The time has finally come for you to expand your business across the border into Canada. To be successful, though, you know you need to assemble an all-star team of partners. They’ll help you address everything from employment management to taxes to business structure and more.

A professional employer organization (PEO) is top on your list of potential team players you need on your side. How do you know you’re hiring the best? You could guess, or you could use these tips to help you make the right pick.

Ask about the PEO’s Experience

For the last little while, you’ve been doing some research. Now you’re probably considering several different PEOs. You’ve looked at what they offer and maybe even started collecting some quotes. Now you need to narrow down the field.

You should always ask about the PEO’s experience. How long have they been in business, and how long have they operated in Canada? They should be able to tell you about the different industries they’ve worked in and how they’ve solved challenges for their clients.

Read Online Reviews

Another way to refine your list of candidates is to look for social proof. Which PEOs are people raving about? Customers may also be able to tell you which businesses to steer clear of.

Third-party reviews can be incredibly helpful. See if you can find rankings offered by a trustworthy source.

Reading these reviews can also offer you some insight into the common challenges businesses face when they work with a PEO. By knowing these issues, you can work to avoid the same problems before you sign on the dotted line.

Talk to the PEO

Another key task to take care of is actually communicating with each of the professional employer organizations you’re considering.

Having a conversation, whether it’s face-to-face or over the phone, can give you a better sense of the company’s values. It also helps you evaluate their customer service.

If the agents you speak to are friendly and helpful, you can probably expect to develop a good relationship with the PEO’s team. If, on the other hand, they’re difficult to get a hold of, can’t answer questions, or don’t seem all that enthusiastic about getting your business, you might want to re-evaluate your choice.

Consider Value Instead of Price

For most business owners, price is a point of concern when it comes to hiring a PEO. However, one study shows 53 percent of consumers value quality over price. Choosing the highest-priced option doesn’t always guarantee quality, and going with the lowest price point isn’t always the right move either.

Instead, you should give some thought to the value of any PEO’s proposal. What services are you getting? What kind of support does the organization offer? How much time or money will the PEO’s assistance save you?

If it’s possible, try to assign dollar values to your savings. It’s easier to see the value of a proposal if you have some hard numbers in front of you. If you know working with the PEO will save your team 10 hours a week on payroll, you can then quantify that in terms of dollar savings.

Low-priced options may not offer you as much as you think they do. High-priced services can seem appealing, but they might not provide exactly what you require. Carefully think about your business’s needs to determine what any proposal is worth to you.

Ask about Their Technology

Another thing you’ll want to ask PEOs before you sign up is what technology they’re using. Are they using tomorrow’s solutions so they can continue to offer you better options? Are they ready to grow and expand with your business?

Asking these questions will help you determine the best PEO fit for your business. Having the right partners on your side is key to a successful expansion into Canada.