Brewing up stronger 401(k) benefits for a team of baristas
How the 2024 US barista champion is using a 401(k) match to champion coffee as a career choice
| Payroll | Plan Type | Guideline plan tier |
|---|---|---|
| Gusto | Safe Harbor | Core |
| Motivations | Why Guideline | Results |
|---|---|---|
| • Deliver benefits baristas can build a career on. | • Easy to roll out to non-desk employees — and even easier to maintain. | • Step-by-step product and customer support that helped clarified financial concepts for the whole team. |
| •Offer an employer match in addition to meeting the state retirement mandate. | • Visibility into the company's impact on employee retirement savings. | • Education on claiming business tax credits. |
| • Make saving for retirement more accessible for hourly employees. | • Self-serve mobile app that helps educate and engage new savers. | • Easier to recruit talented new hires to the team. |
Challenge:
Over the last fifteen years, coffee has changed Frank’s life completely—starting with his go-to drink order.
“Back then I was ordering big, blended iced coffee drinks—adding cream, sugar...the whole bit.”
Now? Frank is the 2024 United States Barista Champion and the owner of LA-based Be Bright Coffee & Roastery, a direct-to-consumer coffee company turned local cafe with a strong following. And today, Frank enjoys an Ethiopian bean blend with blueberry tasting notes, served black.
It’s a journey and an evolution that even Frank could not have predicted.
“When I started out as a barista, I thought it would be a one year gig. I would 'straighten up and get a real job' after that.” But something else entirely happened.
“I met my wife through coffee. I met my closest friends through coffee. And I got to build a family while running a business in coffee. I’m grateful I found my passion. I feel lucky.”
Frank’s next passion project? Make being a barista a viable career path for his fellow coffee lovers.
“People see being a barista as temporary. But I think being a barista is a great career choice. And as a business owner, I have the power to make that possible with the benefits package I offer my team.”
In order to change minds about careers in coffee, Frank had to challenge his own misconceptions about the cost and complexity of building a high caliber benefits package.
“I got two big things wrong before talking about retirement with my accountant. I had no idea there were huge business tax credits—and I had no idea rolling out a 401(k) plan would be this easy.”
Be Bright Coffee learned they didn’t have to hit a vague company maturity metric or financial milestone to offer baristas the opportunity to save for their futures. All Be Bright Coffee needed was the right retirement partner.
"I got two big things wrong about 401(k). I had no idea we’d get huge business tax credits—and I had no idea rolling out a plan would be this easy."Frank LaBe Bright Coffee
Client of Guideline. Views may not be representative of other clients
Solution:
For Be Bright Coffee, the right retirement provider was one that made 401(k) simple and approachable for everyone, right from the start.
“Retirement programs feel enigmatic overall, so Guideline stands out in the crowd because they make financial concepts clearer. I got step-by-step setup support, and my team got tools to understand and actually utilize their new financial benefit.”
After hearing about new state regulations, Frank researched ways he could go beyond the state mandate. He chose Guideline for its approachable design, the ability to save time with payroll automation, and saver-friendly features like:
- Guided onboarding, personalized investment portfolios, and focused financial education to help non-experts navigate getting the most from a 401(k)1
- An award-winning, self-serve mobile app built to help savers visually connect pay check contributions to investment performance2
- Payroll integration that removes company admin responsibilities like employee eligibility tracking, data entry, and enrollment3
- Employer 401(k) match that helped Be Bright claim tax credits and amplify benefits value—without breaking the budget4
- Real-time visibility into the financial impact company contributions were making for employees
"I want our benefits to do more than meet requirements. Guideline helps us legitimize the barista position as a career choice, attract the best talent, and stand out in our industry."Frank LaBe Bright Coffee
Client of Guideline. Views may not be representative of other clients
Result:
Today, Be Bright Coffee is able to offer a 401(k) with a 4% company match, which he credits to Guideline's affordable plans.
Frank jokes that, “most baristas don’t have saving for retirement on their professional bingo cards.” But jokes aside, delivering that unexpected financial support to his team is a massive point of pride for Frank. And it’s also a massive help when it comes time to recruit new talent.
“A 401(k) with employer matching through Guideline truly legitimizes the barista position as a career choice. It helps us attract the best talent—and it makes Be Bright Coffee stand out in our industry. I’m really proud to say that Be Bright Coffee has helped nine people save for retirement with Guideline already.”
Frank sees the investment as one that flows both ways. “We take care of our team—and our team takes care of us. Collectively, we’re all committed to coffee, to Be Bright, and to the future of our craft.”
And for Frank and his team of talented baristas, the future sure does look bright.
"Guideline stands out by making financial concepts clearer. I got step-by-step setup support, and my team got tools to actually utilize their new financial benefit."Frank LaBe Bright Coffee
Client of Guideline. Views may not be representative of other clients