History

Checkmate is deeply rooted in New Hampshire. The company founder, Stephen Robinson, is a New Hampshire native and has been a member of the greater Concord business community for more than 30 years. He opened his own accounting practice in 1987 and his direct client experiences led to the launch of Checkmate in 1994 with 14 initial clients turning to him for payroll services.

The marketplace for payroll services in New Hampshire was dominated by national firms, and Steve often heard about the impersonal service, high fees, rigid structures, and frequent staff turnover that led to customer dissatisfaction. As a small business owner, he saw a clear need for a local, independent organization that could offer local employers flexible payroll and related services, while placing a high value on customer service. These were the building blocks on which Checkmate was founded and the company mission reflects this commitment.