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Meet California’s mandate in 10 minutes or less

California businesses with at least one employee have to offer a qualified retirement plan by Dec. 31, 2025, or face penalties.1

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60K+
businesses2
1M+
savers3
$15B+
invested for retirement4
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Innovation by Design Award 20245
Meet the mandate and more with Guideline
  • Example visual of what happens when a payroll is connected with Guideline.

    Seamless OnPay integration

    Automate your 401(k) experience with direct payroll sync.
  • Abstract check list visual

    Stress-free 401(k) management

    Unlock always-on compliance and automatic tax filings, including Form 55006 and 1099-R.
  • Image of coin being deposited into a box.

    Tax credits could cover costs

    Your business may be eligible to offset 100% of 401(k) plan costs over the first 3 years with tax credits.7 See how.

The California mandate in a nutshell

CalSavers was established in 2016. It requires California employers with at least one employee to offer the state-sponsored plan or a qualified alternative like a Guideline 401(k) by December 31st of the year in which you become eligible.1
  • 5+ employees

    December 31, 2024

  • 1-4 employees

    December 31, 2025

Flexible options fit for your business
From what you need today to where you’ll be tomorrow, a Guideline 401(k) scales with your business.

  • Starter

    Simply meet your state’s mandate

    Find peace-of-mind with an out-of-the-box solution. Starter’s simplified plan design and no employer matching makes it easy and affordable to meet the state mandate.

  • Standard 401(k)

    Comply with a more comprehensive benefit

    Take your new employee benefit further than the state requires by offering a 401(k) plan with higher savings limits and more custom plan designs.
Powerful plans for
businesses of any size
Our 401(k) plans come with low monthly costs and no transaction fees.8
  • Starter
    $39
    / month
    + $4/mo per active participant
    A simplified 401(k) with limited features and easy administration.
    Connect
    • $6,000 employee contribution limit
    • No employer contributions
    • Exempt from IRS testing
  • Core
    $89
    / month
    + $8/mo per active participant fee
    Our most popular 401(k) with robust features and more plan design options.
    Connect
    • $23,500 employee contribution limit9
    • Safe Harbor10 or Traditional 401(k)
    • Features like employer contributions and profit sharing
  • Enterprise
    $149
    / month
    + active participant fee
    Our most custom 401(k) with premium support and flexible pricing that scales as you grow.
    Contact sales
    • $23,500 employee contribution limit9
    • Flexible pricing options
    • Premium support for plan admin and employees
    • Support for plan transfers
Claim up to $16,500 in tax credits to potentially offset initial plan costs.⁷ See if you’re eligible.

Calculator

Estimate your plan costs

If you’re starting a new 401(k), your small business may be eligible to receive up to $16,500 in tax credits over the plan’s first three years to help offset initial plan costs.7

  • 1
    The CalSavers mandated registration deadline with at least 1 employee (as reported to the EDD in the preceding calendar year), who are not otherwise exempt from participation, can register with CalSavers. The registration deadline for employers with 1-4 employees is December 31, 2025. Requirements to report your exemption apply. Guideline has prepared this summary from third-party sources as of March 2025. The information herein is considered to be reliable at the time of writing, may not necessarily be all-inclusive, is not guaranteed as to accuracy and is subject to change at any time without notice. The information provided herein is general in nature and is for informational purposes only. It should not be used as a substitute for specific tax, legal and/or financial advice that considers all relevant facts and circumstances. Investing involves risk and investments may lose value. You are advised to consult a qualified financial adviser or tax professional before relying on the information provided herein. Deadlines, fees, and other program details are subject to change by the state without notice and should be checked prior to making any decisions and can be reviewed by visiting the State of California’s Franchise Tax Board. Visit the CalSavers site to learn more.
  • 2
    As of April 2025
  • 3
    As of December 2024
  • 4
    Total number of Savers, both active and non-active, that have participated in Guideline products from 2016-2024.
  • 5

    2024 Fast Company Innovation by Design Award Winner for Guideline's mobile application in the Mid-Size business category.

  • 6

    Investment advisory services for Guideline’s 401(k) product (when 3(38) fiduciary services are appointed) and SEP IRA/IRA products are offered by Guideline Investments, LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Recordkeeping services are offered by Guideline RK, LLC. 3(16) plan administration services are also offered by Guideline RK, LLC and only made available to clients who utilize an eligible payroll provider. Guideline uses a third-party to provide custodial services. Custodial fees are paid by Guideline.

  • 7
    This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be taken as tax advice. Please consult a tax professional to determine what types of tax credits or deductions your company is eligible to claim.
  • 8

    See here for more information regarding Guideline's fees.

  • 9
    May be adjusted annually to account for IRS cost-of-living adjustments. Learn more
  • 10
    In general, Safe Harbor 401(k) plans automatically satisfy Top Heavy requirements. One exception is for plan years in which the employer makes discretionary contributions (such as profit sharing contributions) in addition to Safe Harbor contributions. Removing Safe Harbor contributions mid-year will also require plans be subject to all compliance testing.

Guideline.com is owned and operated by Guideline, Inc. This website contains content from Guideline, Inc. and its affiliates, each a separate entity with different regulatory marketing requirements and standards. References to "our" or "we" on this website refer solely to Guideline RK, LLC unless otherwise specifically stated.

The information in this website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be an offer, recommendation, investment advice, legal or tax advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell any security. By using this website, you agree to Guideline, Inc.’s Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions of Use. Neither Guideline, Inc. nor its subsidiaries, are responsible for information provided by third parties. Information included herein from third parties is believed to be reliable however Guideline, Inc. does not guarantee the accuracy and completeness of that information.

Guideline, Inc. is a technology company that provides an integrated platform to companies who seek to work with 1) Guideline RK, LLC ("Guideline") and/or 2) Guideline Investments, LLC, an SEC Registered Investment Adviser ("RIA"), both of which are wholly owned by Guideline Holdings, LLC. Guideline Holdings, LLC is wholly owned by Guideline, Inc. Neither Guideline, Inc. nor Guideline Holdings, LLC or Guideline RK, LLC is involved in securities activities and is not registered with the SEC or FINRA. Neither Guideline, Inc., nor any of its affiliates, is a bank.

Investment advisory services for Guideline’s 401(k) (when 3(38) fiduciary services are selected) and SEP IRA/IRA products are offered by Guideline Investments, LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. For more information regarding fees and services, see Guideline Investments, LLC’s ADV 2A Brochure and Form CRS. References throughout this website to investment advisory services including but not limited to: investments offered, portfolios, managed portfolios, investment philosophy, assets under management (AUM), annual account fees expressed as a percentage of AUM, suitability questionnaire, 3(38) investment advisory management fiduciary services, robo-advisory services, and investment advice, unless otherwise specifically stated, are services provided by Guideline Investments, LLC. Investing involves risk and may lose money, including loss of principal. Investing is not guaranteed and past performance is not a guarantee of future performance. The investment options offered by Guideline Investments, LLC are not FDIC insured.

Recordkeeping services for Guideline’s 401(k) and SEP IRA/IRA products are offered by Guideline RK, LLC. 3(16) plan administration services are also offered by Guideline RK, LLC and only made available to clients who utilize an eligible payroll provider. For more information on Guideline’s pricing, see here. Guideline uses a third-party to provide custodial services. Custodial fees are paid by Guideline.

Any graphs, charts, and other visual aids (collectively referred to as "image(s)") are provided for information purposes only. None of these images can of themselves be used to make investment decisions. No representation is made that these will assist any person in making investment decisions and no image can capture all factors and variables required in making such decisions.

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