesses.