MoatScopeMoatScope

Professional & Business Services

Consulting, staffing, HR/payroll, research and government services.

Companies
126
With a moat
30%
Average quality
34
7 wide moat · 29 narrow moat · 85 no moat · Open in screener →
Updated 27 Sep 2026

Professional & Business Services covers payroll and HR services, information and analytics providers, testing and certification, consulting, staffing and government services. MoatScope covers 120 companies here. Six have a wide moat, 27 a narrow moat and 85 none.

How the industry makes money

The strongest businesses earn recurring fees for services that clients build into their operations: running payroll, supplying legal and risk data, processing financial communications, or certifying products as safe.

Where the moats are

Switching costs appear in 29 of the 33 moat-rated companies and intangible assets in 19.

  • ADP: payroll and HR services that clients rarely switch once employees and compliance run through them.
  • RELX and Thomson Reuters: legal, tax, scientific and risk information that is hard to replicate and built into professionals' daily work.
  • Verisk: insurance data and analytics that improve as insurers contribute more data.
  • Broadridge: processing and communications services embedded in the financial industry's infrastructure.
  • UL Solutions: product safety testing and certification behind the widely recognized UL Mark.

The narrow-moat group includes Paychex, Leidos, CACI, Booz Allen Hamilton and SAIC. Companies without a moat include Robert Half, Andersen and CBIZ. Verisk scores 80 on MoatScope's quality scale and ADP 76.

What wears moats down

Staffing and consulting demand follows the economy, government contractors depend on budget decisions, and automation can reduce the need for routine services.

What to watch

  • Employment trends.
  • Government contract awards.
  • Renewal rates for data and information subscriptions.

Moat ratings and quality scores on this page update as companies report. Price versus fair value for every company in the industry is in the screener.

Markets

MoatScope splits Professional & Business Services into 4 markets. Each table ranks the businesses in one market by revenue and shows each one's share of the market's total: companies filed under this industry, the segments of companies filed elsewhere that compete in it, and the largest companies MoatScope doesn't cover, such as private companies and companies listed outside the US. Each market's total comes from a cited source and covers the geography its businesses compete in (a national market counts only US revenue). A company that runs several businesses is split by the segments it reports.

Staffing & HR outsourcing

Staffing agencies, payroll and HR outsourcing.

Global market · $639.0B total revenue in 2025 · source: Staffing Industry Analysts. Shares are of the whole market, including companies MoatScope doesn't cover; company revenue is for the fiscal year closest to 2025. Payroll and PEO providers (ADP, Paychex, TriNet, Insperity) earn fees rather than staffing billings, so their shares read low.

#BusinessMarket shareRevenue
1Randstad
Listed outside the US (Euronext Amsterdam) · SIA
3.6%$23.0B
2Adecco Group
Listed outside the US (SIX) · SIA
3.5%$22.4B
3ADP · AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING INC3.2%$20.6B
4MAN · ManpowerGroup Inc.2.8%$18.0B
5Allegis Group
Private · SIA
1.8%$11.5B
6Recruit Holdings (Indeed, Staffmark)
Listed outside the US (TSE) · SIA
1.7%$10.9B
7NSP · INSPERITY, INC.1.1%$6.8B
8PAYX · PAYCHEX INC1.0%$6.5B
9Aya Healthcare
Private · SIA
1.0%$6.4B
10TNET · TRINET GROUP, INC.0.8%$5.0B
All other companies76.6%$489.5B

Government services

IT, engineering and consulting services for governments.

US market · $487.0B total revenue in 2025 · source: FEDweek. Shares are of the whole market, including companies MoatScope doesn't cover; company revenue is for the fiscal year closest to 2025. US federal contract obligations for services (GAO), not contractor revenue.

#BusinessMarket shareRevenue
1LDOS · Leidos Holdings, Inc.
US revenue
3.2%$15.7B
2BAH · Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp2.3%$11.2B
3AMTM · Amentum Holdings, Inc.
US revenue
2.2%$10.7B
4CACI · CACI INTERNATIONAL INC /DE/1.8%$8.6B
5SAIC · Science Applications International Corp1.5%$7.3B
6KBR · KBR, INC.1.1%$5.6B
7MMS · MAXIMUS, INC.1.1%$5.4B
8PSN · PARSONS CORP
US revenue
1.0%$4.7B
9ICFI · ICF International, Inc.
US revenue
0.4%$1.7B
All other companies85.4%$416.0B

Information & analytics services

Data, research, ratings and analytics sold by subscription.

10 businesses MoatScope covers, ranked by revenue. No reliable figure for this market's total yet, so shares aren't shown.

#BusinessRevenue
1RELX · RELX PLC$8.2B
2TRI · THOMSON REUTERS CORP /CAN/$7.5B
3IT · GARTNER INC$5.9B
4BR · BROADRIDGE FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS, INC.$5.1B
5NIQ · NIQ Global Intelligence plc$4.2B
6VRSK · Verisk Analytics, Inc.$3.1B
7ULS · UL Solutions Inc.$3.1B
8CLVT · CLARIVATE PLC$2.5B
9FA · FIRST ADVANTAGE CORP$1.6B
10FORR · FORRESTER RESEARCH, INC.$397M

Consulting & business outsourcing

Management consulting, outsourcing and other business services.

Global market · $580.0B total revenue in 2025 · source: Consultancy.org · rough estimate. Shares are of the whole market, including companies MoatScope doesn't cover; company revenue is for the fiscal year closest to 2025. Management consulting plus business process outsourcing worldwide, from market-research estimates.

#BusinessMarket shareRevenue
1PwC (Advisory)4.2%$24.3B
2EY (Consulting + Strategy and Transactions)3.9%$22.6B
3Teleperformance (TP)
Listed outside the US (Euronext Paris) · TP press release
1.9%$11.0B
4CNXC · Concentrix Corp1.7%$9.8B
5G · Genpact LTD0.9%$5.1B
6FCN · FTI CONSULTING, INC0.7%$3.8B
7CNDT · CONDUENT Inc0.5%$3.0B
8CBZ · CBIZ, Inc.0.5%$2.8B
9ALIT · Alight, Inc. / Delaware0.4%$2.3B
10EXLS · ExlService Holdings, Inc.0.4%$2.1B
All other companies81.5%$472.9B

Companies

CompanyMoatQualityMarket
ADP
AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING INC
Wide76Staffing & HR outsourcing3.2%$114.0B
RELX
RELX PLC
Wide71Information & analytics services
+ 1 other market
—$64.8B
PAYX
PAYCHEX INC
Narrow72Staffing & HR outsourcing1.0%$39.4B
TRI
THOMSON REUTERS CORP /CAN/
Wide65Information & analytics services—$38.5B
VRSK
Verisk Analytics, Inc.
Wide80Information & analytics services—$24.6B
BR
BROADRIDGE FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS, INC.
Wide64Information & analytics services
+ 1 other market
—$20.0B
LDOS
Leidos Holdings, Inc.
Narrow53Government services3.2%$15.8B
ULS
UL Solutions Inc.
Wide73Information & analytics services—$14.7B
CACI
CACI INTERNATIONAL INC /DE/
Narrow47Government services1.8%$13.6B
IT
GARTNER INC
Wide64Information & analytics services
+ 1 other market
—$13.1B
BAH
Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp
Narrow57Government services2.3%$8.9B
ANDG
Andersen Group Inc.
None30Consulting & business outsourcing0.1%$6.6B
EXLS
ExlService Holdings, Inc.
Narrow68Consulting & business outsourcing0.4%$6.0B
G
Genpact LTD
Narrow64Consulting & business outsourcing0.9%$5.7B
SAIC
Science Applications International Corp
Narrow45Government services1.5%$5.6B
NIQ
NIQ Global Intelligence plc
Narrow28Information & analytics services—$5.5B
MBGL
S&P Global Mobility Holding Co
Narrow56Consulting & business outsourcing—$5.4B
PL
Planet Labs PBC
Narrow37Consulting & business outsourcing<0.1%$4.9B
AMTM
Amentum Holdings, Inc.
Narrow38Government services2.2%$4.8B
PSN
PARSONS CORP
Narrow48Government services1.0%$4.7B
KBR
KBR, INC.
Narrow44Government services
+ 1 other market
1.1%$4.7B
FCN
FTI CONSULTING, INC
Narrow53Consulting & business outsourcing0.7%$4.1B
KFY
KORN FERRY
Narrow60Staffing & HR outsourcing0.5%$3.9B
EXPO
EXPONENT INC
Narrow68Consulting & business outsourcing0.1%$3.4B
RHI
ROBERT HALF INC.
None37Staffing & HR outsourcing
+ 1 other market
0.5%$3.4B
FA
FIRST ADVANTAGE CORP
Narrow42Information & analytics services—$3.3B
MMS
MAXIMUS, INC.
Narrow50Government services1.1%$3.2B
TNET
TRINET GROUP, INC.
Narrow50Staffing & HR outsourcing0.8%$3.2B
CBZ
CBIZ, Inc.
None34Consulting & business outsourcing0.5%$3.0B
HURN
Huron Consulting Group Inc.
None41Consulting & business outsourcing0.3%$2.8B
MAN
ManpowerGroup Inc.
None24Staffing & HR outsourcing2.8%$1.9B
TIC
TIC Solutions, Inc.
None19Consulting & business outsourcing0.3%$1.9B
NSP
INSPERITY, INC.
None19Staffing & HR outsourcing1.1%$1.9B
INOD
INNODATA INC
None54Consulting & business outsourcing<0.1%$1.9B
CNXC
Concentrix Corp
None29Consulting & business outsourcing1.7%$1.7B
CLVT
CLARIVATE PLC
Narrow40Information & analytics services—$1.7B
ICFI
ICF International, Inc.
None42Government services0.4%$1.6B
DFIN
Donnelley Financial Solutions, Inc.
Narrow52Consulting & business outsourcing0.1%$1.3B
WLDN
Willdan Group, Inc.
None39Consulting & business outsourcing0.1%$1.1B
CRAI
CRA INTERNATIONAL, INC.
None41Consulting & business outsourcing0.1%$1.1B
LZ
LEGALZOOM.COM, INC.
None42Consulting & business outsourcing0.1%$1.1B
UPWK
UPWORK, INC
Narrow59Consulting & business outsourcing0.1%$1.1B
FBYD
Falcon's Beyond Global, Inc.
None18Consulting & business outsourcing<0.1%$1.0B
BZ
Kanzhun Ltd
Narrow64Consulting & business outsourcing0.2%$913M
KFRC
KFORCE INC
None47Staffing & HR outsourcing0.2%$904M
RHLD
Resolute Holdings Management, Inc.
None56Consulting & business outsourcing<0.1%$861M
KELYB
KELLY SERVICES INC
None23Staffing & HR outsourcing0.7%$778M
BBSI
BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES INC
None39Staffing & HR outsourcing0.2%$770M
TASK
TaskUs, Inc.
None50Consulting & business outsourcing0.2%$754M
BKSY
BlackSky Technology Inc.
None13Consulting & business outsourcing<0.1%$701M
MG
Mistras Group, Inc.
None32Consulting & business outsourcing0.1%$683M
IBEX
IBEX Ltd
None50Consulting & business outsourcing<0.1%$607M
ONT
Onterris, Inc.
None30Consulting & business outsourcing0.1%$485M
VRRM
VERRA MOBILITY Corp
Narrow63Consulting & business outsourcing<0.1%$427M
SPIR
Spire Global, Inc.
None30Consulting & business outsourcing<0.1%$355M
FVRR
Fiverr International Ltd.
Narrow48Consulting & business outsourcing<0.1%$328M
PPHC
Public Policy Holding Company, Inc.
None14Consulting & business outsourcing<0.1%$297M
EFTY
ETOILES CAPITAL GROUP CO., LTD
None21Consulting & business outsourcing<0.1%$287M
EGG
ENIGMATIG LTD
None31Consulting & business outsourcing<0.1%$280M
RCMT
RCM TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
None45Staffing & HR outsourcing<0.1%$270M
TBI
TrueBlue, Inc.
None24Staffing & HR outsourcing0.3%$248M
HQI
HireQuest, Inc.
None47Staffing & HR outsourcing<0.1%$241M
FORR
FORRESTER RESEARCH, INC.
Narrow35Information & analytics services—$223M
CNDT
CONDUENT Inc
None13Consulting & business outsourcing0.5%$215M
ALIT
Alight, Inc. / Delaware
Narrow29Consulting & business outsourcing0.4%$214M
ASUR
ASURE SOFTWARE INC
Narrow47Government services—$203M
FC
FRANKLIN COVEY CO
None38Consulting & business outsourcing<0.1%$202M
PHCI
Panamera Holdings Corp
None9Consulting & business outsourcing<0.1%$169M
AUC
ATIF Holdings Ltd
None14Consulting & business outsourcing<0.1%$151M
MACI
Melar Acquisition Corp. I/Cayman
None1Consulting & business outsourcing—$105M
GLAI
Global AI, Inc.
None13Consulting & business outsourcing<0.1%$103M
RGP
RESOURCES CONNECTION, INC.
None25Consulting & business outsourcing<0.1%$88M
TTEC
TTEC Holdings, Inc.
None26Staffing & HR outsourcing0.3%$80M
GFLT
GenFlat Holdings, Inc.
None16Consulting & business outsourcing<0.1%$78M
MHH
Mastech Digital, Inc.
None33Consulting & business outsourcing<0.1%$75M
CYCU
Cycurion, Inc.
None7Consulting & business outsourcing<0.1%$56M
DLHC
DLH Holdings Corp.
None29Staffing & HR outsourcing<0.1%$55M
TETEF
Technology & Telecommunication Acquisition Corp
None6Consulting & business outsourcing—$46M
BGSF
BGSF, INC.
None26Staffing & HR outsourcing<0.1%$44M
AERT
Aeries Technology, Inc.
None25Consulting & business outsourcing<0.1%$40M
FOFO
Hang Feng Technology Innovation Co., Ltd.
None15Consulting & business outsourcing<0.1%$40M
YOUL
Youlife Group Inc.
None25Consulting & business outsourcing<0.1%$40M
CIRC
CIRCLE8 GROUP INC
None13Staffing & HR outsourcing<0.1%$39M
STRR
Star Equity Holdings, Inc.
None27Staffing & HR outsourcing<0.1%$37M
IPDN
Professional Diversity Network, Inc.
None19Consulting & business outsourcing<0.1%$36M
LICN
Lichen International Ltd
None24Consulting & business outsourcing<0.1%$30M
JOB
GEE Group Inc.
None19Staffing & HR outsourcing<0.1%$23M
ACCL
Acco Group Holdings Ltd
None72Consulting & business outsourcing<0.1%$20M
EPOW
E-Power Inc.
None13Consulting & business outsourcing<0.1%$20M
ZTG
Zenta Group Co Ltd
None47Consulting & business outsourcing<0.1%$20M
SFCX
SUPA Consolidated Inc.
None13Consulting & business outsourcing—$12M
YFOR
YYForce Inc.
—17Staffing & HR outsourcing<0.1%$10M
PDC
Perpetuals.com Ltd
None16Consulting & business outsourcing<0.1%$8M
BDTB
Bodhi Tree Biotechnology Inc
None8Consulting & business outsourcing<0.1%$7M
QUTX
Quantum X Inc.
—16Consulting & business outsourcing—$7M
NIXX
Nixxy, Inc.
None18Consulting & business outsourcing<0.1%$7M
BRKK
Barentsz Capital Ltd
None41Consulting & business outsourcing<0.1%$5M
APGH
AleeanPeace Group Holdings Ltd
None14Consulting & business outsourcing—$5M
BIYA
Baiya International Group Inc.
None12Staffing & HR outsourcing<0.1%$4M
SRCO
SPARTA COMMERCIAL SERVICES, INC.
None9Consulting & business outsourcing<0.1%$4M

Showing the 100 largest of 126.

Market share is a company's revenue in its main market (Market column) as a share of that market's total: every company in it, including private companies and companies listed outside the US (sources under each market above). Revenue is for the fiscal year closest to 2025, and a market that is national (such as US banking) counts only US revenue. Companies that run several businesses are split by the segments they report, and each segment counts in its own market. A dash means the market has no reliable total yet, or no revenue was reported for that year.

  • † Bryn Inc.: Counted under BRRN.

Price versus fair value for every company is in the screener.

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