Engage PEO Acquires ASM PEO in Florida
The deal marks Engage PEO's 10th acquisition since 2022, expanding its footprint across Florida and the Southeast.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Healthcare
Fort Lauderdale-based Engage PEO has acquired Lutz-based ASM PEO, which provides payroll, employee benefits, and workers' compensation services to small and midsize businesses in Florida and the Southeast. Engage will absorb ASM PEO's client base and team, and financial terms were not disclosed.
Why it matters
The acquisition extends Engage PEO's reach in a state that accounts for a significant share of the professional employer organization market. It adds clients concentrated in hospitality, food service, and construction to the company's existing book of business.
The acquisition is Engage PEO's 10th since 2022, against a national pool of about 233,000 U.S. businesses using a PEO, of which Florida holds roughly 18% of clients. Purchase price and the size of ASM PEO's client roster were not disclosed.
The players
Engage PEO
Fort Lauderdale-based professional employer organization providing human resources, payroll, benefits, and compliance outsourcing to small and mid-sized businesses.
ASM PEO
Lutz-based professional employer organization serving small and midsize businesses in Florida and the Southeast since its founding in 2002.
Jay Starkman
Founder of Engage PEO, who established the company in 2011 and has led its expansion through a series of acquisitions.
The details
Engage PEO announced the acquisition on Thursday, with ASM PEO's clients and team transitioning to Engage. ASM PEO was founded in 2002 and Engage PEO in 2011 by Jay Starkman, and Engage recently earned a place on the Inc. 5000 list for the tenth time.
Timeline
2022: Engage PEO began its acquisition run, including Florida deals for Innovative Employer Solutions in St. Petersburg and CEOHR in Sarasota.
December 2025: Engage PEO acquired San Francisco-based Aspen HR.
November 5, 2026: Engage PEO announced the acquisition of ASM PEO.
Market Landscape
Engage PEO's Florida deals since 2022, starting with Innovative Employer Solutions and CEOHR, follow a consolidation pattern in the state's PEO market. The ASM PEO acquisition continues that approach by folding a regional provider into a larger platform.
Small and midsize Florida employers using ASM PEO will have their payroll, benefits, and workers' compensation services handled by Engage PEO. Financial terms were not disclosed, so any change in pricing or service tiers for those clients has not been announced.
The takeaway
Consolidation among PEOs can simplify HR administration for small businesses, but clients should watch for changes to service terms after an acquisition closes. Reviewing a provider's contract and benefits details after a merger is a practical step for any employer.
Further reading
For more on the sector, see Healthcare coverage of Florida's business services market.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Business Observer.
