OneDigital acquires Propel HR with Silva Capital as advisor
GEORGIA, UNITED STATES — OneDigital has completed the acquisition of Propel HR, an IRS-Certified Professional Employer Organization based in Greenville, South Carolina, with Atlanta-based boutique M&A firm Silva Capital Solutions serving as Exclusive Sell-Side Advisor.
According to a press release, the transaction, which closed in January 2026 and was announced publicly, marks OneDigital’s first PEO presence in South Carolina and adds a 30-year-old founder-led operator with delivery across 49 states.
The deal underscores continued consolidation in the PEO and HR outsourcing sector, where established certified providers with multi-state reach remain in high demand.
A strategic geographic and capability expansion
Founded in 1996, Propel HR delivers full-service PEO, payroll, and HR solutions to small and mid-sized employers nationwide, giving OneDigital both a new state footprint and a deep operational platform. The acquisition fits OneDigital’s stated focus on identifying well-prepared, founder-led PEO businesses with strong operational foundations, a profile that increasingly defines the buyer’s growth strategy. Silva Capital guided Propel HR through valuation, buyer positioning, diligence management, and negotiation, allowing the seller’s team to stay focused on its business while the advisor managed the close.
“In today’s market, the best outcomes happen when owners prepare well before they’re ready to make a move. Being caught off guard when the right opportunity presents itself can cost you time, money, or even the deal entirely,” said Ted Crawford, President of OneDigital PEO.
He added that knowing what buyers will ask, getting the business in order, and understanding strategic options “can be the difference between a good exit and a great one.”
Preserving legacy while translating strength into a market-ready story
For Propel HR, the deal was as much about cultural fit as financial outcome. Lee Yarborough, President of Propel HR, said the family-business identity of the company drove the decision to engage Silva Capital, citing trust in the advisor’s ability to represent the firm’s values throughout the process.
Silva Capital’s specialization in PEO and HRO M&A allowed the firm to translate Propel HR’s three-decade operational foundation into a defined narrative that resonated with strategic buyers.
“The most successful exits aren’t engineered at the end. They’re built over time,” said Wanda Silva, President of Silva Capital Solutions.
She added that the firm’s role was to “help translate their strong foundation into a market-ready story and connect them with the right long-term partner.”
The deal reflects an accelerating consolidation push across the PEO and HR outsourcing industry, where well-capitalized buyers including Vensure Employer Solutions, G&A Partners, and TriNet have moved aggressively to acquire IRS-Certified PEOs with multi-state footprints.
As small and mid-sized employers demand integrated HR, payroll, and benefits delivery from fewer vendors, certified PEO platforms with founder-led operational discipline are emerging as the most sought-after targets in the sector.
