Middle-market leaders are under pressure to perform, not just cut costs. Rising insurance and benefits expenses, pricing complexity, workforce demands, and technology change are forcing businesses to rethink how performance is delivered across core operations. This page brings together practical insight and applied strategies to help organizations improve operational performance, align cost structure with business goals, and build capacity for sustainable growth.
2026 Market Outlook
Key Benefits, Risks, & Workforce Trends
Decisions you make in the coming months will influence your organization’s success in 2026 and beyond. Amid rising healthcare costs, evolving workforce expectations, regulatory shifts, and emerging risks, pressures are mounting, and early, strategic action is essential.
Our 2026 Market Outlook guide explores six critical trends shaping benefits, insurance, and workforce strategy, including:
- Rising healthcare costs
- Growing employee expectations
- AI & automation in HR
- Widening risk exposures
- Ongoing talent challenges
- Shifting regulations
Operational Performance Focus Areas
Explore integrated strategies that help align operations, pricing, and resources to deliver stronger outcomes.
Improve liquidity and financial flexibility by strengthening how cash moves through your organization.
Assess your current property and casualty program and explore options like group captives to help reduce premium volatility and improve risk outcomes.
Manage benefits spend with strategies that balance cost control and workforce needs.
Strengthen pricing decisions to better reflect cost structure, customer value, and market dynamics.
Order-to-Cash Working Capital
Improve liquidity and financial flexibility by strengthening how cash moves through your organization.
Explore Working Capital Strategies
CBIZ helps evaluate receivables, payables, and cash conversion cycles to identify opportunities that support healthier cash flow and greater operating flexibility.
Insurance Optimization
Assess your current property and casualty program and explore options like group captives to help reduce premium volatility and improve risk outcomes.
See Insurance Options
We review your current coverage, claims history, and cost structure to uncover potential efficiencies. For qualified businesses, group captives may offer more control, transparency, and potential cost savings over time.
Health Innovations
Manage benefits spend with strategies that balance cost control and workforce needs.
Explore Health Strategies
We help you pinpoint cost drivers in your health plan, especially pharmacy costs, and implement changes that reduce waste without compromising the employee experience. Tools include plan modeling, audits, and benchmark comparisons.
Customer Pricing Strategies
Strengthen pricing decisions to better reflect cost structure, customer value, and market dynamics.
Explore Pricing StrategiesOur teams help analyze margin drivers, pricing models, and customer profitability to support more informed, confident pricing decisions.
Saving with Managed Services
Scale smarter by outsourcing core business functions with tailored support for finance, HR, and operations.
Strengthen workforce strategy and streamline people operations with integrated support across talent acquisition, onboarding, payroll, compliance, and offboarding.
Comprehensive retirement and benefit plan administration designed to improve compliance, reduce complexity, and support participants and plan sponsors.
Reliable financial reporting and operational support improve visibility, control costs, and reduce administrative burden.
Proactive infrastructure oversight, technical support, and flexible staffing solutions enhance system reliability, reduce downtime, and support business performance.
Continuous monitoring, threat detection, and risk oversight protect critical systems and data while strengthening operational resilience.
Scalable payroll and HR technology solutions streamline workforce administration, improve reporting accuracy, and support growing organizations.
