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Find a 401(k) plan that fits your business

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See why we’re Gusto’s #1 retirement partner
  • Guideline and Gusto integration visual

    Seamless Gusto 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 55001 and 1099-R.
  • $0

    12 months free with Gusto

    Pay $0 in employer fees your first year.2 Then, tax credits could cover 100% of plan costs the next 2 years.3 See how.
50K+
businesses4
1M+
savers5
$15B+
invested for retirement6
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Innovation by Design Award 20247
$0 is a great place to start

Enjoy no employer fees for the first 12 months.2 After that, you’ll get a powerful 401(k) at industry-low pricing.

  • Starter
    New offer
    $39
    $0
    / month
    +$4/mo per active participant
    $0
    A simplified 401(k) with limited features and easy administration.
    Connect
    • $6,000 employee contribution limit
    • No employer contributions
    • Exempt from IRS testing
  • Core
    New offer
    $89
    $0
    / month
    +$8/mo per active participant
    $0
    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
    New offer
    $149
    $0
    / month
    + active participant fee
    $0
    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
Money in shield simple icon
With no transaction fees, you won’t have to pay extra for plan setup, plan transfers, or 5500 prep.8

Estimate your 401(k) plan costs with our calculator

Your company could be eligible to receive up to $16,500 in tax credits over the plan’s first three years to help offset initial plan costs.11
  • $0 transaction fee
  • $0 rollover fee
  • $0 loan fee
  • $0 distribution fee
See here for more information regarding Guideline’s fees.

Help employees save more

The total fees for our managed portfolios are up to 6x less than the industry average.12 Learn more

Active employees are only charged an annual account fee starting at 0.15%13 (0.0125%/month).

See here for more information regarding Guideline’s fees.

Hear what customers have to say about Guideline

Melissa W.

Zipline

"We chose Guideline because we didn't want the overhead, management or complexity of traditional options. Guideline is practically a 1-click setup that integrates with our payroll system and is incredibly easy to manage."



Client of Guideline and Gusto. Views may not be representative of other clients.

Ben C.

The Well Counseling Center

"Guideline consistently provides fast, easy-to-decipher customer support to me and our team."



Client of Guideline and Gusto. Views may not be representative of other clients.

Carol P.

RedKnot Resource Group

"With Guideline, it feels like we've put 401(k) administration on auto-pilot. Guideline 401(k) enables us to give our employees a big benefit without our small business hiring in-house expertise."



Client of Guideline. Views may not be representative of other clients.
Headshot of Jeri A.

Jeri A.

Rose City Philanthropy

"We learned about Guideline through its partnership with Gusto. They're so plugged into Gusto, they make the experience seamless — it was just a no brainer to adopt it."



Client of Guideline and Gusto. Views may not be representative of other clients.
  • A friendly customer support specialist assisting a customer with a smile.
  • A dedicated customer support specialist going above and beyond to assist a client.
  • A friendly customer support specialist assisting a customer with a smile.
  • A dedicated customer support specialist going above and beyond to assist a client.
  • A patient customer support specialist listening attentively to a customer's questions.
  • An experienced customer support specialist providing helpful advice.
  • An empathetic customer support specialist providing personalized support to a customer.
  • A friendly customer support specialist assisting a customer with a smile.
  • A dedicated customer support specialist going above and beyond to assist a client.
  • A patient customer support specialist listening attentively to a customer's questions.
  • An experienced customer support specialist providing helpful advice.
  • An empathetic customer support specialist providing personalized support to a customer.
  • A knowledgeable customer support specialist helping a client with a retirement plan.
  • A courteous customer support specialist providing exceptional service to a client.
  • A helpful customer support specialist assisting a client with a retirement plan enrollment.
  • A professional customer support specialist offering expert guidance on retirement savings.
  • A knowledgeable customer support specialist helping a client with a retirement plan.
  • A courteous customer support specialist providing exceptional service to a client.
  • A helpful customer support specialist assisting a client with a retirement plan enrollment.
  • A professional customer support specialist offering expert guidance on retirement savings.

Live customer support

Support you can count on — and call

With Guideline, you and your team get support from our 401(k) specialists via phone or email — our annual plan sponsor customer satisfaction score is 93%.14 See our customer support metrics

Invest in your team

With an intuitive dashboard and an award-winning mobile app7, it’s easy for your employees to set up their account, track their progress, and access resources—anytime, anywhere.

  • Easy account setup, via web or mobile app

  • Recommended investment portfolio

  • Retirement education and live support

Guideline mobile app portfolio screen.
Guideline mobile app portfolio screen.
  • 1

    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.

  • 2
    Employer fees included in this promotion are the monthly base fee charged by Guideline RK, LLC and the monthly active participant fee. Other employer-paid service fees are not included in this promotion. Participant-paid fees are not included in this promotion and will still apply. See here for more information regarding fees. This offer ends 3/31/25 and can’t be combined with other offers. Flexible pricing opportunities may affect this promotion. Contact Sales at hello@guideline.com for further details. We reserve the right to modify or discontinue this promotion at any time without prior notice.
  • 3
    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.
  • 4
    As of May 2024
  • 5
    As of December 2024
  • 6
    As of August 2024
  • 7

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

  • 8
    Third-party auditor fees will apply to large plans where an audit is required. These fees are not charged by Guideline.
  • 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.
  • 11
    You should consult a tax professional to determine what types of tax credits or deductions your company is eligible to claim.
  • 12
    This information is provided for illustrative purposes only, and is not intended to be taken as investment or tax advice. Consult a qualified tax and financial advisor to determine the appropriate investment strategy for you. The average investment expense of plan assets for 401(k) plans with 25 participants and $250,000 in assets is 1.26% of assets, according to the 25th Edition of the 401k Averages Book, with data updated through September 30, 2024, and is inclusive of investment management fees, fund expense ratios, 12b-1 fees, sub-transfer agent fees, contract charges, wrap and advisor fees or any other asset based charges. 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. The managed portfolios have blended expense ratios ranging from 0.058% to 0.061% of assets under management. When combined with an assumed account fee of 0.15% charged by Guideline Investments, LLC, the estimated total AUM fees for one of the managed portfolios can be under 0.22%. Alternative account fee pricing is available ranging from 0.15% to 0.35%. Contact Sales at hello@guideline.com to learn more about exclusive pricing options available in the Enterprise tier. See the Form ADV 2A Brochure for more information regarding fees. Expense ratios for custom portfolios will vary. These expense ratios are subject to change by and paid to the fund(s).View full fund lineup.
  • 13

    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. An assumed annual account fee of 0.15% is applied to assets under management and is deducted on a monthly basis. It’s calculated at 1/12 of the annual stated rate (0.15%) based on the account balance on the last day of each month. Alternative account fee pricing is available, ranging from 0.15% to 0.35%. Contact Sales at hello@guideline.com to learn more about exclusive pricing options available in Enterprise tier. See the Form ADV 2A Brochure for more information regarding this fee.

  • 14
    Guideline’s average plan sponsor satisfaction score (CSAT) based on feedback received from 1/1/2024 to 12/31/2024.
  • This information is general in nature and is for informational purposes only. It shouldn’t 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. Tax laws and regulations are complex and subject to change. You should consult a qualified financial adviser or tax professional before relying on this information.

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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