Payrolling & Vendor Consolidation
Pass-through staffing services: already found the talent? We handle the rest.
Pass-Through Services, also called payrolling, lets you route a contractor you already sourced onto ApTask’s payroll. ApTask becomes the compliant employer of record, runs worker-classification checks at intake, publishes a flat margin of 10–20% of the bill rate before work begins, charges no recruitment fee, and has the worker on payroll within 3 business days for most US engagements.
What it is
What are pass-through (payrolling) services?
Pass-Through Services (also called payrolling) lets you route a contractor you already sourced onto ApTask’s payroll. We run worker-classification checks at intake, publish a flat margin before the engagement starts, and consolidate fragmented contingent vendors under one auditable umbrella.
How does pass-through compare with a recruited placement?
| Dimension | Pass-Through (you found the worker) | Strategic Workforce Staffing (ApTask recruits) |
|---|---|---|
| Who sources the worker | You | ApTask, from its authenticated network |
| Fee basis | A flat 10–20% of the bill rate, published before work begins; no recruitment fee | A fully loaded hourly bill rate with the underlying margin disclosed |
| Time to start | On payroll within 3 business days for most US engagements | A shortlist within 48 hours for contract roles |
| Converting to direct hire | Free after six months; a declining-ladder fee before that | The same mechanics: the fee steps down and reaches zero after six months |
| Classification and compliance | A multi-factor classification test documented at intake | Identity, employment-history and technical verification before submission |
Who it’s for
Who uses pass-through services?
- Recruiting teams and agencies with their own candidate network who don’t want to run payroll, benefits, or 1099-vs-W-2 classification themselves.
- Programs consolidating several small staffing vendors under one compliance-ready umbrella.
- Enterprises that need statutory benefits and workers’ compensation coverage handled per state without building it in-house.
- Anyone who wants the full bill-rate-to-take-home waterfall published before signing, with no back-end true-ups.
How it works
How does pass-through payrolling work?
- 01
Worker intake
You introduce the contractor; we run identity, work-eligibility, tax-form, and background checks where required. The worker is on our payroll inside 3 business days for most US engagements.
- 02
Locked rate card
A flat, transparent margin published before the engagement starts — no back-end true-ups, no admin surcharges. You see the full bill-rate-to-take-home waterfall before signing.
- 03
Compliant operations
Bi-weekly or monthly payroll, all statutory contributions, mandatory benefits, workers’ compensation, and employment-tax filing — handled. The worker sees one consistent paycheck; you see one consolidated invoice.
- 04
Audit-ready reporting
Every payroll cycle ships with a downloadable audit pack: hours, taxes, contributions, employer-of-record certifications, and worker-classification rationale — clean numbers for your internal audit team and your client’s vendor-management team.
Why it works
A flat margin, published up front.
- Single published margin — no admin tail fees, no surprise surcharges
- Flat
- Median time from worker intake to first-cycle compliant payroll
- 3d
- Countries where we can serve as the payroll vehicle
- 125+
- Typical contingent-vendor consolidation ratio under our umbrella
- 8→1
Don’t see your question? Book a 30-minute consultation and we’ll walk through it directly.
Frequently asked questions
What are pass-through services in staffing?
Pass-through (payrolling) is when you have already found a contractor and route them onto a vendor’s payroll for compliant employment. ApTask handles taxes, benefits, and workers’ comp at a flat margin published up front.
Who uses pass-through staffing services?
Recruiters and agencies with their own candidate network, and enterprises consolidating several small staffing vendors under one compliance umbrella, so worker classification and audits sit with one accountable partner.
What does ApTask handle in a pass-through arrangement?
Worker-classification review, payroll, statutory benefits, workers’ compensation, tax filing, and audit-ready reporting each cycle — the contractor relationship and rate stay yours.
Why use a payrolling vendor when I’ve already sourced the contractor?
Three reasons: worker-classification exposure from a misclassified 1099, audit consolidation under one vendor, and statutory benefits or workers’ comp coverage you would otherwise have to build state by state.
Can pass-through workers convert to direct hire?
Yes, using the same conversion mechanics as our standard contract staffing: free after six months of continuous engagement, with a declining-ladder fee before that.
How is the margin different from your normal staffing fee?
The pass-through margin is published as a flat percentage of the bill rate, typically 10–20% depending on engagement type — no recruitment fee, no back-end placement bonus. The worker is yours; we handle the employer-of-record mechanics.
Do pass-through workers get benefits?
They receive every statutorily required benefit in their jurisdiction — workers’ comp, unemployment insurance, statutory leave — plus access to our voluntary benefits marketplace (health, dental, vision, 401(k)) at their election, itemized separately and never bundled into your bill rate.
How do you handle 1099 vs. W-2 classification questions?
We run every intake through a multi-factor classification test — control, financial, and relationship — and document the rationale before the engagement starts. Roles that don’t cleanly support 1099 status are escalated and surfaced before any work begins.
More answers in the ApTask FAQ.
Related services
Often paired with this engagement.
Bring your contractor. We'll handle payroll and compliance.
Already sourced the contractor? Share the role, location, and start date. We'll return the classification path, flat margin, and a written proposal within 48 hours.