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Independent Review

Stratus HR Review 2026

Founder-owned Utah PEO serving small and mid-size employers in all 50 states

Founded: 1999·Best for: 5–500+ employees (sweet spot: 20–150)·Per-employee-per-month, quoted per client

Our take

Stratus HR is a credible regional pick for Utah and Mountain West employers who want an HR partner they can reach by name instead of a national call center. Their local employment-law depth is real, they will quote industries that the startup-focused PEOs turn away, and the retention numbers they publish suggest clients stay. The tradeoff is credentials: without CPEO certification or ESAC accreditation, buyers do not get the federal sole-liability tax shift or the independent financial assurance that peers of similar size carry, and we flag that explicitly for any CFO who asks. We also push for a benefits comparison against a larger master plan before recommending them to multi-state buyers.

What Stratus HR does well

  • Deep Utah employment-law expertise with 25+ years in the local market
  • Licensed nationally: serves clients in all 50 states from a single Utah base
  • Dedicated HR consultants backed by CPA, CPP, SPHR and SHRM-certified staff
  • Publishes a 99% client retention rate, unusually high for the segment
  • Writes both blue-collar and white-collar industries that startup-focused PEOs decline

Watch-outs and limitations

  • Not on the IRS CPEO list
  • Not ESAC accredited
  • Smaller scale than national PEOs means thinner master medical plan leverage
  • No published pricing and no public worksite-employee count

✓ Best for

Utah and Mountain West SMBs (10–250 employees)

Employers wanting a named HR consultant rather than a ticket queue

Mixed blue- and white-collar workforces

Companies replacing a payroll-only vendor with bundled HR

⚠ Not ideal for

Buyers who require IRS CPEO certification

Buyers who require ESAC accreditation

Tech-first companies wanting a Rippling-style platform

Companies needing international hiring

Our ratings

Technology platform3/5
Service quality4/5
Benefits access3/5
Compliance depth3/5

Quick facts

Founded
1999
Pricing model
Per-employee-per-month, quoted per client
Typical cost
Quoted per client; not published
Best company size
5–500+ employees
Contract flexibility
Annual agreements typical; confirm notice and exit terms in the CSA

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