This matches with my recent (April) experience doing benefits shopping. I evaluated TriNet, JustWorks, Zenefits, and individual brokers. We decided to go with

This matches with my recent (April) experience doing benefits shopping. I evaluated TriNet, JustWorks, Zenefits, and individual brokers. We decided to go with a PEO for the same reasons. Not only is Zenefits just a broker, their quotes for insurance (which were MORE expensive for WORSE coverage) had a note at the bottom "These are just an estimate; prices subject to change based on <reasons> upon enrollment". TriNet and JustWorks gave me firm pricing, had historical data on price increases, and gave me a contract stating they wouldn't rise above X%. Zenefits gave me none of these. As a small business, our largest non-salary expense is benefits. The small price per employee per year for TriNet or JustWorks was more than paid for in cheaper, better benefits and peace of mind that I wasn't going to get HR sticker shock next year. Yes, Zenefits has a slick, nice web UI - TriNet's is terrible - but a) I hardly need to go into it and b) neither does anyone else.