The small business way to 401(k)

Meet your state retirement mandate with an affordable, powerful retirement plan—get started with no employer fees for 3 months.1

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State retirement programs in a nutshell

In recent years, states across the country have enacted retirement savings programs to help individuals save for retirement—potentially bridging the retirement gap for as many as 41 million U.S. workers.2

While the rules of each state program vary greatly, they currently all give employers the option to choose between the state-sponsored plan or a private plan, like a Guideline 401(k).3

A visual representation of the retirement savings landscape.

Get a small business 401(k) that gives you more

  • A visual representation of Guideline 401(k) dashboard for employee onboarding and payroll management.

    Simplify your day-to-day

    We can connect with top payroll providers to automate plan administration and employee onboarding—so you can add a popular work benefit without all the added paperwork. We also take care of investment management, government filings and more.

  • An image of a puzzle representing the flexibility and customization options available with Guideline 401(k) plans.

    Customize your plan

    With a Guideline 401(k), you have a lot of options. Employer matching, profit sharing, vesting schedules, eligibility requirements—you can add these features to fit your business and create a stronger retirement benefit.

  • An image showing the low-cost investment options and zero transaction fees available with Guideline 401(k) plans.

    Help employees save more

    With a Guideline 401(k), your employees can contribute up to $20,500 in pre-tax dollars toward retirement in 2022 ($27,000 if they are 50+).4 Plus, they’ll get access to low-cost investments and zero transaction fees.5

  • An infographic showing the different investment options available through Guideline 401(k) plans.

    Give your employees confidence

    We provide 40+ investment options and 6 professionally managed portfolios. We also provide educational webinars, portfolio recommendations and live support—so your employees can start saving with confidence.

Find your state6

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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.7

Everyone has a future.

Now everyone can invest in one.

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See our Privacy Policy to learn how we use and protect your information.
  • 1
    Employer fees include the monthly base fee and a monthly participant fee. Other participant-paid fees will apply. There may be additional costs associated with transferring into another plan tier during and after the end of the promotion. See here for more information regarding Guideline's fees. Guideline reserves the right to modify or discontinue this promotion at any time without prior notice.
  • 2
    The retirement gap of 41 million US workers is an approximation calculated from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 32% of workers not having access to retirement benefits and Statisa.com report of 127 million full time private workers who lack access to retirement benefits through their employer, both data points were from calendar year 2021.
  • 3
    Requirements to report your exemption may apply. State program details are subject to change by the state without notice and should be checked prior to making any decisions.
  • 4
    Subject to IRS cost of living adjustments. In 2023, individuals can contribute up to $22,500 between their traditional and Roth accounts. If you’re 50 or older, you can contribute an additional $7,500 ($30,000 in total).
  • 5
    Information shown here assumes a static balance of $10,000 per month, an assumed annual account fee of 0.15% to 0.35% on assets under management (calculated and deducted on a monthly basis at 1/12 of the annual stated rate (0.15%-0.35%) based on the month-end account balance) and does not account for common factors that affect the value of your account balance over time such as gains, losses, distributions, additional contributions, etc. It’s not intended to be taken as investment advice or as an assurance or guarantee of future performance. The fee presented does not include other fees that an IRA owner may incur, including, but not limited to, from mutual fund expense ratios. 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 our Form ADV 2A Brochure for more information regarding fees.
  • 6
    The information provided herein is general in nature and is for informational purposes only. It should not be used as a substitute for specific tax, legal and/or financial advice Guideline has prepared this summary from third-party sources as of December 2024. This information is considered to be reliable at the time of writing, may not necessarily be all-inclusive, is not guaranteed as to accuracy and is subject to change at any time without notice. You are advised to consult a qualified financial adviser or tax professional before relying on the information provided. Deadlines, fees, and other program details are subject to change by the state without notice and should be checked prior to making any decisions. If you already offer a qualified employer-sponsored plan, exemptions may be required. Please consult with your state's specific exemption information for more details.
  • 7, †
    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.

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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