How many employees do you need to set up a 401(k)?

There is no minimum number of employees required when setting up a 401(k) with Guideline. You can set up a 401(k) with just an owner or for a single employee.

Can I set up a 401(k) for my LLC?

Yes, Guideline works with many different types of businesses and entity structures such as LLCs.

What are the benefits of a 401(k) plan compared to other retirement options?

401(k) plans are popular because they offer a lot of flexibility in plan design options, integrate with payroll systems, and work as a great hiring tool.

When can my plan start?

While setting up a Guideline 401(k) only takes about 20 minutes, it generally takes about 40 days until first contributions are made. This is due to the automatic enrollment feature on all Guideline 401(k) plans. Generally, eligible employees cannot be automatically enrolled in your plan until 30 days after they receive notice of the auto-enroll feature. This gives them sufficient time to opt-out before the plan begins.

What is auto enrollment?

Auto enrollment is a required feature for all Guideline 401(k) plans. Auto enrollment can help improve IRS nondiscrimination testing results, increase employees’ retirement readiness, and much more.

What fees are employers charged?

Employers will be charged $49, $79, or $129/month depending on their pricing plan and $8/month for each active participant in the plan. We don’t charge transaction fees—this includes no plan termination fees or Form 5500 prep fees3. Alternative pricing is available for plans with 50 or more eligible employees at the time of signup. To learn more, contact Sales at hello@guideline.com.

Which employees are eligible to participate in the plan?

With Guideline, you can determine your plan eligibility based on your employees’ age and length of service with your company.

No employer fee for 3 months¹

An easy 401(k) for all of your locations

Get the 401(k) that's helping Franworth franchises scale and save — while meeting state mandates.

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As featured in

Tina F.Smith Trucking

Guideline plans are flexible and simple. They make it easy for our employees to set up a 401(k) that works for them... We’ve grown 300% across 3 different businesses—and our Guideline 401(k) is a perfect fit for all of them.Client of Guideline. Views may not be representative of other clients.

50,000+ businesses trust Guideline with their 401(k)

Scalable pricing
Cover all of your businesses with one base fee² — plus, you won’t pay extra for plan setup, plan transfers, or 5500 prep.³
Simple setup & admin
Set up multiple entities with a single signature.⁴ Plus, payroll integrations can automate your day-to-day tasks.
Built to scale
We handle recordkeeping, employee onboarding, investment management, ongoing compliance testing, and a lot more.

Keep costs low as you grow

Plans start at $39/month, plus $4 per participant — with custom franchise pricing options available.

See pricing options

Up to 6x lower account fees⁵
$0 plan setup fee
No added costs for IRS filings or compliance testing

Help your team get the most out of their 401(k)

Offer your employees an affordable, modern way to invest in their financial future — with lower fees and guided investments.

Award-winning mobile app and self-serve tools
Recommended investment portfolios
Financial education and live 401(k) support

Mockup of Guideline iOS mobile app with prominent text. You're all set!

Get a scalable 401(k) with $0 base fees for 3 months.⁶

Talk to a Guideline specialist

Stay on top of state retirement plan mandates

20+ states have retirement plan mandates and your businesses may need to be compliant in each state they operate in. With a Guideline 401(k), you can meet each mandate at once — all with one login. Download our state mandate guide

USA map with states filled in different colors based Active, Pending, and Unavailable state mandated for retirement accounts.

A professional customer support specialist offering expert guidance on retirement savings.

A dedicated customer support specialist going above and beyond to assist a client.

A friendly customer support specialist assisting a customer with a smile.

Get support you can count on — and call

With Guideline, you and your team get live support from our 401(k) specialists via phone or email — our annual plan sponsor customer satisfaction score is 93%.⁷ See more customer support metrics

A benefit for your team and your franchise

Promote retention
Food & Beverage workers are 54% less likely to quit in the first year when offered retirement benefits.⁸
Reduce turnover costs
Offering a 401(k) can lead to an estimated annual cost savings of more than $100,000 in reduced turnover.⁸
Cash in on tax credits
You may qualify for up to $16,500 in tax credits over the plan’s first 3 years.⁹ Estimate your costs >