Plans start at just $39/month
Get setup in as little as 9 minutes
Only pay for the employees who contribute to their 401(k)
Integrated with 40+ payroll providers1
Get a retirement plan your team will love.
Fill out the form to start exploring your options with Guideline. A top-rated 401(k)2 for a reason
- All-in-one 401(k)We handle your administration for you3 — everything from IRS filings to compliance — so you can focus on what matters most: your business.
- Modern experience for your teamWith employee self-onboarding, a guided portfolio, and an award-winning mobile app4, we make signing up and saving easy for your team.
- Top-notch supportGet support you can count on for you and your team, including Spanish. With a 93% customer satisfaction rating5, there’s a reason why 60,000+ businesses6 like yours love working with Guideline.
Cliff J.North Valley Counseling
10 out of 10. Guideline makes offering a 401(k) easy—and it just works.Client of Guideline. Views may not be representative of other clients.
A simplified benefit at an affordable price
Employer pricing
$39
/ month
+
$4
/ month per active participant7
Starter plans must be connected with one of our eligible payroll providers11
Compare with our Core and Enterprise pricing plans
What's included
- RecordkeepingWe serve as the recordkeeper to track your 401(k) plan’s balances, transactions, and deferrals. We’ll provide and maintain required plan documents, summary plan descriptions and most regulatory notices.
- Government filingWe prepare standard annual reports for no extra fee, including Form 55008 and 1099-R.
- Investment managementWe manage the investment portfolio, select and monitor funds, and rebalance portfolios automatically. Learn more9
- Low-cost investmentsCombined with our management fees, investing for retirement with Guideline could cost an individual up to 6x less than industry average.10
- Payroll integrationWe integrate with popular payroll providers so businesses can connect their plan and simplify plan administration. Learn more
- Custodial servicesThrough a third party custodian, we’ll process transactions, execute trades, safeguard plan assets and more.
- Fiduciary responsibilitiesWe serve as the ERISA 3(16)3 and 3(38) plan fiduciaries—which cover plan administration and investment management. This means we are legally (and morally) obligated to work in the plan and participants’ best interest.
- Mobile appEmployees can set up and manage their 401(k) account on their phone or desktop.
Estimate your 401(k) plan costs with our calculator
If you’re starting a new 401(k), your company 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.12
Frequently asked questions
Now may be exactly the right time to start a 401(k), whether you’re looking to comply with a state retirement mandate, offer a comprehensive benefits package, delight and retain your team, or choose a plan that fits your budget and your needs.
State mandates – 25+ states are rolling out retirement mandates, requiring that employers offer a retirement benefit to help more people save for the future, right from their paycheck. Some states are levying heavy penalties for not complying. More states are considering their own programs, as well.13
Offering a comprehensive benefit – Give your team a 401(k) they’ll love – the Guideline 401(k). With a fully guided investing experience, award-winning mobile app14, and expert-built investment portfolios at a fraction of the cost15, you’ll help your team make the most of every dollar they save for retirement, while attracting top talent to your business.16
Delight and retain your team – With a 91% employee satisfaction rate17, a Guideline 401(k) will help you keep your team happy and engaged. And the best part? Our research shows that more than 70% of employers say 401(k) has positively impacted their ability to recruit, hire, and retain talent.16
A plan that fits your budget and needs – A Guideline 401(k) checks all the boxes, from automated plan admin and compliance, to IRS tax form prep, to reliable custom-built payroll integrations – all at no extra cost. Starting at just $39/month.7
It’s certainly possible! 25+ states are rolling out retirement mandates, requiring that employers offer a retirement benefit to help more people save for the future, right from their paycheck. Some states are levying heavy penalties for not complying. More states are considering their own programs, as well.13
See our State Mandates page to learn more.
A 401(k) plan doesn’t have to break the bank. That’s why Guideline offers the Starter plan, which starts at just $39/month and is an affordable way to offer a competitive benefit.
But that’s not all! Did you know that you might be eligible for tax credits that could fully cover the cost of your 401(k) plan for the first 3 years?12
A 401(k) doesn’t have to take a lot of time to manage. That’s often the old-school way of doing things. With smart automation and top-notch customer service, Guideline helps you take back your time so you can focus on your team and your business.
- Direct payroll integrations streamline every pay cycle
- Automated admin, compliance, & tax filings take hours of work off your plate18
- 93% plan sponsor satisfaction means you’re in good hands5
- We respond to support inquiries in 4 hours or less19
Don’t just take our word for it. Here’s what some of our clients have to say:
“Guideline never wastes my time. And that’s what’s most important to me—my time.” - Connie B., Rader Management Corp. DBA Dunkin’
"I don't mind paying a few bucks a month for Guideline because my time and peace of mind are worth it.” - Rich H., Pallas Care
“You have to change hearts and minds sometimes. Businesses have been conditioned to believe that offering a 401(k) is expensive and overly complicated. Guideline proves it doesn't have to be this way.” - Ana R., A&J Accounting
Clients of Guideline. Views may not be representative of other clients.
It’s very likely that we do! You can check out our payroll integrations here. And even if we don’t integrate directly with your provider, our self-serve portal lets you upload a payroll report and even process certain corrections. Once submitted successfully, subsequent payroll runs should be seamless.
With Guideline, what you see on our pricing page is what you get. We don’t charge any hidden fees.
See the fees you won’t be paying7 (unlike with some of our industry peers):
- $0 rollover fee
- $0 loan fee
- $0 distribution fee
- $0 plan termination fee
- $0 Form 5500 prep fee
Give your team a 401(k) they’ll love