Scale your team with a PEO in Washington

Washington is a hub for innovation and growth, with no state income tax, a highly skilled workforce, and strong industries in tech, aerospace, and clean energy. Whether you’re a startup expanding across the Pacific northwest or an SMB ready to build a distributed team, managing HR, payroll, and compliance across state lines can quickly become overwhelming. That’s where a professional employer organization (PEO) can help.

What is a professional employer organization (PEO)?

A professional employer organization (PEO) is a third-party provider that helps businesses handle key HR functions. These typically include payroll, benefits administration, tax filings, and employment law compliance. With a PEO, your business enters into a co-employment relationship, meaning the PEO takes on the administrative and legal tasks related to employment — while you retain full control over day-to-day management of your team.

For small to midsize companies, a PEO can provide enterprise-grade HR services without the cost or complexity of building an in-house department.

PEO vs EOR: What’s the difference?

As mentioned, a PEO operates through a co-employment model, which requires your company to be registered and operating in Washington.

In contrast, an employer of record (EOR) acts as the legal employer on your behalf. EORs are typically used for hiring in states (or countries) where your business doesn’t yet have a legal presence. If you’re hiring your first employee in Washington and don’t yet have an entity or tax setup, an EOR may be a better fit initially.

Why use a PEO in Washington?

Working with a PEO in Washington offers several advantages, such as:

• Compliance with state employment laws and tax regulations
• Access to affordable, competitive employee benefits packages
• Reduced administrative burden around payroll and HR documentation
• Simplified onboarding, performance tracking, and employee offboarding
• Minimized risk around misclassification, workplace policies, and employee relations

Washington employers must also navigate unique state laws, including workers’ compensation requirements and specific tax obligations. Remote’s PEO helps you stay compliant while keeping your HR operations lean and efficient.

How to use a PEO in Washington

To partner with a PEO in Washington, your business must have a registered legal entity in the state. Once that’s in place, our PEO service takes on your HR administration tasks such as running payroll, administering benefits, and filing local and federal taxes.

Remote’s PEO services integrate seamlessly into your operations, whether you're hiring your fifth employee or your 50th. You maintain full control over how your team works while we handle the operational complexities behind the scenes.

Is a PEO right for your business?

If your company is legally established in Washington and you're looking for a scalable way to manage HR, a PEO is an ideal solution. You’ll gain access to expert support, reduce your compliance risk, and free up time to focus on growth.

If you're just entering Washington and don’t yet have a legal entity, consider starting with an EOR and transitioning to a PEO as you scale.

Streamline HR and payroll in Washington with Remote

Remote makes it easy to manage HR, payroll, and compliance across all 50 states. Learn more about our PEO services and how we can support your team’s growth in Washington.