Aspen HR
Aspen HR is a San Francisco-based white-glove PEO providing outsourced payroll, benefits, HR compliance, and risk management to U.S. small and mid-sized businesses, with vertical depth in PE/VC-backed companies, search funds, startups, technology, and life sciences. It operates on the iSolved HRIS platform under an Engage PEO (acquired Dec 2025).
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Aspen HR does
Aspen HR is a San Francisco-based Professional Employer Organization (PEO) co-founded in 2017 that delivers outsourced payroll, benefits administration, HR compliance, and risk management to U.S. small and mid-sized businesses, with particular depth in alternative-investment firms, PE/VC-backed companies, search funds, startups, technology, life sciences, real estate, and labor-intensive industries. Operationally, it runs on the third-party iSolved HRIS platform, which provides cloud-based payroll processing, tax filing and remittance across all 50 states, benefits administration, 401(k) plan management, and a paperless employee-lifecycle workflow, augmented by Aspen HR's own service team that includes a full-time employment attorney — a service positioning the company repeatedly emphasizes. The business model is subscription-based: clients are charged monthly PEO fees typically structured as a per-employee-per-month rate or percentage of payroll, with quote-based pricing and no public tier structure, alongside ancillary revenue streams from 401(k) administration, HR compliance consulting, and workers' compensation administration.
Go-to-market is a hybrid direct-and-channel motion: an inside sales team and web-based quote forms conduct enterprise field sales targeting investor-backed and high-growth companies, while a PEO broker referral partner program and a client referral program generate channel-based demand. Distribution is supplemented by thought-leadership content marketing across a 70+ page blog, webinars, case studies, podcast appearances, and PE-industry events such as the Independent Sponsor Forum. Customer evidence includes 97% client retention, a 9.8/10 satisfaction score, and cited case-study outcomes ranging from $30k to $130k in annual savings plus a $10mm+ enterprise value uplift attributed to Aspen HR's PEO solution in a PE-backed platform acquisition. Regulatory positioning is anchored in IRS-Certified CPEO status and ESAC accreditation with $15 million in surety bond coverage. On December 22, 2025, Aspen HR was acquired by Engage PEO, a Fort Lauderdale-based top-10 national PEO, with CEO Mark Sinatra continuing to lead Aspen HR under the Engage umbrella; the deal expands Engage's California footprint and alternative-investment vertical depth while integrating Aspen HR's white-glove service model into a larger national platform.
Aspen HR firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Aspen HR
- Legal name
- Aspen HR PEO, LLC
- Website
- https://aspenhr.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Aspen HR is a San Francisco-based white-glove PEO providing outsourced payroll, benefits, HR compliance, and risk management to U.S. small and mid-sized businesses, with vertical depth in PE/VC-backed companies, search funds, startups, technology, and life sciences. It operates on the iSolved HRIS platform under an Engage PEO (acquired Dec 2025).
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Aspen HR industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Professional Employer Organization (PEO) Services
- NAICS
- Professional Employer Organizations (561330), Human Resources Consulting Services (541612), Office Administrative Services (5611)
- SIC
- Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- HRIS/HCM Implementation & EOR Platform Services (BPACAHAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- HR Operations Administration (HRIS Admin, Records, Employee Data Mgmt) (BPACAKAC), HRIS Administration & Data Management (BPAAAIAC), HR Compliance & Policy Administration Outsourcing (incl. regulatory reporting) (BPACAKAK), HR Service Delivery & Employee Contact Centers (HR Helpdesk) (BPACAKAI), HRIS/HCM Managed Services & Support (BPAEAGAF)
Keywords
Where Aspen HR is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Aspen HR business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- PEO/Co-Employer Services: Aspen HR operates as a co-employer, sharing employer responsibilities including payroll tax withholding and remittance, benefits administration, HR compliance, and risk management. Revenue is generated through bundled HR service fees charged to client companies. The company also charges for broker-of-record designation for benefits.
- 401(k) Plan Administration: Low-fee, open architecture 401(k) administration where Aspen HR handles plan management and fund selection on behalf of client companies.
- HR Compliance and Risk Management Services: Employer liability management solutions, compliance consulting, and workers' compensation administration, including claims management and return-to-work programs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Quote-based PEO pricing; no public tier structure disclosed |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Aspen HR product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Aspen HR is an IRS-Certified Professional Employer Organization (CPEO) that provides white-glove co-employment HR outsourcing to SMB and mid-market companies. Its core offering bundles payroll processing and tax filing, employee benefits administration (medical, dental, vision, 401(k)), HR compliance and risk management, workers' compensation, and HR advisory services, delivered on the iSolved HRIS cloud platform. The firm has particular depth serving private equity, venture capital, and search fund portfolio companies across all 50 U.S. states.
Product overview
Aspen HR is a white-glove Certified Professional Employer Organization (PEO) offering a unified platform-plus-modules architecture. The core offering centers on White Glove PEO services, combining co-employment, payroll processing, and HRIS in a cloud-based platform. Key modules include Employee Benefits (medical, dental, vision, FSA/HSA), Retirement Plans (401k), HR Compliance, ESG Services, and the Longevity Program for employee well-being. The company provides specialized PEO solutions for specific industries including Private Equity/Venture Capital, Startups, Technology, Life Sciences, Real Estate, Remote Teams, Labor-Intensive Companies, and Search Funds. Additional offerings include a Marketplace of curated partners, Referral Program, and Client Resources portal. The platform operates as a paperless, integrated system with the entire employee lifecycle managed electronically through the HR Technology Platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- White Glove PEO Rapid-response co-employment PEO service in which Aspen HR shares employer responsibilities including payroll tax withholding and remittance, benefits administration, HR compliance, and risk management, delivered with deep HR expertise for SMB and mid-market companies.
- Payroll & HRIS Cloud-based payroll processing with integrated HRIS functionality covering tax filing and remittance, employee records, and automated HR workflows across all 50 states.
- Employee Benefits Comprehensive benefits administration providing medical, dental, vision, life and disability, FSA/HSA, prescription discounts, fertility, primary doctor concierge, and other benefits typically available only at large employers, leveraged through pooled PEO buying power.
- Retirement Plans (401(k)) Low-fee, open architecture 401(k) plan with fund selection support and full administrative handling on behalf of client companies.
- HR Compliance and Risk Management Employer liability management solutions covering wage and hour compliance, workplace safety, anti-discrimination, workers' compensation administration, claims management, return-to-work programs, and access to a full-time employment attorney.
- HR Technology Platform (iSolved) 100% paperless, cloud-based HR software platform (iSolved) that manages the entire employee lifecycle electronically, with automated workflows for onboarding, payroll, benefits, and HR management.
- ESG Services ESG compliance and HR solutions helping investment funds meet environmental, social, and governance requirements, including guidance on identifying ESG risks and opportunities and tactical implementation.
- Longevity Program Employee wellness program providing lifestyle spending accounts (LSAs) that employees can use for gym memberships, pet care, transit, childcare, eldercare, financial planning, and streaming services.
- PEO for Private Equity & Venture Capital Specialized PEO services for PE and VC firms and their portfolio companies, designed around fund operations, portfolio management, HR due diligence, and labor cost optimization for EBITDA improvement.
- PEO for PE-Backed Companies PEO service for portfolio companies of private equity sponsors, focused on generating value faster with reduced risk through scalable HR infrastructure and benefits.
- PEO for Search Funds Turnkey HR infrastructure and Fortune 500-level benefits tailored to search fund entrepreneurs acquiring and operating SMBs, supporting self-funded acquisitions across diverse industries.
- PEO for Technology Companies Scalable PEO solution for software and technology companies, addressing talent competition, remote workforce management, equity compensation, and multi-state compliance.
- PEO for Startups Scalable PEO solution for startup companies, providing HR infrastructure, competitive benefits, payroll compliance, and rapid onboarding to support growth and talent retention.
- PEO for Life Sciences PEO support for life sciences companies from startup to scaling to maturity, with HR compliance, benefits administration, and payroll tailored to regulated environments.
- PEO for Real Estate & Property Management PEO services for real estate firms and property management companies, providing multi-state payroll, workers' compensation, benefits administration, and seasonal staffing support for distributed workforces.
- PEO for Remote Teams PEO services for companies with remote or distributed workforces, providing multi-state payroll tax compliance, varied state regulation management, and remote employee management.
- PEO for Labor-Intensive Companies PEO services for labor-intensive companies, providing payroll, workers' compensation, risk management, and benefits administration focused on reducing costs, improving efficiency, and mitigating risk.
Quantifiable outcome
- 97% client retention rate
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Aspen HR
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments8 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Aspen HR technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
AI capability2 records
Feature4 records
Aspen HR partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Engage PEOcoreEngage PEO, a Fort Lauderdale-based top 10 national PEO, acquired Aspen HR in December 2025. The acquisition combines Aspen HR's regional expertise in California and alternative investment industry depth with Engage's compliance-focused HR consulting, advanced risk management capabilities, and cost-effective employee benefit programs. The combined entity strengthens Engage's position in California and the alternative investment sector.
- iSolvedcoreiSolved is the HRIS software platform used by Aspen HR to deliver payroll, benefits administration, and HR management services. Clients access their accounts through iSolved, which handles account setup, email/password credentials, and integrates with Aspen HR's service delivery. iSolved processes payment information through its terms of service.
- RadiantESGminorCo-created a PDF presentation on ESG importance for financial services companies, covering economic power of ESG, identifying risks and opportunities, intersection of ESG and HR, and tactical implementation approaches.
- NewfrontminorNewfront's John McCall participated in a TechGC virtual panel on building and maintaining an internal risk assessment program alongside Aspen HR, contributing expertise on risk management best practices for businesses.
- Jones DayminorJones Day acted as legal advisor for Engage PEO in connection with the acquisition of Aspen HR.
- Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff LLPminorBenesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff LLP acted as legal advisor for Aspen HR in connection with the acquisition by Engage PEO.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Aspen HR competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Insperity: Major publicly-traded PEO providing comprehensive HR outsourcing including payroll, benefits, and workforce management to SMB and mid-market clients nationwide. Significantly larger scale than Aspen with broader geographic coverage.
- TriNet: Large, publicly-traded PEO serving SMBs with full-service HR solutions including payroll, benefits, and compliance. Broader portfolio than Aspen but overlaps significantly in target segments like technology and life sciences.
- ADP TotalSource: Industry-leading PEO from ADP, the largest payroll company, offering co-employment, benefits, HR technology, and compliance services. Overlaps broadly with Aspen's offerings but at significantly larger scale and broader scope.
- Paychex PEO: PEO division of Paychex, a leading payroll and HR solutions provider, offering co-employment, benefits administration, and HR outsourcing to SMBs nationwide. Competes on scale and bundled payroll+PEO offering.
Direct peers
- Justworks: Tech-enabled PEO serving small and mid-sized businesses with payroll, benefits, HR compliance, and co-employment services. Competes directly for the same SMB/mid-market customer base, particularly startups and high-growth companies.
- VensureHR: PEO offering co-employment, payroll, benefits, and HR compliance services to SMB clients across multiple verticals. Comparable in size and service scope to Aspen with similar white-glove positioning.
- Engage PEO: Parent company and top 10 national PEO that acquired Aspen HR in December 2025. Both operate as IRS-Certified CPEOs offering co-employment, payroll, benefits, and HR compliance services to SMB and mid-market clients.
- Rippling: Unified HR, IT, and finance platform with PEO capabilities. Targets similar SMB and mid-market segments with a technology-first approach, including payroll, benefits administration, and HR compliance automation.
- Amplify PEO: PEO focused on providing HR solutions to small and mid-sized businesses with a service-intensive approach. Similar mid-market positioning to Aspen with comparable bundle of payroll, benefits, and compliance services.
- Sequoia One: PEO specialized in serving venture-backed startups and high-growth technology companies. Closest direct competitor to Aspen's PE/VC/alternative investment segment with similar focus on investor-backed clients.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Aspen HR social profiles
Digital presenceAspen HR compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance7 records
Aspen HR financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Aspen HR leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Aspen HR funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Aspen HR M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Aspen HR
What does Aspen HR do?
Aspen HR is an IRS-Certified Professional Employer Organization (CPEO) that provides white-glove co-employment HR outsourcing to SMB and mid-market companies. Its core offering bundles payroll processing and tax filing, employee benefits administration (medical, dental, vision, 401(k)), HR compliance and risk management, workers' compensation, and HR advisory services, delivered on the iSolved HRIS cloud platform. The firm has particular depth serving private equity, venture capital, and search fund portfolio companies across all 50 U.S. states.
Is Aspen HR a public or private company?
Aspen HR is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was Aspen HR founded?
Aspen HR was founded in 2017. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Aspen HR based?
Aspen HR is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Aspen HR make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. PEO/Co-Employer Services are the primary driver. The others are 401(k) Plan Administration and HR Compliance and Risk Management Services.
Who are Aspen HR's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Insperity, TriNet, ADP TotalSource and Paychex PEO. Direct peers are Justworks, VensureHR, Engage PEO, Rippling, Amplify PEO and Sequoia One.
Does Aspen HR have an API?
No public API is recorded for Aspen HR.
What industry is Aspen HR in?
Aspen HR's product category is Professional Employer Organization (PEO) Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACAHAJ, HRIS/HCM Implementation & EOR Platform Services, with a secondary code of BPACAKAC, HR Operations Administration (HRIS Admin, Records, Employee Data Mgmt). Its NAICS code is 561330 and its SIC code is 7361.