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Powered by Guideline. Connected with QuickBooks.

QuickBooks partners with Guideline to provide a seamless 401(k)1. Open a Guideline 401(k) today and pay $0 employer fees for a year.2

Create your plan
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Prefer to chat? Give us a call at (888) 228-3491.

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How payroll and a 401(k) work together

Our platform will securely sync your QuickBooks Payroll and Guideline 401(k) data so any updates or changes will be reflected in both places automatically—saving you time and hassle.

  • Seamless plan management

    401(k) contributions are automatically deducted each pay run. No need to maintain deductions or manually re-enter payroll data.

  • Easy employee onboarding

    When employees become eligible to join the plan, we'll notify them and enroll them on your behalf — and provide full support along the way.

Priced to help you save more
Our plans come with low monthly costs and no transaction fees. Open a 401(k) today and get $0 employer fees for 12 months 2
  • Starter
    $39
    $0
    / month
    +$4/mo per active participant
    $0
    A simplified 401(k) with limited features and easy administration.
    Get started
    • $6,000 employee contribution limit
    • No employer contributions
    • Must be a new 401(k) plan
  • Core
    Most popular
    $89
    $0
    / month
    +$8/mo per active participant
    $0
    A foundational 401(k) with robust features and more plan design options.
    Get started
    • $23,500 employee contribution limit4
    • Safe Harbor or Traditional 401(k)
    • Features like employer contributions and profit sharing
    • Can connect with any payroll provider
  • Enterprise
    $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 limit4
    • Flexible pricing options
    • Premium support for plan admin and employees
    • Support for plan transfers
Already have a 401(k)? Switch and get 0% AUM on transferred assets plus 12-months no employer fees.3 Schedule a demo

Foundational services & features on every plan

  • Fingers snapping simple icon.

    Automated plan admin

    We handle recordkeeping, custodial services,6 compliance testing,7 and guided employee onboarding.
  • Shield with a circle check inside of it simple icon.

    3(38) and 3(16) fiduciary services

    We can help file IRS and DOL reports and sign your 5500.8
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    Mobile app

    Your team can set up and manage their 401(k) account on their phone.
  • $0 rollover fee
  • $0 loan fee
  • $0 distribution fee
See here for more information regarding Guideline’s fees.

Help employees save more

Active employees are only charged an annual account fee starting at 0.15%9 with no transaction fees.
See here for more information regarding Guideline’s fees.

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.10

Retirement plans that put people first

  • A guiding hand

    We provide educational investing webinars, portfolio recommendations, and live support.
  • Seamless tech integrations

    Simple management

    Our modern dashboard and mobile app lets your employees view their savings and make updates at any time.

  • Low-cost investments

    The low-cost funds in our managed portfolios are diversified across asset classes. View our full fund menu.11

  • Intelligent investing

    All of our investment portfolios rebalance automatically to help your employees’ retirement goals stay on track.

Guideline at a glance

  • 60K+
    business clients12
  • $15B+
    invested for retirement on our platform13
  • Fintech 50
    Forbes 202214
See why 60,000+ businesses trust Guideline with their retirement12
Create your plan
  • 1
    401(k) offerings are provided and administered by Guideline, an independent third party and not provided by QuickBooks. QuickBooks is not a 401(k) plan administrator, fiduciary or other provider.
  • 2
    Employer fees included in this promotion are the monthly base fee after the new plan begins. 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 Guideline's fees. We reserve the right to modify or discontinue this promotion at any time without prior notice.
  • 3

    Fees included in this promotion are Guideline's monthly base fee, the monthly active participant fee and annual account fee on assets under management transferred. This offer ends December 31, 2024 and cannot be combined with other offers. We reserve the right to modify or discontinue this promotion at any time without prior notice. Terms & Conditions apply. Please contact Sales at hello@guideline.com for further details. We require all plan sponsors transferring an existing 401(k) to Guideline to set up and maintain an Enterprise plan for at least one year. After one year, the plan will be eligible to switch to a different pricing plan. We require all legally related groups to be in our Enterprise or Starter tiers.

  • 4
    May be adjusted annually to account for IRS cost-of-living adjustments. Learn more
  • 5
    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.
  • 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
    All plans of related entities must be administered by Guideline in order to provide compliance testing.
  • 8

    Investment advisory services for Guideline’s 401(k) (when 3(38) fiduciary services are appointed) are offered by Guideline Investments, LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. 3(16) fiduciary services are 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.

  • 9
    This information is for illustrative purposes only, and is not intended to be construed as investment or tax advice or as an assurance or guarantee of future performance. Investing involves risk, and investments may lose value. Investment advisory services for Guideline’s 401(k) product (when 3(38) fiduciary services are appointed) 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.
  • 10
    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.
  • 11
    Investment advisory services for Guideline’s 401(k) product (when 3(38) fiduciary services are appointed) are offered by Guideline Investments, LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. See the Form ADV 2A Brochure for more information regarding services and fees.
  • 12
    As of April 2025
  • 13
    Total number of Savers, both active and non-active, that have participated in Guideline products from 2016-2024.
  • 14
    Forbes’ Most Innovative Fintech Companies of 2022

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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