Meet the mandate.
And then some.

Let someone else handle the heavy lifting for once. A little investment can go a long way to finding peace of mind.

Join the 60,000+ businesses that trust Guideline.1

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60K+
businesses1
1M+
savers2
$15B+
invested for retirement3
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Innovation by Design Award 20244
Rich H.Pallas Care
State retirement programs aren’t really free. You need to consider the administrative labor added to every payroll run.Client of Guideline. Views may not be representative of other clients.

Find your retirement mandate

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.5

Click on your state below for more details.

Your 401(k) costs could be covered up to 100%.6
See if you’re eligible

Why Guideline

Picking a provider that has your back can pay dividends
  • Example visual of what happens when a payroll is connected with Guideline.

    Streamline admin work

    Take most manual admin work out of the equation with automated payroll deductions and seamless employee onboarding.
  • Abstract visual of building blocks

    Optimize your plan

    Build your flexible 401(k) plan with the features your team needs, including employer matching, profit sharing, vesting schedules, eligibility requirements, and more.
  • Visual of Guideline's mobile app icon

    Delight your employees

    With an intuitive dashboard and an award-winning mobile app4, it’s easy for your employees to access their account - anytime, anywhere.
  • Abstract visual of two bar charts.

    Comply with confidence

    Guideline has your back – Meet the mandate without worrying about manual contributions and maintaining employee records.

State governments don’t specialize in retirement. We do.

  • Desktop with mouse on screen. Simple icon.

    ~9 minutes to get started

    We help get you set up and enroll your employees for you, while the state program can add more work to your already full plate.
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    Easy and affordable

    74% of customers went with Starter over the state’s program due to less complexity or low cost.7
  • Two hands shaking simple icon.

    Award-winning customer service

    With Guideline, you and your team can get fast, live support via phone and email — bolstering an already strong benefit.8
Flexible options fit for your business
From what you need today to where you’ll be tomorrow, a Guideline 401(k) scales with your business.

  • Starter

    Simply meet your state’s mandate

    Find peace-of-mind with an out-of-the-box solution. Starter’s simplified plan design and no employer matching makes it easy and affordable to meet the state mandate.
    Meet the mandate

  • Standard 401(k)

    Comply with a more comprehensive benefit

    Take your new employee benefit further than the state requires by offering a 401(k) plan with higher savings limits and more custom plan designs.
    Beat the mandate

Calculator

Your new 401(k) could be 100% covered

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.6

Skip the state mandate stress.
Get started with Guideline today.

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See our Privacy Policy to learn how we use and protect your information.

Explore more

  • Payroll integrations

    With payroll integrations built from the ground up, plan management is a breeze.
    Find your provider

  • Plans & pricing

    Our 401(k) plans come with low monthly costs and no transaction fees.
    Compare plans

  • Talk to a specialist

    Connect with a member of our team to craft a plan that meets your needs.
    Schedule a call
  • 1
    As of April 2025
  • 2
    As of April 2025
  • 3
    Total number of Savers, both active and non-active, that have participated in Guideline products from 2016-2024.
  • 4

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

  • 5
    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.
  • 6, †
    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.
  • 7
    Source: Based on data collected in 2024 from a survey of 81 Guideline Starter customers. The experiences of the respondents in this survey may not be representative of all people.
  • 8
    2025 The American Business Awards® Bronze Stevie Winner in the Customer Service Team of the Year - Financial Services & Insurance category. Guideline submitted an application fee to qualify. Please see the award criteria here.

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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