Retirement benefits for businesses of all sizes
See how our plans, services, tools and support can help your employees confidently plan for their future.
Find out how we can help you with:
Make retirement plan administration easy, keep employees engaged
Small business retirement plans work best when personal data informs decision-making. ADP’s proactive approach delivers solutions you need to manage your plan and help employees meet their goals. As a trusted retirement plan provider, ADP offers employee savings plan solutions that are easy to administer and designed to fit your business.
Easy
Simplified experiences for employers and employees
Smart
Data-driven tools that power better outcomes
Human
Real help, from real people when you need it.
Throughout the relationship, you’ll work with dedicated ADP reps who are committed to you — and your success.
Not sure which plan is best for your business? We can help.
With us, you get a team of experienced retirement professionals who are ready to help you evaluate a range of retirement plans for employers and employees alike.
401(k) retirement plan services and investment choices
A 401(k) is a qualified profit-sharing plan that allows employees to contribute a portion of their wages to an individual account. You can also contribute to employees’ accounts — this is often done through a match of what an employee contributes.
If you choose a 401(k) plan, you’ll need to decide which investment options your employee can choose to invest in. Whether your advisor is providing investment advisory services, or you are considering hiring a third party for this support, ADP can accommodate either approach.2
Our retirement plan solutions meet the unique needs of your business — no matter how many employees you have. See which fit is right for you.
SAVE4RETIREMENT Pooled Employer Plan (PEP)
For midsized and enterprise organizations seeking efficiency and fiduciary relief, the SAVE4RETIREMENT Pooled Employer Plan (PEP) offers simplified administration under a single plan managed by trusted providers. Get seamless payroll integration, shared fiduciary support, and a streamlined experience built to help your workforce save confidently for retirement.
Powerful, integrated tech and experienced support for charities and nonprofits
Your organization is committed to doing good — and we’re committed to providing retirement plan benefits built on a flexible, scalable platform and supported by a team of knowledgeable retirement specialists.
- A highly skilled and dedicated service team
- Investment continuity and best-fit fund lineup
- Intuitive dashboards and automated processes
- Data-powered insights and analytics to aid decision-making
- Comprehensive integration and continuous data sharing
The smart, streamlined retirement option for small businesses
Our best retirement plan for 1-9 employees. Affordable and easy to use, ADP Starter-k Complete streamlines the 401(k) experience for you and your employees. You’ll get:
- Monthly base recordkeeping fee of $100, regardless of plan or participant activity
- $0 participant fee for 0–4 employees
- $5 participant fee for 5+ employees
- Automatic enrollment that makes it easy for participants to effortlessly enroll and save for their future
- Lower contribution limits and no employer match, exempting you from most annual compliance tests
- Simplified administrative services with embedded 3(16) administrative fiduciary services and 3(38) investment management services
SIMPLE IRA options for small businesses
Both employees and employers can contribute to a SIMPLE IRA (Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees). Employee contributions are tax-deferred and employers must make either a matching contribution or a nonelective contribution.
This type of plan can be an attractive option for small businesses since it requires:
- Less paperwork than a 401(k) plan
- Fewer compliance burdens
- No minimum participation
Administrative fees can be as little as $600, and you may qualify for a tax credit for start-up administrative costs. Plus, you can deduct annual employer contributions to the plan as a business expense.3
For more information about SIMPLE IRAs, contact us.
SEP IRA options for self-employed individuals and small business owners
If you are self-employed or a small business owner, you can make tax-deferred and tax-deductible employer contributions to a SEP-IRA plan for each employee. SEP IRAs provide key benefits to business owners:
SEP IRAs provide key benefits to business owners:
- Contribution amounts are flexible
- Contribution limits are higher than a traditional IRA
- Contributions are deductible from the employer's income
- No compliance filings are required
To learn more about SEP IRAs, contact us.
Benefits administration made easy with ADP
Managing employee retirement benefits shouldn’t feel complicated. ADP’s retirement services simplify plan setup, payroll integration and ongoing administration - so you can focus on growing your business while helping your team build financial security.
Design your plan
ADP helps you customize employer retirement plan options based on your company’s goals. Choose from flexible 401(k), Starter-k, SIMPLE or SEP IRA plans that scale with your business and support employee savings.
Combine your 401(k) with payroll
Simplify recordkeeping and reduce manual errors by connecting your payroll and 401(k) systems. ADP’s embedded retirement plan technology syncs payroll and retirement data automatically, ensuring accurate deductions and end-to-end accountability every pay cycle.
Investment choice & transparency
Give your employees confidence through a wide range of objective, non-proprietary investment options. ADP’s retirement plan platform provides clear reporting, real-time account access and tools that help participants make informed decisions.
Affordable 401(k) plans for any sized business
ADP offers affordable 401(k) plans designed for companies of all sizes - from startups to large organizations. With straightforward pricing, built-in compliance support, and automated features, managing your retirement benefits has never been easier.
Retirement tools, resources and info to help your business
Tax Credit Calculator
See the potential savings your business might be missing out on with the SECURE 2.0 Act.
SECURE 2.0
Recent provisions in SECURE 2.0 may make offering a 401(k) plan more affordable than ever.
State Mandates
New state mandates will come into effect in 2026. Learn how they may affect your business.
See how ADP can help you create a plan that both attracts top talent and is easy to manage.
Advanced technology and proactive service make plan admin easy
We’re here to help you reduce the time you spend on plan administration. We’ll provide you with affordable options that best match your needs, manage your compliance and even proactively flag issues for you.
- Seamless integration of payroll and retirement plans
- Single sign-on accessibility for your employees
- Powerful self-service tools to keep people engaged
- Trusted support for you and your team
Real reps, real solutions: We do retirement different
Our team members bring passion, knowledge and a consultative approach to every relationship, simplifying retirement planning for your business, and guiding you every step of the way. You’re not just getting retirement solutions, you’re getting real people who care about — and are committed to — your success.
Workplace financial wellness solutions for employees
Our resources, plans and tools offer long-term financial support to your team, increasing productivity, engagement and satisfaction. We offer:
- An award-winning employee education program
- A Financial Wellness website4 to help employees plan for life’s financial challenges
- A Retirement Readiness Score5, which helps your employees understand where they are in saving for retirement
What our clients are saying
ADP makes a great strategic partner because of all the new ways they’re working with our profession: analytics, data, insights, automation, and integrating a better human experience. ADP has the right people and the right technology to help CPAs be that value-added advisor.
Tom Hood Exec. VP Business Growth & Development, AICPA
Watch Testimonial See case study
A value-added provider
Amazon DSP chooses ADP for retirement services
With flexible, customizable retirement plan options, a reputation for exceptional service, and advanced technology that makes plan administration easy, it’s no wonder companies like Amazon trust ADP to provide innovative, secure, retirement solutions.
ADP Earns 1st Place For:
- Financial Wellness
- Pre-Retirement Preparation
- Special Projects for Retirement Success Pod(k)ast
Best employee retirement plan
For the 4th consecutive year, ADP was named best for small business by Business.com
Business.com article published July 08, 2025. Pension and Investments Award published March 11, 2025.
Webinars and on demand retirement insights
Make confident decisions with timely webinars from ADP Retirement Services. Join upcoming sessions or watch past events on-demand – each designed to help you stay current, support your workforce, and make confident decisions in a shifting retirement landscape.
Retirement FAQs
What are retirement plan services?
Retirement plan services include professional assistance, tools and plan administration support that help businesses manage employer-sponsored retirement plans and offer retirement packages for employees. Providers like ADP handle payroll integration, compliance, and participant guidance to simplify plan management.
What types of retirement plans can I offer employees?
You may be able to offer various retirement plans to your employees-401(k)s, IRAs, pension plans, and profit-sharing plans all with different features and benefits.
What are the benefits of offering retirement plans for employees?
Offering retirement plans to your employees can attract top talent, enhance employee satisfaction, and potentially provide tax benefits for your company, all while helping employees save for the future.
What are the most common retirement plans?
The most common employer retirement plans include 401(k)s, SIMPLE IRAs and SEP IRAs. Each type offers different features, eligibility requirements, and contribution limits to fit businesses of all sizes.
What is a defined contribution?
A defined contribution is the amount that an employer or employee regularly contributes to a retirement account, such as a 401(k). The total benefit depends on those contributions and the investment performance over time.
What is a non-qualified plan?
A non-qualified deferred compensation plan (NQDC) is typically designed to reward and retain key executive talent. It allows employers to defer additional compensation beyond qualified plan limits but unlike a qualified plan, amounts held in a trust are not fully protected and subject to the creditors of the employer.
What’s the difference between a qualified and nonqualified retirement plan?
Qualified retirement plans offer employers the ability to take tax deductions on contributions to the plan; they offer employees the opportunity to save in a trust on a tax-deferred basis. Nonqualified plans also present tax deferral opportunities to employees but generally offered only to a select group of management employees; moreover, employees' contributions are not placed in a trust and are considered assets of the employer.
What are typical retirement plan management fees?
Retirement plan management fees vary based on the plan type and provider. These may include recordkeeping, investment, and administrative costs. To better understand plan management fees, read ‘What Does a 401(k) Really Cost? How to Compare Fees Across Providers’.
How does ADP support retirement plan investment decisions?
At ADP, our open fund architecture provides access to over 13,000 investment options from approximately 180 investment managers. We're an independent recordkeeper, which means we maintain investment objectivity without pushing our own funds or hidden agendas.
Depending on your plan size and needs, you can choose between maximum customization through our open platform or simplified selection through our screened investment tiers. For plans seeking additional protection, ADP offers 3(38) and 3(21) services, providing professional fund selection and ongoing oversight through ADP Strategic Plan Services and Mesirow.
What does a retirement plan like a 401(k) cost?
From setup, administration and compliance to matching contributions, 401(k) costs can vary depending on your retirement plan provider.
Retirement plan designed for small businesses, like ADP's Starter-k Complete are the most affordable and start at:
- 0-4 employees: $100/month with no per-participant fee
- 5+ employees: $100/month plus $5 per participant
Employers can choose to add additional services to handle certain plan administrative tasks and the selection and monitoring of plan investments.
Beyond competitive pricing, ADP Starter-k Complete delivers valuable plan features like:
- Automatic enrollment at 3% makes saving effortless for employees
- Simplified compliance through lower contribution limits and no employer match requirement
Whether you're looking for a plan that starts at $100/month, our most popular 401k Essential option or a more robust plan for a larger workforce, we have the 401(k) plan that fits your business. Get Pricing
How does the SECURE 2.0 Act affect retirement plans?
The SECURE 2.0 Act proposes updates to retirement plans, aiming to grow participation, increase individual retirement savings, and improve retirement income by impacting participant options.
Is contribution matching mandatory?
Employer matching contributions are not mandatory. However, many employers do offer an employer contribution match to encourage employee participation, attract and retain talent and to leverage as a tax advantage for their business.
Resources and insights
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Retirement strategies
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How to evaluate retirement plans
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401(k) Retirement Plans for Small Business Owners
- 17th Annual U.S. Employee Benefit Trends Study — MetLife, October 2018.
- ADP, Inc. and its affiliates do not endorse or recommend specific investment companies or products, financial advisors or service providers or engage or compensate any financial advisors for the provision of advice to plans or participants. In assembling and presenting its investment platforms, ADP is not undertaking to provide impartial investment advice or to give advice in a fiduciary capacity.
- Please consult your tax advisor to determine if you are eligible for this federal tax credit.
- The Enrich catalogue of financial wellness topics is intended for educational and informational purposes only. This information is intended for general knowledge and does not necessarily reflect ADP, ADP affiliates or your employer. Content in this library should not be construed as financial, tax, investing or legal recommendations or advice. Calculations derived from your personal input are provided as general and hypothetical illustrations. For specific retirement plan details, please visit my.adp.com or contact your employer directly.
- IMPORTANT: Retirement Readiness makes no assumption about your tax status, savings, early withdrawal penalties, required minimum distributions and should not be used as the primary basis for any planning decisions. The likelihood of various retirement savings outcomes are hypothetical, do not reflect actual investment results, or market fluctuations and are not guarantees of future results. It does not portray actual investment results or guarantee future results. Results for potential savings scenarios may vary with each use and over time.
Retirement Counselors are registered representatives of ADP Broker-Dealer, Inc. (ADP BD), Member FINRA, an affiliate of ADP, Inc., One ADP Blvd, Roseland, NJ 07068. Only registered representatives of ADPBD may offer and sell such retirement products and services or speak to retirement plan features and/or investment options available in any ADP retirement product, and only associated persons of ADP Strategic Plan Services, LLC (SPS) may speak to any investment management or advisory services provided by SPS or any third party in connection with such ADP retirement products. SPS is an SEC Registered Investment Adviser. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or services.
SIMPLE IRA and SEP are offered through ADP Broker-Dealer, Inc. (ADPBD), Member FINRA. Only registered representatives of ADPBD may offer and sell such retirement products and services or speak to retirement plan features and/or investment options available in any ADP retirement product. Unless otherwise agreed in writing with a client, ADP, Inc. and its affiliates (ADP) do not endorse or recommend specific investment companies or products, financial advisors or service providers; engage or compensate any financial advisor or firm for the provision of advice; offer financial, investment, tax or legal advice or management services; or serve in a fiduciary capacity with respect to retirement plans.
Unless otherwise disclosed or agreed to in writing with a client, ADP, Inc. and its affiliates (ADP) do not endorse or recommend specific investment companies or products, financial advisors or service providers; engage or compensate any financial advisor or firm for the provision of advice; offer financial, investment, tax or legal advice or management services; or serve in a fiduciary capacity with respect to retirement plans. Investment options are available through the applicable entity(ies) for each retirement product.
Investment options in the “ADP Direct Products” are available through either ADP Broker-Dealer, Inc. (ADP BD), Member FINRA. Nothing in these materials is intended to be, nor should be construed as, advice or a recommendation for a particular situation or plan. Registered representatives of ADP Broker-Dealer, Inc. do not offer investment, tax or legal advice to individuals. Please consult with your own advisors and financial professional for such advice.
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