Central

Central is a payroll, HR, benefits and compliance service for startups that is run by AI agents and HR experts rather than left to founders to operate through a dashboard. It registers the company in each state, runs payroll, files government forms, administers benefits and handles hiring, onboarding, paid time off and terminations, so the founder is not the one doing the administration. It is designed for early stage and fast growing companies in the United States. Coverage includes payroll and compliance across all 50 states, contractor payments, workers' compensation, state registrations, medical, dental and vision insurance, 401(k), and life and disability insurance, with a licensed insurance broker assigned to each customer. Onboarding includes migration from an existing provider, and human support is available around the clock without outsourcing. Native integrations cover QuickBooks and Puzzle, accountants get free access, and the service uses encryption and two factor authentication. Pricing is published as a single plan: $50 per person per month for everything, plus a $100 platform fee per month. The first month is free, pay runs are unlimited, there is no annual contract and no hidden fees, and customers can cancel at any time. Central has joined Mercury, the financial platform for startups, and its site now offers extra perks to customers who sign up through Mercury. Buyers who bank elsewhere should confirm how that affects onboarding and the integrations they rely on.