We've Been Where You Are
Like you, we’ve sat at our desks, staring at PEO options that simply didn’t understand our small business – options that felt too corporate & rigid for people running a small business. So we decided to build something different.
We Put Small Businesses First.
EssentL was bom when our founders, successful creators and business people themselves, got tired of traditional providers’ red tape and service models.
We believe small businesses deserve the same level of attention and service as bigger businesses. Because what you’re building matters.
Meet The Humans Behind EssentL
Crystal Jackson
Founder & Chief Creator
Before essentL, Crystal was juggling life as a content creator and former Intel engineer. She knows firsthand the struggle of finding insurance that actually works for creators, because she couldn’t find it herself. Her frustration became our mission.
Chris Jackson
Founder & CEO
Jack Pachacz
COO/CFO
Dawn Scarfo
Head of HR & Product
Avi Ghandi
Head of Growth
Having led creator partnerships at both WME and Patreon, Avi has a rare perspective on what creators need to succeed. He’s been the bridge between creators and opportunities throughout his career, now he’s building that bridge to better protection.
John Komadina
Head of Sales
John’s spent 8 years championing small business’s best-kept secret: the PEO. He’s helped hundreds of companies—big and small—stay focused on growth while HR, payroll, and benefits get handled. Off the clock, he’s playing zone defense with three kids under 3.
Kristoph Oedman
Marketing Advisor
Kristoph is the former Director of Marketing at Zynga and founder of Designteam the top fractional marketing & design agency for startups.
What We're Building
Imagine having all the protection and services you need in one place. And imagine getting it all at prices previously available only to big companies with hundreds of employees. That’s EssentL – your PEO partner with corporate-quality benefits at small business-friendly prices. One connected plan that grows with you.
HR Services
HR compliance and payroll simplified – built for business owners focused on their core mission, not paperwork.
- HR Services
- Payroll Services
- HR Compliance
- Payroll Tax Compliance
EmployeeBenefits
High-quality benefit plans – providing small business employees and families with the same protection as large corporations.
- Time Tracking
- Employee Benefits
- Health, dental & vision
- Life & AD&D
- Accident, Critical Illness & Hospitalization
Risk Management
Workers’ comp coverage, compliance, and support that scales with your payroll—without the drama.
- 401(k)
- Risk Management
- Pay As You Go Workers' Comp
- Annual Audits
- OSHA Guidance
- Claims Administration
Join Us
EssentL is ready to serve you and your small business.
Join us and get access to payroll, HR, premium employee benefits and workers’ comp, all built for small businesses like you.
Start today and get the service you deserve