What Total Solutions does

Total Solutions is a Quad Cities-based (Davenport, Iowa) privately held firm that delivers outsourced back-office services to small businesses and nonprofit organizations in the United States. Its core offering spans five integrated service lines: Accounting (bookkeeping, accounts payable/receivable, financial reporting, software selection), HR Management (compliance, handbooks, onboarding, performance management), Payroll (payroll processing, direct deposit, tax filing, time tracking), Marketing (strategy, branding, social media, digital advertising, web design), and PEO (Professional Employer Organization co-employment model delivering enterprise-grade benefits, workers' compensation, and HR technology). The PEO services are powered by the iSolved cloud-based HR and payroll platform, which handles payroll automation, time-and-attendance, benefits administration, onboarding/offboarding workflows, and compliance reporting.

The business operates a consultative, sales-led go-to-market anchored in the Quad Cities region (Iowa/Illinois) with national reach. Pricing is custom and quote-based with monthly billing; services are sold as bundled or standalone engagements. Revenue streams are predominantly recurring — PEO co-employment fees, subscription-based accounting, and payroll processing — supplemented by project-based marketing work and standalone HR consulting. The company claims 100+ customers, 50+ net new clients in the past two years, and 85% retention, with named logos spanning nonprofits (John Deere Classic, Better Health Foundation, Quad City Botanical Center), manufacturing (Voss Pattern, Sandstrom Coating Technologies), hospitality, retail, and professional services.

Operations are supported by a team of approximately 7-16 people (sources vary), led by CEO Aaron Tennant, President Kristin Berry (ex-Quad Cities Chamber), and CFO Ray Cotty, with dedicated Directors of Accounting and HR. Strategic partnerships — iSolved (technology), Marsh McLennan Agency (benefits), SUNZ (workers' compensation, March 2025), and TransAmerica (401(k) MEP) — form the curated ecosystem that lets a small team deliver enterprise-grade HR infrastructure to small-business clients. The firm holds the 2022 Better Business Bureau Torch Award for Ethics and has no disclosed outside funding, parent company, or M&A activity.

Name

Total Solutions

Legal name

Total Solutions

Website

https://totalsolutionsus.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Total Solutions is a Quad Cities-based outsourced business services firm providing integrated accounting, HR, payroll, marketing, and PEO co-employment services to small businesses and nonprofit organizations across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Employer Organization (PEO) and outsourced business services

NAICS

Professional Employer Organizations (561330), Professional Employer Organizations (56133), Office Administrative Services (5611)

SIC

Services-Management Services (8741), Services-Computer Processing & Data Preparation (7374), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Professional Employer Organization (PEO) / Co-Employment Services (BPACAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Payroll Software & Payroll-as-a-Service (SaaS) (BPACAIAB), HR Service Delivery & Employee Contact Centers (HR Helpdesk) (BPACAKAI), Benefits Administration & Total Rewards Outsourcing (BPACAKAE), Core HR & HRIS (BPACAPAA), Accounts Payable (Invoice Processing, 2/3-Way Match, Vendor Payments) (BPAAAGAA)

Keywords

• Outsourced business services
• Professional employer organization
• Small business payroll
• Bookkeeping and accounting services
• Human resources consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Davenport

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. PEO/Co-Employment Services: Professional Employer Organization services where Total Solutions becomes co-employer of client's workforce, handling HR functions, benefits administration, payroll processing, and compliance. Revenue generated through service fees typically based on employee count or a percentage of payroll.
2. Standalone Accounting Services: Bookkeeping, accounting software selection, accounts payable/receivable, monthly close, financial statement preparation, and interim accounting assistance. May be bundled or sold as separate retainer arrangement.
3. Standalone HR Consulting: Human resources consulting services including employee handbooks, onboarding assistance, unemployment claims, job descriptions, performance management. Sold as consulting engagements or retainer.
4. Payroll Processing Services: End-to-end payroll services including paycheck calculation, direct deposit, tax filing, and year-end reporting. May be sold as standalone or bundled with PEO.
5. Marketing Services: Marketing strategy, brand development, social media management, digital advertising, content generation, web design/development. Offered as project-based, retainer, or pay-as-you-go arrangements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Total Solutions is an outsourced business services firm that delivers accounting, HR management, payroll, marketing, and Professional Employer Organization (PEO) co-employment services to U.S. small businesses and nonprofit organizations. Service delivery is supported by the iSolved cloud HR/payroll platform and is tailored to each client, with the option to work onsite or remotely using the client's own software or recommended alternatives.

Product overview

Total Solutions is a Quad Cities-based outsourced business services firm offering a unified portfolio of interconnected services for small businesses. The core offering spans five service lines: Accounting (bookkeeping, accounts payable/receivable, financial reporting, and software selection), HR Management (compliance consulting, employee handbooks, onboarding, performance management), Payroll Services (payroll processing, direct deposit, tax document generation, time tracking), Marketing Services (strategy, branding, social media, digital advertising, content, web design), and PEO (Professional Employer Organization providing co-employment with access to enterprise-level benefits, workers compensation, compliance, and HR technology). The PEO services leverage the iSolved cloud platform for payroll processing, time and attendance, HR data management, benefits administration, and onboarding/offboarding workflows. The marketing division additionally produces specialized creative services including branding, print materials, social media content, and website design. All services are delivered with a customer-service orientation, with the ability to work onsite or remotely using the client's existing tools or recommending new software.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Accounting Services Full-service accounting for small businesses, including bookkeeping, accounts payable and accounts receivable, monthly close, balance sheet and income statement preparation, break-even analysis, budgeting, cash flow forecasting, and coordination with auditors, tax preparers, and lenders. Also includes accounting software selection and implementation assistance.
• HR Management Human resources consulting covering compliance, employee handbooks and policies, onboarding assistance, unemployment claims navigation, job description development, and performance management including disciplinary action, year-end reviews, and manager training.
• Payroll Services End-to-end payroll processing with direct deposit and live check options, electronic employee portals for paystub and benefit information access, W-2 tax form generation, tax preparation and reporting (including PPP loan reporting), and time tracking integration with various time-keeping systems.
• PEO (Professional Employer Organization) Comprehensive PEO services providing a co-employment model for small businesses with access to big-business benefits, HR management, payroll platform, workers' compensation, compliance and risk management, and employee resources.
• Employee Benefits & Administration Benefits enrollment and ongoing administration including medical, dental, and vision insurance, health savings accounts (HSA), telemedicine, employee assistance program (EAP), 401(k) through multi-employer plan, short- and long-term disability, identity theft protection, life insurance, and employee discounts via iSolved.
• Workers' Compensation & Risk Management Workers' compensation claim management, return-to-work programs, OSHA compliance support, workplace safety assessments, incident prevention strategies, and emergency preparedness planning, offered through partnership with SUNZ insurance.
• Compliance & Training Employment law compliance, harassment and discrimination prevention training, leadership and employee development programs, ongoing workplace training, and performance management support to ensure regulatory compliance.
• HR Technology (iSolved platform) Cloud-based HR and payroll technology platform (iSolved) providing payroll processing with automated tax filings, time and attendance tracking, HR data and employee management, benefits administration, digital onboarding and offboarding workflows, and compliance reporting tools.
• Marketing Services Marketing strategy and consultation, brand assessment and development, social media management, digital advertising (email, SEO, Google PPC, landing pages, video, social ads), content generation, marketing project management, and web design and development for small businesses on a pay-as-you-go basis.
• Website Design & Development Custom website design and development services from landing pages to full-scale sites, using the WordPress platform for user-friendly content management and updates.
• Social Media Services Social media content creation and management, including strategic ad campaigns, everyday content design, Google profile management, and promotional posts across various platforms.
• Branding Services Logo design, logo refresh, and complete brand system development including brand guides, messaging frameworks, and visual identity creation for various clients.

Quantifiable outcome

• Small businesses using PEO services grow 7-9% faster, have 10-14% lower employee turnover, and are 50% less likely to fail
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SUNZcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2025Partnership formed March 2025 to offer competitive workers' compensation insurance to PEO clients. SUNZ provides workers' comp coverage that Total Solutions bundles into their PEO service offering, enabling more competitive rates for small business clients.
• Marsh McLellan Agency (MMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBenefits administration managed through the world's largest insurance broker. This partnership provides Total Solutions access to comprehensive and competitive benefits packages for PEO clients by leveraging MMA's scale and carrier relationships.
• TransAmericaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-Employer Plan partnership for 401(k) administration. Total Solutions works with TransAmerica to place client companies in their MEP, providing competitive 401(k) rates and fiduciary support without requiring individual plan management.
• iSolvedcoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology platform partner providing cloud-based HR and payroll system. iSolved powers Total Solutions' HR technology services including payroll processing, time tracking, benefits administration, and compliance reporting.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• BBSI (Barrett Business Services): BBSI is a publicly traded PEO and staffing company providing payroll, HR, benefits, workers' comp, and risk management to SMBs. It is a direct comparable to Total Solutions' PEO/co-employment service line, with a longer operating history and broader geographic footprint.
• G&A Partners: G&A Partners is a mid-sized PEO providing HR outsourcing, payroll, benefits, and risk management to SMBs. Similar business model and target customer profile to Total Solutions, with a multi-region footprint that represents a plausible growth trajectory.
• Vensure Employer Services: Vensure is a privately held PEO delivering payroll, benefits, HR, workers' comp, and compliance to small businesses nationwide. Closely comparable to Total Solutions' PEO service line, with similar target market and co-employment model.
• FrankCrum: FrankCrum is a PEO and staffing firm offering payroll, benefits, HR, and workers' comp to SMBs. Similar multi-service model and SMB focus to Total Solutions, though operating with a larger geographic and employee footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Insperity: Insperity is a large publicly traded PEO offering co-employment, benefits administration, HR technology, and payroll to mid-sized and growing businesses. It is a broader incumbent with overlapping service lines but operates at significantly greater scale and national reach.
• TriNet: TriNet is a large PEO serving small and mid-sized businesses with HR, payroll, benefits, and compliance services. Comparable to Total Solutions on the PEO service model but at substantially larger scale and broader technology platform investment.
• ADP TotalSource: ADP TotalSource is the PEO division of ADP, offering co-employment, benefits, HR, payroll, and compliance to SMBs. Represents the largest-scale direct competitor, with technology and carrier leverage no small PEO can match.
• Paychex PEO (Paycor): Paychex is a national payroll and HR services company with PEO capabilities (following the Paycor acquisition) serving small and mid-sized businesses. Comparable on payroll and HR outsourcing, with substantially greater scale and proprietary technology.

Emerging players

• Pilot.com: Pilot is a tech-enabled bookkeeping, accounting, and CFO services firm for startups and small businesses. Comparable to Total Solutions' Accounting service line in target customer and outsourced delivery model, though operating in a different segment and geography.

Regional players

• Tandem HR: Tandem HR is a Midwest-based PEO providing payroll, benefits, HR, and risk management to small businesses. Closely comparable regional PEO with similar SMB focus and co-employment model, though operating across a broader Midwest footprint.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/totalsolutionsus
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/totalsolutionsus

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Total Solutions