401k Plans for Small Businesses

Q: Are all employees eligible for a 401(k) plan?

All W-2 employees are eligible for a 401(k) plan, as long as they meet any age/time of service requirements set by the company. Part-time, hourly, and interns are also covered if they are W-2 employees.

Q: How many employees do I need to set up a 401(k)?

You only need 1 employee to set up a 401(k) plan by Guideline.

Q: How much will it cost to offer 401(k) benefits?

Plans start at $49/month plus $8/month per active participant. Guideline offers three pricing plans so businesses can choose what works for them.

Q: Are there contribution limits for my small business 401(k)?

Yes. For more information, visit the Internal Revenue Service’s website.

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401(k) PLANS BY GUIDELINE

Save for the future, invest in your team

Access affordable 401(k) plans that seamlessly connect with QuickBooks Payroll.**

See payroll plans

Business owner working with an employee. Inset image that reads, easy, affordable 401(k) plans.

Start saving in minutes

Set up in as little as 20 minutes and start saving for a retirement you deserve.**

Build a strong team

Attract talent and match contributions so your team can grow with you.

Keep more money

Affordable 401(k) plans by Guideline fit your budget and free up your cash.**

Payroll benefits overview page on laptop.

Access 401(k) plans in QuickBooks Payroll

QuickBooks teamed up with Guideline to keep 401(k) plans affordable and easy to manage.** Set up automatic contributions or let employees decide how much comes out of each paycheck.

Enrollment in a Guideline 401(k) plan with 10 employees participating, 6% from you and 6% match from employer.

Retirement plans for every budget

Pick the plan that’s right for you:

Core: A seamless Safe Harbor 401(k) for small businesses that want to make an employer contribution.
Flex: A 401(k) for businesses that want the flexibility to pick and choose features to meet their goals.
Max: Our most customizable 401(k) for business owners who want to maximize savings and receive dedicated support.

How it works

Get QuickBooks Payroll

Pick a 401(k) plan

Choose the right plan and set contribution levels for your business and employees.

Start saving

Pick a start date and start saving for retirement right away.

Explore 401(k) plans. Sign up

Expert support at your fingertips

Call a Guideline expert to get answers to all your 401(k) plan, training, and onboarding questions.**
Get personalized support from a dedicated account manager for an additional monthly fee.

Big business benefits on a small business budget

Explore all the employee services you can get with QuickBooks Payroll.

HR support

Access helpful resources or talk to an HR advisor. Stay compliant with help from Mineral, Inc.**

Get HR support

Workers' Compensation

Save money and get coverage for on-the-job injuries with a policy by Next.**

Find a policy

Health benefits

Offer affordable medical, dental, and vision insurance packages by SimplyInsured.**

Explore benefits

Frequently asked questions

Are all employees eligible for a 401(k) plan?

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

How much will it cost to offer 401(k) benefits?

Are there contribution limits for my small business 401(k)?

How can we help?

Talk to sales 1-877-202-0537

Monday - Friday, 5 AM to 6 PM PT

Get product support

Visit support page

Easily access 401(k) plans in QuickBooks Payroll

See payroll plans

Important offers, pricing details and disclaimers

Money movement services are provided by Intuit Payments Inc., licensed as a Money Transmitter by the New York State Department of Financial Services. For more information about Intuit Payments' money transmission licenses, please visit https://www.intuit.com/legal/licenses/payment-licenses/.

**Features

401(k) plan: 401(k) offerings are provided and administered by Guideline, an independent third party and not provided by Intuit. Intuit is not a 401(k) plan administrator, fiduciary, or other provider. Requires acceptance of Guideline’s Client Relationship Summary and Privacy Policy. Additional 401(k) plan fees will apply. Employees may manage their contributions directly with Guideline. Admin and payroll access required to sign up for a 401(k) plan with Guideline.

HR services: HR support is provided by experts at Mineral, Inc. Requires acceptance of Mineral’s privacy policy and Terms of Service. HR support center is available only to QuickBooks Online Premium and Elite subscriptions. HR advisor support is only available in QuickBooks Online Payroll Elite. HR support is not available to accountants who are calling on behalf of their clients.

Workers’ comp: Benefits are powered by AP Intego and require acceptance of AP Intego’s privacy policy and Terms of Service. Additional fees will apply. There is a monthly fee (currently, $5 per month) for QuickBooks Online Payroll Core users for the QuickBooks Workers’ Comp Payment Service. This non-refundable fee will be automatically added to each monthly Intuit invoice at the then-current price until you cancel. The fee is separate from any workers’ comp insurance policy premium by AP Intego Insurance Group. Workers’ Compensation Service requires an active and paid QuickBooks payroll subscription. Eligibility criteria applies to transfer active insurance policy broker of record, including insurance carrier, policy renewal date, and payment method. Workers compensation insurance not available in OH, ND, WA and WY.

Health benefits: Powered by SimplyInsured and requiring acceptance of SimplyInsured’s privacy policy and Terms of Service. Additional fees will apply. SimplyInsured does not offer insurance in HI, VT, and DC. Insurance coverage eligibility is not guaranteed, and dependently solely on the rules of the insurance carrier. The insurance carrier has sole and final discretion as to the eligibility for health insurance products.

Guideline experts: Guideline expert services are provided by and administered by Guideline, an independent third party and not provided by Intuit. Guideline live US-based support is available Monday through Friday, 6:00 AM to 4:00 PM PT.

Terms, conditions, pricing, special features, and service and support options subject to change without notice.

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