TriNet
by TriNet · Benefits Administration
PEO providing payroll, big-company benefits, HR compliance and risk services for SMBs.
- Works with
- QuickBooks Online, NetSuite, Sage Intacct, Xero
- Deployment
- Cloud
- Company size
- Small business, Mid-market
- Pricing
- Quote-based (per-employee-per-month)
Overview
TriNet is a professional employer organization (PEO) that provides small and medium-size businesses with access to "big-company" employee benefits, payroll processing, HR compliance support, and risk mitigation through a co-employment model. Under co-employment, TriNet becomes the employer of record for tax and benefits purposes for worksite employees, while the client business retains day-to-day operational control.
Its benefits administration covers medical, dental and vision plan access through national and regional carriers, a fully managed 401(k) retirement plan, and support for workers' compensation and employment practices liability insurance (EPLI). Employees enroll and manage benefits through TriNet's HR technology platform, with automated open enrollment workflows and compliance support for regulations such as ACA and COBRA.
On the accounting side, TriNet syncs payroll (which includes the employer cost of benefits) to a client's general ledger through its Accounting System Integration (ASI), which supports QuickBooks Online, Xero, Intacct, NetSuite, and custom GL mappings, automatically posting pre-mapped journal entries each payroll cycle. TriNet Expense, a separate expense-management module, can also export expense report data into accounting, payroll, or GL systems including NetSuite, Intacct, and QuickBooks Online.
Screenshots & demo
Demo video from the vendor's YouTube channel.
Features & capabilities
Benefits Administration
Access to and management of employee health, retirement and ancillary benefits.
- Medical, dental and vision plan access via national/regional carriers
- Fully managed 401(k) retirement plan administration
- Online benefits enrollment and plan comparison
- Automated open enrollment workflows and communications
- ACA and COBRA compliance support
- Benefits strategy consulting
PEO / Co-Employment Services
Core PEO services delivered under a shared-employer model.
- Employer-of-record co-employment structure
- HR compliance and regulatory guidance
- Workers' compensation management
- Employment practices liability insurance (EPLI)
- HR advisory and dedicated support
Payroll & Accounting Integration
Payroll processing with general ledger synchronization.
- Payroll processing with direct deposit and e-pay stubs
- Accounting System Integration (ASI) with pre-mapped journal entries
- Automated GL posting each payroll cycle
- Payroll tax administration and filing
HR Technology Platform
Unified platform for HR, benefits and workforce management.
- Employee self-service mobile app
- Time and attendance tracking
- AI-powered employee support
- Recruiting and onboarding tools
- TriNet Marketplace for third-party app integrations
Expense Management
Expense report capture and export to finance systems.
- Online expense report submission and approval
- Export of expense data into accounting/GL/payroll systems
- Category mapping for accounting systems
Common use cases
- Giving a small business access to enterprise-grade medical, dental, vision and 401(k) benefits it couldn't negotiate alone
- Outsourcing payroll tax administration and compliance risk to a co-employer
- Automating open enrollment and benefits communication for a growing headcount
- Posting payroll and employer benefits costs automatically into QuickBooks Online, NetSuite or Intacct via ASI
- Managing workers' compensation and EPLI coverage without building an in-house risk function
- Consolidating time, attendance, expense and benefits data into one HR platform
- Supporting multi-state SMB workforces with HR compliance guidance
Strengths & considerations
Strengths
- Full co-employment PEO model gives SMBs access to large-group benefit rates and risk pooling
- Accounting System Integration (ASI) automates pre-mapped journal entries into the GL each payroll cycle rather than requiring manual reconciliation
- PEPM pricing model (flat fee per employee) rather than percentage-of-payroll, which TriNet positions as more predictable at higher salary levels
- Bundles benefits, payroll, compliance, and risk mitigation (workers' comp, EPLI) as one service rather than point solutions
ERP integrations
Automated journal entry mapping for payroll and benefits costs
Each payroll cycle triggers pre-mapped journal entries in NetSuite; expense data also exportable via TriNet Expense
Pricing
TriNet does not publish standard list pricing; fees are a flat PEPM rate customized by company size, industry, geography and services, plus benefit premiums and statutory costs. Get an independent shortlist with pricing guidance below.
Technical & security
- Hosting
- SaaS
Alternatives to TriNet in Benefits Administration
TriNet — frequently asked questions
Does TriNet integrate with QuickBooks Online or NetSuite?
Yes. TriNet's Accounting System Integration (ASI) syncs payroll and benefits costs to the general ledger with pre-mapped journal entries, supporting QuickBooks Online, NetSuite, Sage Intacct, Xero, and custom GL setups.
How much does TriNet cost?
TriNet does not publish standard pricing. It charges a flat per-employee-per-month (PEPM) fee that varies by company size, industry, geography and services selected, in addition to benefit premiums; a custom quote is required.
What benefits does TriNet provide?
TriNet gives worksite employees access to medical, dental and vision plans through national and regional carriers, a fully managed 401(k) retirement plan, and compliance support for programs like ACA and COBRA.
Is TriNet a PEO or a payroll software company?
TriNet is a professional employer organization (PEO). It becomes a co-employer of record for tax and benefits purposes, bundling benefits, payroll, HR compliance and risk mitigation, rather than only licensing payroll software.
Evaluating Benefits Administration?
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