PEO Laws by State
Most US states require PEOs to register or hold a licence before operating, and requirements differ on bonding, financial reporting, renewal cycles and how unemployment insurance is reported. This is a free record of those requirements, state by state, with each field linked to the primary source it came from.
Why this exists
The most complete regulatory database in this industry is maintained by the trade association and is available to its members. That is entirely reasonable, and it also means the employers making the decision — the ones who are not members — cannot see it.
There is no good free version. That is the gap this dataset is being built to fill: every state, every requirement, sourced to the statute or agency page it came from, free, and dated so you can tell how stale it is.
How to use this for your own decision
PEO registration is a compliance filter, and it is the first one you should run — before pricing, before comparisons, before the benefits brochure:
- List the states where you employ people. Not where you are headquartered,
where your people work.
- Check each state's page for whether registration is required and which
agency administers it.
- Ask every provider for its registration numbers in exactly those states,
then verify them against the agency link on the page. A provider that hesitates here has answered your next question for you.
The reason this matters: a PEO that is not registered in a state cannot legally serve your employees there, and the failure surfaces at the worst time — during an audit, a claim, or a worksite injury.
Coverage status
Verified state records: 51 of 51. Unverified rows are visible here but excluded from search indexes.
| State | Registration required | Regulating agency | Bond | Verified | Page status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Yes - PEOs must register with the Alabama Department of Labor (Workers' Compensation Division) before operating in the state, under the Alabama Professional Employer Organization Registration Act, Act No. 2006-229; a limited registration exists for qualifying out-of-state PEOs source (opens in new window) | Alabama Department of Labor, Workers' Compensation Division (formerly Department of Industrial Relations) source (opens in new window) | No bond required; registrants must instead maintain a minimum net worth of $100,000 at all times, or post a cash deposit with the Alabama State Treasury or other security acceptable to the Director source (opens in new window) | 2026-08-10 | Published |
| Alaska | No - Alaska has no PEO-specific registration or licensing requirement; PEOs comply with general business licensing and employer registration rules source (opens in new window) | None - no PEO-specific regulator; general oversight falls under the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development (employer/UI registration) and the Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing (business licensing) source (opens in new window) | None required - Alaska imposes no PEO bonding requirement source (opens in new window) | 2026-08-10 | Published |
| Arizona | No - PEO registration repealed by HB 2252 (approved April 2, 2024), which repealed A.R.S. 23-563 through 23-568 and 23-575 through 23-576 source (opens in new window) | None - registration repealed in 2024; the former regulator was the Arizona Secretary of State source (opens in new window) | $100,000 minimum net worth, or a bond, irrevocable letter of credit, or securities with a minimum market value of $100,000 held by an insured depository institution, required for PEOs located in Arizona (A.R.S. 23-569, as amended by HB 2252) source (opens in new window) | 2026-08-10 | Published |
| Arkansas | Yes - PEOs must be licensed under the Arkansas Professional Employer Organization Recognition and Licensing Act, Ark. Code 23-92-401 et seq., administered by the Arkansas Insurance Department (limited exemption for qualifying out-of-state PEOs with 100 or fewer covered employees) source (opens in new window) | Arkansas Insurance Department source (opens in new window) | $100,000 surety bond; reducible to $35,000 after three years of timely contributions for bonded lessor employers; ESAC-accredited PEOs are exempt from the bond source (opens in new window) | 2026-08-10 | Published |
| California | No source (opens in new window) | Not verified | Not verified | 2026-08-10 | Published |
| Colorado | Yes source (opens in new window) | Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE), Division of Unemployment Insurance source (opens in new window) | Surety bond, letter of credit or cash escrow equal to 50% of prior-year UI premiums (initial: standard rate 1.7% x 50% of projected chargeable payroll), OR managed evidence of $100,000 audited working capital, OR annual ESAC accreditation (7 CCR 1101-2-16; CESA 8-70-114) source (opens in new window) | 2026-08-10 | Published |
| Connecticut | Yes source (opens in new window) | Connecticut Department of Labor (CTDOL), Division of Wage and Workplace Standards source (opens in new window) | $150,000 working capital per GAAP, or rather surety bond / irrevocable letter of credit / marketable securities of $150,000 minimum (CGS 31-221d; limited registration available for out-of-state PEOs) source (opens in new window) | 2026-08-10 | Published |
| Delaware | No source (opens in new window) | Not verified | Not verified | 2026-08-10 | Published |
| District of Columbia | No — DC has no PEO registration or licensing requirement. DLCP's Occupational and Professional Licensing (OPL) program licenses more than 125 occupational and professional categories, none of which is a PEO class, and the PEO Registration Act of 2021 (Bill 24-0305), on which DISB testified in 2022, was never enacted source (opens in new window) | None — no District agency currently registers or licenses PEOs; DLCP (OPL) administers the District's business and professional license categories and DISB regulates insurance rather than PEO registration source (opens in new window) | Not verified | 2026-08-10 | Published |
| Florida | Yes - an employee leasing company (PEO) must obtain a license from the Department of Business and Professional Regulation before doing business: F.S. 468.526(1) provides that an employee leasing company or controlling person may not engage in business in this state without first obtaining a license. ESAC-accredited out-of-state PEOs are not exempt. De minimis employee leasing companies domiciled outside Florida may register instead of being fully licensed. source (opens in new window) | Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) - Board of Employee Leasing Companies licenses and disciplines employee leasing companies and controlling persons under Chapter 468, Part XI, F.S. and Rule 61-32 (61G7), F.A.C. The Florida Department of Revenue administers reemployment tax registration, rate assignment and quarterly reporting. source (opens in new window) | No surety bond. F.S. 468.525(3)(b) requires a tangible accounting net worth of at least $50,000 for initial licensure, and 468.525(3)(c)-(d) require a maintained accounting net worth and positive working capital; deficiencies are offset only by board-approved guaranties (DBPR EL-4505) or irrevocable letters of credit (DBPR EL-4517), not surety bonds. source (opens in new window) | 2026-08-12 | Published |
| Georgia | No separate PEO license - Georgia instead requires employee leasing companies that elect to treat clients' employees as their own to register with the Georgia Department of Labor and maintain their own unemployment account and DOL account number; PEOs that cannot post the required bond must report under each client's name and account. The PEO is defined at O.C.G.A. 34-8-32 (employee leasing company) and O.C.G.A. 34-7-6 (professional employer organization). source (opens in new window) | Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) - administers the Employment Security Law (O.C.G.A. Title 34, ch. 8), employer registration, DOL-626 annual rate notices, quarterly DOL-4 tax and wage reports, and the employee leasing rules in Chapter 300-2-7 of the GDOL rules. The State Board of Workers' Compensation and the Department of Insurance govern the workers' compensation side. source (opens in new window) | Surety bond of the greater of $10,000 or 2.7% of the employee leasing company's taxable payroll for the four calendar quarters ending June 30 preceding the bond's effective date (O.C.G.A. 34-8-172; Rule 300-2-7-.07(2)), renewed annually in an adjusted amount with no cancellation clause. A $5,000 bond is allowed for companies with a positive reserve ratio that file timely reports and make monthly prepayments (Rule 300-2-7-.07(3)). Cash deposits or irrevocable letters of credit may be posted in lieu of the bond. source (opens in new window) | 2026-08-12 | Published |
| Hawaii | Yes - every professional employer organization must register with the director (DLIR) before entering any professional employer agreement with a client company in Hawaii (HRS 373L-2(a)). The application requires a certificate of authority, proof of workers' compensation, temporary disability insurance and prepaid health care compliance, the client company list (PEO-3), the most recent IRS Form W-3, and the surety bond or letter of credit. source (opens in new window) | Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) - the PEO registration program (Chapter 373L) is administered by DLIR, which also runs the Unemployment Insurance Division under Chapter 383; the Disability Compensation Division covers TDI and the Hawaii Compliance Express is used to verify compliance. source (opens in new window) | Surety bond or irrevocable letter of credit scaled to the PEO's prior-year IRS Form W-3 total payroll (HRS 373L-3): $25,000 for payroll up to and including $25,000,000; $75,000 for payroll over $25,000,000 up to $150,000,000; $250,000 for payroll above $150,000,000. The amount is re-evaluated from the annual W-3 filing due each June 30. source (opens in new window) | 2026-08-12 | Published |
| Idaho | Yes - a professional employer must comply with the Professional Employer Recognition Act, Chapter 24, Title 44, Idaho Code (I.C. 44-2401 et seq.) to do business in Idaho and to be eligible for unemployment experience rating transfers; IDAPA 09.01.35.134 conditions any transfer of experience on full compliance with the Act. Client companies must complete an Idaho Business Registration (IBR-1) when joining or leaving a PEO (failure carries a $500 penalty). source (opens in new window) | Idaho Department of Labor - administers PEO unemployment accounts, experience transfers, quarterly client lists and the I.C. 72-1372(h) penalty regime for missing per-client wage reports; the Department of Labor also enforces the minimum standards of Chapter 24, Title 44. Workers' compensation is overseen by the Idaho Industrial Commission. source (opens in new window) | Not verified | 2026-08-12 | Published |
| Illinois | Not verified | No PEO-specific regulator exists. The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) registers every business with employees in Illinois and administers quarterly UI contribution and wage reporting; the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission (IWCC) and Department of Insurance govern workers' compensation; the Illinois Department of Labor administers the Paid Leave for All Workers Act. source (opens in new window) | Not verified | 2026-08-12 | Published |
| Indiana | Yes - PEOs doing business in Indiana must register with the Indiana Department of Insurance (IDOI) under IC 27-16, with additional guidance in 760 IAC 1-73; three paths exist: full registration (Indiana-domiciled or home state without substantially similar requirements, with a $250 first-time fee), limited registration (home state requirements substantially similar or more restrictive), and certified registration (ESAC-certified PEOs) source (opens in new window) | Indiana Department of Insurance (IDOI) - administers PEO registration under IC 27-16 and 760 IAC 1-73; Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD) handles unemployment insurance source (opens in new window) | No bond required for full registrants that demonstrate at least $50,000 net worth; a PEO that cannot demonstrate $50,000 net worth must file a $50,000 bond with the commissioner (or other security acceptable to the commissioner) under IC 27-16-4-4; limited registrants from comparable home states are not required to prove net worth or bond source (opens in new window) | 2026-08-12 | Published |
| Iowa | No - Iowa has no PEO or employee-leasing registration or licensing program (NAPEO chart lists Iowa as requiring neither a license nor registration); PEOs operate under general business licensing and employer registration rules source (opens in new window) | None - no PEO-specific regulator in Iowa; Iowa Workforce Development administers unemployment insurance and Iowa DIAL administers labor standards source (opens in new window) | None required - Iowa imposes no PEO bonding requirement source (opens in new window) | 2026-08-12 | Published |
| Kansas | Yes - PEOs must register annually with the Kansas Secretary of State under the Professional Employer Organization Registration Act (KSA 44-1701 et seq., amended by 2025 HB 2092); the registration fee is $250 and registrations expire on October 15 following issuance source (opens in new window) | Kansas Secretary of State - administers PEO registration and renewals (KSA 44-1704, as amended by 2025 HB 2092); Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) administers unemployment insurance source (opens in new window) | No fixed bond amount for all registrants - a PEO must maintain positive working capital upon registration and thereafter (KSA 44-1706(a)(1)); a PEO unable to maintain positive working capital must submit a bond securing payment of all taxes, wages, benefits, and other obligations owed to employees of a client; and the secretary may require a bond not to exceed $100,000 if the secretary has reason to believe a PEO is insolvent or financially unable to provide services, benefits, or wages source (opens in new window) | 2026-08-12 | Published |
| Kentucky | Yes - every person or entity acting as an employee leasing company in Kentucky must register with the Office of Workers' Claims under KRS 342.610 and KRS 342.615; initial registration uses Form EL-1 and annual renewal uses Form EL-2 source (opens in new window) | Kentucky Labor Cabinet - Office of Workers' Claims (Department of Workers' Claims) administers employee leasing company registration source (opens in new window) | None required - registrants are not required to post a bond or other security (803 KAR 25:230) source (opens in new window) | 2026-08-12 | Published |
| Louisiana | Yes — dual registration required source (opens in new window) | Louisiana Department of Insurance (LDI) and Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC) source (opens in new window) | No bond required with the DOI; a PEO may post an optional $100,000 bond with the Department of Insurance as beneficiary to report and pay SUI under its own account instead of filing separately for each client source (opens in new window) | 2026-08-12 | Published |
| Maine | Yes — employee leasing registration source (opens in new window) | Maine Bureau of Insurance (registration); Maine Department of Labor for unemployment insurance source (opens in new window) | None — the NAPEO licensing chart lists no bonding requirement for Maine source (opens in new window) | 2026-08-12 | Published |
| Maryland | No source (opens in new window) | Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (DLLR), Division of Unemployment Insurance source (opens in new window) | None — no bonding requirement in Maryland law or the NAPEO licensing chart source (opens in new window) | 2026-08-12 | Published |
| Massachusetts | Yes — registration for unemployment tax purposes only source (opens in new window) | Massachusetts Division of Unemployment Assistance (DUA); regulations under 211 CMR 66 source (opens in new window) | None — no bonding requirement (211 CMR 66 registration is paperwork-only) source (opens in new window) | 2026-08-12 | Published |
| Michigan | Yes — PEO license (full or limited) under Act 370 of 2010 source (opens in new window) | Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Corporations, Securities & Commercial Licensing division source (opens in new window) | None required by the PEO act — renewal instead requires audited financial statements source (opens in new window) | 2026-08-12 | Published |
| Minnesota | Yes — registration with the Minnesota Department of Commerce source (opens in new window) | Minnesota Department of Commerce (PEO registration); DEED Unemployment Insurance Program for SUI and Paid Leave source (opens in new window) | None — no bonding requirement (NAPEO licensing chart lists N/A) source (opens in new window) | 2026-08-12 | Published |
| Mississippi | No source (opens in new window) | Mississippi Department of Employment Security (MDES) — reporting only, no registration source (opens in new window) | Not verified | 2026-08-12 | Published |
| Missouri | No source (opens in new window) | Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DOLIR), Division of Employment Security — SUI oversight only source (opens in new window) | Greater of the prior calendar year's SUI liability or $100,000 — marketable securities, letter of credit, or certificate of deposit acceptable (RSMo 288.032) source (opens in new window) | 2026-08-12 | Published |
| Montana | Yes - employee leasing companies must obtain a license from the Montana Department of Labor and Industry under the Employee Leasing Company Licensing Act (MCA Title 39, ch. 8; MCA 39-8-204), with the license valid for one year from issuance source (opens in new window) | Montana Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) - issues employee leasing company licenses under MCA 39-8; DLI's Unemployment Insurance Division (Contributions Bureau) administers UI source (opens in new window) | $300,000 - a surety bond issued by an insurer authorized in Montana, a $300,000 certificate of deposit, an irrevocable letter of credit, or other department-approved security (MCA 39-8-207); the department withholds the license until the security is furnished source (opens in new window) | 2026-08-12 | Published |
| Nebraska | Yes - any person or entity providing employee leasing services in Nebraska must be registered with the Nebraska Department of Labor under the Employee Leasing Company Registration Act (Neb. Rev. Stat. 48-2101 to 48-2111); the registration fee is $100 and registrations are accepted on a continuous basis source (opens in new window) | Nebraska Department of Labor (NDOL) - administers employee leasing company registration; NDOL's UI Tax division administers unemployment insurance source (opens in new window) | $25,000 - a bond or other security acceptable to the Department, payable to the State of Nebraska, maintained at all times during the registration period and providing recovery for claims covered by the act (Neb. Rev. Stat. 48-2105) source (opens in new window) | 2026-08-12 | Published |
| Nevada | Yes - dual regime: PEOs must be licensed by the Labor Commissioner under NRS 611.400-611.490 (NRS 611.410: no person shall operate a PEO in this state without a license), and employee leasing companies must hold a certificate of registration from the Division of Industrial Relations under NRS 616B.670-616B.697. SB 55 (2021) transferred employee leasing oversight from DIR to the Labor Commissioner and replaced the term 'employee leasing company' with 'professional employer organization,' converting registrations to licenses effective July 1, 2021. source (opens in new window) | Office of the Labor Commissioner, Nevada Department of Business and Industry - PEO licensing (NRS 611); Division of Industrial Relations, Workers' Compensation Section - employee leasing registration and workers' comp coverage oversight (NRS 616B); DETR Employment Security Division - UI taxes. source (opens in new window) | No fixed bond: NRS 616B.679(5)(b) requires audited GAAP financials demonstrating positive working capital, or a bond, irrevocable letter of credit or securities with minimum market value equal to the maximum working-capital deficiency plus $100,000, held by a depository institution designated by the Administrator to secure taxes, wages, benefits and other entitlements; $500 registration/renewal fee (NRS 616B.679(1)(i)). source (opens in new window) | 2026-08-12 | Published |
| New Hampshire | Yes - 'The State of New Hampshire requires all Employee Leasing Companies to be licensed by the NH Department of Labor' under RSA 277-B and administrative rules Lab 1500; Lab 1503.01 bars engaging in employee leasing without a license. Out-of-state companies may hold a restricted license under reciprocity conditions. source (opens in new window) | New Hampshire Department of Labor - Employee Leasing unit (licensing under RSA 277-B / Lab 1500); NH Employment Security for unemployment insurance. source (opens in new window) | $100,000 surety bond option for non-domiciliary licensees relying on bond in lieu of domiciliary good-standing evidence (Lab 1506.01(d)); all licensees must file audited GAAP financials showing $100,000 minimum working capital (RSA 277-B:6,I), with a $100,000 bond, irrevocable letter of credit or securities as an approved alternative, increased by any working-capital deficit; the commissioner may require additional deposits on a case-by-case basis (RSA 277-B:6,II). source (opens in new window) | 2026-08-12 | Published |
| New Jersey | Yes - employee leasing companies and PEOs must register with the Commissioner of Labor under the Employee Leasing Company Act, P.L. 2001, c.260 (N.J.S.A. 34:8-67 et seq.); registration is separate from employer registration (N.J.A.C. 12:16-24.3(a)). A limited registration is available to out-of-state PEOs licensed or registered in another state with no NJ office, no direct solicitation of NJ clients, and no more than 50 covered employees in New Jersey. source (opens in new window) | New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development - Division of Employer Accounts (PEO registration and UI/TDI/WD administration); NJDOL Wage and Hour and Contract Compliance for the minimum wage. source (opens in new window) | No fixed bond: N.J.A.C. 12:16-24.4 requires a financial statement (within 13 months of initial application; annually within 180 days of fiscal year end) showing positive working capital; where not shown, the PEO must provide a bond, irrevocable letter of credit or securities with market value equal to the amount needed to achieve positive working capital plus up to $100,000, set case-by-case by the Commissioner, who may also impose security where licenses were suspended elsewhere or payroll taxes/UI contributions were missed. source (opens in new window) | 2026-08-12 | Published |
| New Mexico | Yes - the Employee Leasing Act (NMSA 1978, Chapter 60, Article 13A): 'No person shall do business in the state as an employee leasing contractor unless the person is registered with the department' (60-13A-3); registration is renewed annually with a $1,000 initial fee, $1,000 annual renewal fee, and a $500 delinquency charge for late renewal. source (opens in new window) | New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department - Employee Leasing Program (registration, bonds, renewals); Office of Superintendent of Insurance for PEO/ELC fully-insured health plan admission (NMSA 59A-15-20(D), 59A-23-20); Department of Workforce Solutions for UI. source (opens in new window) | $100,000 surety bond (or cash bond), conditioned upon the prompt payment of wages for which the employee leasing contractor becomes liable (NMSA 60-13A-7); contractors registered as of September 30, 1993 are grandfathered at $25,000. A workers' compensation insurance certificate is also required. source (opens in new window) | 2026-08-12 | Published |
| New York | Yes - Labor Law Article 31 (Professional Employer Act), Section 919: a PEO 'shall not engage in business from offices in this state' or provide professional employer services to persons in this state unless registered with the Department of Labor; the PEO title is reserved to registered entities; exemptions are available. source (opens in new window) | NYS Department of Labor - PEO registration and ongoing oversight under Article 31; unemployment insurance administered by NYS DOL under Article 18 (quarterly NYS-45); workers' compensation, disability and Paid Family Leave insurance governed by the Workers' Compensation Law. source (opens in new window) | No fixed bond: Labor Law Section 921 requires audited GAAP financial statements showing a minimum net worth of $75,000, with a $75,000 bond permitted in lieu of the audited statement; quarterly filings carry an independent-CPA certification that federal and state payroll taxes were timely paid (Section 921(3)). source (opens in new window) | 2026-08-12 | Published |
| North Carolina | Yes — PEO license from the Department of Insurance source (opens in new window) | North Carolina Department of Insurance (G.S. Ch. 58, Art. 89A); North Carolina Division of Employment Security (DES) for UI source (opens in new window) | Not verified | 2026-08-12 | Published |
| North Dakota | Yes — PEO license from the Secretary of State source (opens in new window) | North Dakota Office of the Secretary of State (NDCC 43-55); Job Service North Dakota for SUI source (opens in new window) | Surety bond or irrevocable letter of credit equal to the lesser of $100,000 or 5% of reported quarterly wages ($100,000 flat if no wage report on file) source (opens in new window) | 2026-08-12 | Published |
| Ohio | Yes — annual registration with the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (ORC Ch. 4125) source (opens in new window) | Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) source (opens in new window) | No bond — PEOs must demonstrate adequate working capital instead (ORC 4125) source (opens in new window) | 2026-08-12 | Published |
| Oklahoma | Yes — registration with the Oklahoma Department of Insurance source (opens in new window) | Oklahoma Department of Insurance (PEO statute 40 O.S. §§ 600.1-600.8) source (opens in new window) | Bond required only if the PEO cannot demonstrate net worth or marketable securities of at least $50,000 source (opens in new window) | 2026-08-12 | Published |
| Oregon | Yes — employee leasing license (Oregon Employee Leasing rules) source (opens in new window) | Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS) source (opens in new window) | Not verified | 2026-08-12 | Published |
| Pennsylvania | Yes — registration with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry source (opens in new window) | Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry (PEO registration and quarterly PEO reporting) source (opens in new window) | Not verified | 2026-08-12 | Published |
| Rhode Island | Yes — annual certification as an employee leasing company source (opens in new window) | Rhode Island Division of Taxation (RIGL 44-30-71.4); DLT for SUI, TDI and TCI source (opens in new window) | $50,000 surety bond each year for companies operating less than 2 years, to ensure withholding taxes are paid source (opens in new window) | 2026-08-12 | Published |
| South Carolina | Yes — PEO license from the Department of Consumer Affairs source (opens in new window) | South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs (PEO licensing); S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW) for SUI source (opens in new window) | Not verified | 2026-08-12 | Published |
| South Dakota | No - the employee leasing registration chapter (SDCL 60-11A) was repealed, and NAASO's state profile confirms PEO registration is not required in South Dakota. source (opens in new window) | South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation - Division of Labor and Management (labor standards) and Division of Reemployment Assistance (RA/UI taxes). source (opens in new window) | None - no PEO/employee leasing registration program exists (former SDCL 60-11A repealed), so no bond or financial security requirement applies. source (opens in new window) | 2026-08-12 | Published |
| Tennessee | Yes — PEOs must register with the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance under the Professional Employer Organization Act (Tenn. Code 62-43); separate SUI registration with TDLWD is also required. source (opens in new window) | Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) for PEO licensure (62-43-102(7)); Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD) handles unemployment insurance tax accounts. source (opens in new window) | Licensure: positive working capital or, for the deficiency, a surety bond, irrevocable letter of credit, or securities (62-43-106). SUI: a $100,000 corporate surety bond posted with TDLWD relieves clients of joint and several UI premium liability (62-43-109(f)); bond may drop to $35,000 after three full years of timely payment. source (opens in new window) | 2026-08-12 | Published |
| Texas | Yes — a PEO license is required before offering professional employer services (Texas Labor Code 91.011); two tiers exist: full license and limited license (out-of-state PEOs with 50 or fewer assigned employees in Texas), both issued by TDLR. source (opens in new window) | Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) for PEO licensure under Labor Code Chapter 91 and 16 TAC Chapter 72; Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) for unemployment tax; Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) Division of Workers' Compensation for wc. source (opens in new window) | No fixed bond: applicants and licensees must demonstrate audited positive working capital of $50,000 (fewer than 250 covered employees), $75,000 (250–“750), or $100,000 (over 750); any deficiency is satisfied through a surety bond, letter of credit, or guaranty (Labor Code 91.014). source (opens in new window) | 2026-08-12 | Published |
| Utah | Yes — PEOs must be licensed by the Utah Insurance Department under the Professional Employer Organization Licensing Act (Utah Code 31A-40) and Rule R590-250; three license types: non-assurance, assurance-organization certified, and small operation. source (opens in new window) | Utah Insurance Department (Utah Code 31A-40; Admin Rules R590-250 and R590-102); Utah Department of Workforce Services (unemployment insurance); Utah Labor Commission (workers' compensation). source (opens in new window) | $100,000 working capital required at all times for non-assurance licensees (31A-40-205), or a bond, irrevocable letter of credit, or securities for the amount of any deficiency; audited financial statements must comply with 31A-40-205/305. source (opens in new window) | 2026-08-12 | Published |
| Vermont | Yes — no person may engage in employee leasing without a license issued by the Vermont Department of Labor under Chapter 12 of Title 21 (employee leasing companies), administered through the Department's Employee Leasing Program with Form EL-1. source (opens in new window) | Vermont Department of Labor — Employee Leasing Program; 21 V.S.A. Chapter 12; Vermont Administrative Code 24-010-007. source (opens in new window) | $100,000 surety bond or letter of credit for the benefit of the Commissioner (21 V.S.A. 1035(a); Vt. Admin. Code 24-010-007), increasing in later years to not less than 5% of the prior year's Vermont wages, benefits, workers' comp premiums, or unemployment contributions; waived for applicants accredited by an approved national entity; audited adjusted net worth of $100,000 also required. source (opens in new window) | 2026-08-12 | Published |
| Virginia | Yes — a PEO must register with the Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission before providing professional employer services in Virginia (Va. Code §65.2-803.1); the application requires a VA-based representative for service of process and certification that the PEO and each client company are insured under §65.2-801 source (opens in new window) | Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission (VWC), Insurance Department — dual regulation with the SCC Bureau of Insurance, which oversees premium, pricing, rates and audits source (opens in new window) | No fixed bond amount in statute or regulation. VWC may require a parent or commonly owned entity to guarantee the PEO's obligations in a form the Commission prescribes (§65.2-803.1); funding comes instead from an annual payroll-based assessment (16 VAC 30-100-70) source (opens in new window) | 2026-08-10 | Published |
| Washington | Yes, for unemployment insurance: a PEO is treated as an employer, and both the PEO and its clients must register (RCW 50.04.298, 50.12.070); there is no separate PEO license or annual renewal, and workers' comp coverage runs through L&I's monopolistic state fund with PEO reporting identified on L&I forms. source (opens in new window) | Washington Employment Security Department (unemployment insurance and Paid Family & Medical Leave); Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (workers' compensation). source (opens in new window) | Not verified | 2026-08-12 | Published |
| West Virginia | Yes — a license from the Insurance Commissioner is required before a PEO may provide, advertise, or hold itself out as providing professional employer services in West Virginia (WV Code §33-46A-4); limited licenses are available to out-of-state PEOs with no WV office, no direct solicitation, and 50 or fewer covered employees in the state source (opens in new window) | West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner (WV Code Ch. 33, Art. 46A) source (opens in new window) | $100,000 minimum working capital, or alternatively a bond, irrevocable letter of credit or securities with $100,000 minimum market value held by a commissioner-designated depository (increased by any working capital deficit); fees of $200 for application/renewal and $100 for filing annual reports (§33-46A-4(h), (j)) source (opens in new window) | 2026-08-10 | Published |
| Wisconsin | Yes — professional employer organizations must register with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions under Chapter 202, Subchapter III (registrations renewed annually; small operations use Form 2858). source (opens in new window) | Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), Division of Corporate and Consumer Services — Chapter 202, Wis. Stats.; UI tax administered by the Department of Workforce Development. source (opens in new window) | Net working capital of at least $100,000 or, as an alternative, a surety bond in a comparable amount approved by DFI (Form CRED2843); audited financial statements support the filing. source (opens in new window) | 2026-08-12 | Published |
| Wyoming | No — Wyoming has no PEO-specific licensure or registration (NAPEO licensing chart: 'None'); a company employing one or more workers in Wyoming registers for UI and workers' comp through the joint WYUI online registration with the Department of Workforce Services. source (opens in new window) | Not verified | Not verified | 2026-08-12 | Published |
What each state record will hold
| Field | Why it matters to a buyer |
|---|---|
| Registration or licensing requirement | Whether a provider can legally operate here at all |
| Regulating agency | Where to check a provider's status yourself |
| Bond or security requirement | What stands behind the provider's obligations in this state |
| Renewal cycle | Whether a registration you checked last year is still current |
| SUI taxable wage base and new-employer rate | A material part of your employment cost |
| PEO unemployment reporting basis | Whether you keep your own experience rating or inherit the provider's |
| Workers' compensation market structure | Whether coverage runs through a state fund |
| Paid leave mandate | An obligation somebody has to administer and fund |
| State minimum wage | The floor, which a multi-state employer has to track per state |
The unemployment reporting row is the one buyers underestimate. Whether your experience rating stays yours or merges into the provider's is a state-level question with real money attached, and it becomes acute on the way out of a PEO arrangement rather than on the way in.
How this data is verified
Each field is populated from a primary source — a statute, an agency page, or a filing — and stored with the URL and the date it was checked. A state record with fewer than six sourced fields, no reviewer sign-off, or data past its refresh window is served noindex and excluded from our sitemaps.
That is why the coverage counter above shows a fraction rather than a reassuring "50". We would rather publish the fraction.
Using it
- Verify before you sign. Ask a provider for its registration number in each
state where you employ people, then check it with the agency named on that state's page.
- Re-check on expansion. Hiring your first employee in a new state is a
registration question for your provider, not just an offer letter.
- Reuse it. These pages are free to cite and link. If you are an association,
an SBDC or an adviser and want the underlying data, ask.
Next
- Provider directory — who is registered where
- Certified PEO status — the federal layer
- How we verify data
Frequently asked
Do all states require PEO registration?
No. Most do, but not all, and the requirements differ substantially between those that do — some administer it through the Department of Labor, others through the Department of Insurance or the Secretary of State. Each state page records which applies and links to the source.
Why does registration matter to me as a buyer?
A provider that is not registered where you employ people may not be able to serve you there legally. If you employ across state lines, registration coverage is a hard filter, not a nice-to-have.
Are these state pages free to use and cite?
Yes. The whole point of the dataset is that the most complete regulatory database in the industry sits behind a trade association membership, while the employers making the decision cannot see it. Ours is published free, sourced, and dated.
How often is the state data refreshed?
Each record carries a verification date, and records are re-verified within a refresh window (200 days for states). A record past its window is served noindex until it is re-checked — we do not leave stale law pages indexed.
Related guides
- Tracking state legislative updates
- California meal and rest breaks
- Michigan paycheck mechanics
- Local payroll tax codes
- Paying employees after a disaster
Get matched with up to three PEOs
Answer six questions about your headcount, states and timeline. We shortlist providers that can actually serve you, and you choose which ones may contact you.
No obligation. You pick which providers get your details. We never sell your information to a data broker.