Our Founder Stephen Cilley shares his story and the inspiration for Ataraxis in a podcast interview, None of My Business. Also available on Apple Podcasts.
Ataraxis® began with a challenge familiar to many business owners: managing HR while trying to grow a business. In 2008, our founder Stephen Cilley led a fast-growing insurance adjusting firm with 70 employees across five states. Instead of focusing on strategy, he spent more time buried in HR tasks—compliance, payroll, benefits, and employee relations.
After a year of searching for a true HR partner, Stephen found only software platforms and firms offering advice from the sidelines. That experience sparked a realization: the solution he needed didn’t exist. So, he built it.
In 2010, Stephen launched Ataraxis to deliver full-service HR, payroll, and benefits—not as a vendor, but as a true extension of the businesses we serve. The name “Ataraxis” means the absence of mental stress or anxiety, and that philosophy guides everything we do. We ease the burden, do the work, and help businesses move forward with less risk and more confidence.
Ataraxis is more than a service provider—we’re a people-first partner. We believe that when employees thrive, businesses do too. That’s why we partner with you as an extension of your team, offering hands-on support that’s built around your goals, your people, and your future.
We simplify the work behind the work—so you can focus on what matters most.