TriNet Review and Pricing

Why We Chose TriNet for Industry-Specific Needs

TriNet is ideal for businesses that have industry-specific needs for an HR outsourcing solution. Although every TriNet PEO plan includes bundled HR services — such as payroll, risk mitigation, employee benefits and a technology platform — the company can also customize the services to your sector. We think it is especially valuable that you can receive HR support from industry experts as often (or as seldom) as you need.

We also appreciate TriNet’s excellent customer service; it’s one of the few HR outsourcing providers we looked at that goes a step further with its customized support. The Connect 360 platform gives you direct access to the HR, payroll and benefits information you need. This centralized hub for your company’s HR data helps you develop policies and track spending from a single dashboard. Additionally, it can match you with specialized experts who canz advise you on industry-specific HR questions.

Ease of Use

TriNet features a user-friendly, intuitive technology platform that is easy to navigate. When we tested the software, we were pleased with its layout and usability. With TriNet’s web-based dashboard, you can get a clear view of your company’s HR information from anywhere. You can see workforce analytics details, like compensation benchmark reports, as well as around 100 prebuilt reports organized by category. Users can manage their data through custom reporting options if needed.

We like that TriNet makes it simple for your employees to manage HR information, too. Through the company’s self-service mobile app, available for iOS and Android, employees can view information such as payment details and benefits, as well as manage functions like expenses and time-off requests.

TriNet’s employee dashboards are intuitive and organized. Shown here is a dashboard configured to display time-off tracking. Source: TriNet

Another reason TriNet’s is great for usability is its experienced and knowledgeable support representatives. If you have a question or concern regarding the TriNet platform or HR issues, you can contact an agent quickly to get answers. This can make a big difference in streamlining HR outsourcing for small businesses.

TriNet Features

TriNet has extensive offerings in HR, benefits, payroll, risk management and compliance. You’ll have access to a full selection of features, with a team of experts in each area who are dedicated to providing your business with the right support.

HR Services

TriNet designates HR teams by industry, size and location, so your team of HR, payroll, benefits and risk management specialists will be experienced and skilled in your field. The company also provides standard HR services, including employee onboarding; recruitment; HR reporting and analytics; performance management; handbook and policy development; and termination and dispute assistance.

When we tested the platform, we saw firsthand just how easy it is to recruit and hire new employees with TriNet’s in-house applicant tracking tool. The system can automate some functions for you, easing the burden on your HR staff.

TriNet makes it easy to track employee recruitment. Source: TriNet

TriNet also offers many prebuilt HR, benefits and payroll reports, as well as the ability to create unlimited custom reports for no additional cost. Reports can be downloaded as PDFs, Excel spreadsheets or CSV files, which is on a par with industry standards. We like that you can view prebuilt and custom dashboards and charts.

Employee Benefits

TriNet partners with thousands of small businesses, so you’ll get access to quality healthcare plans at reduced rates. TriNet provides extensive employee benefits, including health, vision and dental insurance; 401(k) retirement plans; commuter benefits; accident and illness policies; auto and home policies; and wellness programs. It can help manage your Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) compliance and even offers employee access to marketplace discounts on several well-known brands.

We like that the benefits features show employees a clear comparison of plan options and costs. Employees can pose questions to Health Advocate, which can be valuable regardless of your industry. Businesses can use TriNet to administer quality employee benefits.

TriNet’s benefits enrollment process is easy to navigate. Source: TriNet

Payroll and Taxes

TriNet’s HR services include software that supports online payroll processing, direct deposits, time-off tracking, expense management and other employee payroll tasks. TriNet handles all of your payroll tax responsibilities, including withholding federal, state and local taxes and then filing and submitting the withholdings to the appropriate parties. The company also manages electronic W-2 preparation and delivery, as well as unemployment taxes and claims. We found this to be competitive with other HR solutions we reviewed.

Setting up direct deposit for an employee is as easy as entering their bank information and running payroll as you normally would. Source: TriNet

TriNet also has built-in time and attendance software, so you don’t have to worry about tracking your employees’ hours or monitoring their schedules manually.

We like that the platform increases pay accuracy by highlighting essential changes in payroll, including new hires, pay rate adjustments, departures, additional pay, missing I-9s and general deductions. TriNet can help small and midsize businesses (SMBs) run payroll and manage business expenses.

Users can manage business expenses with TriNet. Source: TriNet

Risk and Compliance

TriNet customers receive specialized support to manage risk and compliance for their organization. TriNet representatives are experts in specialized fields, so they can help you with risk management and compliance measures that are unique to your business and industry. The TriNet team includes experts in a wide range of areas, including payroll and benefits compliance, ACA compliance, COBRA compliance, employment practices risk management (claims prevention and mitigation), workplace risk management and workers’ compensation.

TriNet can also help you manage multiple unemployment insurance claims or administer unemployment benefits. The company allows you to set user permissions, which helps ensure business security and compliance.

While TriNet can be helpful for managing risk and compliance, some competitors also provide these services. For example, Rippling can help you use workflows and automation to ensure certain processes don’t get missed. Check out our review of Rippling to learn more.

Employee Training and Development

TriNet offers multiple training and development solutions to help with talent retention. The company’s online learning management system gives employees the opportunity to enroll in more than 500 interactive courses that are accessible from any web-based platform. The courses are optimized for targeted training and give team members a way to learn new skills, progress toward professional certifications and improve performance in the workplace.

Businesses can use TriNet to manage employee performance. Source: TriNet

We like that TriNet’s stellar customer support extends to its performance management capabilities. Businesses work with expert consultants to build out comprehensive performance processes that are unique to their organizational needs. You set goals, gain real-time feedback, and access custom or prebuilt review templates to easily create the right performance review for each situation. Performance reports with actionable metrics are available as well.

TriNet Pricing

TriNet offers HR outsourcing and consulting services for SMBs. Its PEO features are bundled and charged per employee per month, but your exact plan and pricing will depend on your specific business. Because TriNet focuses on tailoring its solutions to meet the unique needs of its customers, you can choose a contract length that works best for your company. Plus, instead of being locked into a long-term contract, you can pay on an ongoing basis and cancel at any time with at least 30 days’ notice. Keep in mind that cancellation fees may apply in certain situations.

TriNet has a flexible plan structure, but it does require customers to have a minimum of five employees for its HR outsourcing services. This employee minimum is relatively standard in the PEO industry, but part of what makes TriNet appealing is that it can scale your plan as your team grows and adjust the pricing accordingly. However, you won’t find any of the costs on TriNet’s website. Instead, you must contact the vendor directly.

Implementation and Onboarding

We found TriNet’s implementation quick and efficient. Thanks to the custom support, you’ll start by connecting with a company representative to establish an HR outsourcing plan that meets your specific needs. Implementing TriNet into your business’s workflow takes only about two weeks, on average. By working closely with a TriNet account executive, you get all your services up and running and configured to your team’s workflow. We like how TriNet’s intuitive online platform makes it easy for teams to access their personal information with little to no training.

TriNet’s platform integrates all of your HR needs into one easily accessible online portal. Everyone on your staff can easily make changes to their plan and view their plan information as needed. Because your whole staff will use the service, ease of use is vital in a PEO — and TriNet delivers on that. The vendor also provides convenient iOS and Android apps, which are common across the industry.

Employees can get set up easily on TriNet’s mobile app for on-the-go tasks, such as requesting time off. Source: TriNet

TriNet integrates with several third-party applications, and we appreciate that it offers an API for additional custom integrations. This is a valuable capability, especially for businesses that want to streamline their HR processes by connecting different software.

Customer Service

When testing TriNet, we found the customer support unrivaled. One big reason for this is the company’s HR support solution, Connect 360, which gives administrators and managers quick and accurate answers to HR questions. Chat through Connect 360 is available 24/7. We also like that TriNet offers employee support via live web chat, which not all competitors offer. You can also reach a representative by phone, email or an online contact form. A TriNet representative told us their average phone wait time was nine seconds.

TriNet representatives specialize in a variety of topics, including payroll, employee benefits, compliance, HR policies, employee relations, performance management, talent acquisition and compensation. TriNet also provides industry-specific support, so you can rest assured you’re getting your questions answered by a true expert.

To learn more about TriNet’s services or HR-related topics on your own, you can access the vendor’s wealth of online resources, including articles, blogs, e-guides, whitepapers, templates, research reports, videos, demos and webinars.

If customer support is of utmost importance to you, you might also consider Insperity as a PEO. This competitor also offers knowledgeable support representatives, although the service may not be tailored to your industry. Read our Insperity PEO review to learn more.

Limitations

One potential drawback is TriNet’s pricing structure. Although you’ll find flexibility in both the cost and contract length, TriNet bundles some of its HR features, including payroll processing, employee benefits administration, risk mitigation, HR services and the technology platform. Although these are essential HR tools, you may want to handle some of them in-house, which means you’d be stuck paying for services you don’t need through TriNet. If you are looking for a PEO with several add-on options, check out our review of ADP TotalSource. You also may want to read our TriNet vs. ADP comparison.

Another minor disadvantage is that TriNet requires a minimum of five employees (although a TriNet representative told us they may work with clients with as few as three or four employees). Employee minimums are standard for PEOs and only a minor caveat, but it could take TriNet out of the running if you have a very small business. If you are looking for a PEO service for fewer than five workers, consider our review of Justworks, which has a two-worker minimum. For a deeper dive into these two PEOs, check out our TriNet vs. Justworks comparison.

Methodology

We researched and analyzed dozens of PEOs and HROs to identify the best services on the market. We looked at pricing, contract requirements, bundled versus a la carte features, minimum requirements, employee benefits administration, time-tracking tools, payroll processing and taxes, administrative HR functions, talent management features, integrations, legal risk and compliance assistance, accreditations and customer support. We also watched product videos, conducted demos and took advantage of free trials when possible. When looking for the best industry-specific PEO and HRO solutions specifically, we prioritized flexibility, industry-specific features, UI and customer support.

Bottom Line

We recommend TriNet for …

• Companies that want industry-specific HR support.
• SMBs with five to 250 employees.
• Companies that need help with compliance.

We don’t recommend TriNet for …

• Companies with fewer than five employees.
• Businesses that operate in potentially hazardous industries, such as heavy construction.