Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 50,377	$ 40,065	$ 34,107
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	655	542	896
Gain on sale of operations, net of tax	(45)	(855)	(84)
Loss on early extinguishment of convertible debt			833
Depreciation and amortization expense	23,061	22,098	20,389
Amortization of discount on notes and deferred financing costs	523	523	2,271
Amortization of discount on contingent earnout liabilities	634	348	144
Bad debt expense, net of recoveries	5,137	4,090	5,658
Adjustment to contingent earnout liability	(2,128)	(1,342)	(2,853)
Deferred income taxes	3,674	4,829	1,734
Employee stock awards	5,705	5,725	5,729
Excess tax benefits from share based payment arrangements	(3,837)	(1,108)	(948)
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions and divestitures:
Restricted cash	(5,105)	(3,019)	3,433
Accounts receivable, net	(13,849)	(19,188)	(15,276)
Other assets	3,180	(5,612)	(1,269)
Accounts payable	3,738	10,217	(1,288)
Income taxes payable	(2,071)	1,881	(3,674)
Accrued personnel costs	(599)	5,496	(349)
Other liabilities	3,508	5,965	(3,057)
Net cash provided by continuing operations	72,558	70,655	46,396
Operating cash flows (used in) provided by discontinued operations	(627)	387	990
Net cash provided by operating activities	71,931	71,042	47,386
Cash flows from investing activities:
Business acquisitions and purchases of client lists, net of cash acquired	(28,093)	(42,883)	(14,636)
Purchases of client fund investments	(15,546)	(11,355)	(15,429)
Proceeds from the sales and maturities of client fund investments	8,785	9,778	10,664
Proceeds on sales of divested and discontinued operations	46	802	2,938
Increase (decrease) in funds held for clients	17,034	(3,193)	15,921
Additions to property and equipment	(11,892)	(4,141)	(7,390)
Collection of notes receivable	558	998	955
Other	(300)	(20)	20
Net cash used in continuing operations	(29,408)	(50,014)	(6,957)
Investing cash flows provided by discontinued operations			8
Net cash used in investing activities	(29,408)	(50,014)	(6,949)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from bank debt	533,900	416,800	408,800
Payment of bank debt	(546,800)	(431,200)	(310,400)
Payment on extinguishment of convertible debt		(760)	(88,964)
Payment for acquisition of treasury stock	(19,735)	(9,144)	(36,482)
(Decrease) increase in client funds obligations	(10,273)	5,257	(12,617)
Payment of contingent consideration of acquisitions	(10,515)	(7,504)	(11,987)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	8,008	8,070	10,728
Payment of notes payable	(178)	(347)	(574)
Deferred financing costs		(6)	(18)
Payment of acquired debt		(658)
Excess tax benefit from exercise of stock awards		1,108	948
Net cash used in financing activities	(45,593)	(18,384)	(40,566)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(3,070)	2,644	(129)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	3,494	850	979
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	$ 424	$ 3,494	$ 850