--- title: "401(k) Retirement Plan Provider for Businesses of All Sizes | ADP" description: "ADP makes it easy to set up and manage your business's 401(k) retirement plans. Learn more about our plan management tools and get pricing!" --- # 401(k) retirement plans that exceed your business needs Get affordable, unbiased 401(k) plan options that are easy to administer and keep your employees engaged. Starting at just $100/month Get Pricing ![Business.com Best Employee Retirement Plan](/-/media/adp/redesign2018/images/what-we-offer/benefits/retirement-images/adp_trophy_icon-02.png?h=6115&iar=0&w=5692&rev=8168fec09df5419a94309dab719fed41&hash=E58AE0D2342454E41B6D6B1B99B21655) ## Best Employee Retirement Plan for 2026 ADP was named best for small business by Business.com\* ## The right 401(k) for every business 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. ADP Starter-k Complete Our Best retirement plan for 1–9 Employees ### Starter-k Complete The smart, streamlined retirement option for **small businesses**. **Affordable and easy to use**, ADP Starter-k Complete streamlines the 401(k) experience for you and your employees. - **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 - No employer match required - Simplified administrative services - Roth contributions ![Monthly base fee of $100 per month with a monthly participant fee of $0.](/-/media/adp/refresh2025/images/what-we-offer/benefits/retirement/401k/rs_401k_starterktab_550w_en.png?h=462&iar=0&w=550&rev=8498d802acfe4ef199d783fc6f62a381&hash=9856EA7705A27E0C7DD7E70681C2E30A) ADP 401k Essential Our most popular retirement plan for 1–49 employees ### ADP 401k Essential **Low cost, feature-rich 401(k)** retirement planning solutions for small businesses. - Affordable - Streamlined, worry-free plan administration - Real-time payroll integration with ADP Smartsync® - 3(16) administrative fiduciary services and 3(38) investment management services - Engaging financial wellness tools and automatic enrollment - Award-winning ADP Mobile App ![Monthly base fee of $100 per month with a monthly participant fee of $0. ](/-/media/adp/refresh2025/images/what-we-offer/benefits/retirement/401k/rs_401k_401kessentialtab_550w_en.jpg?h=350&iar=0&w=550&rev=e043ffb4cdf14979b165e654f1652892&hash=895910BDDFE59D007F8EAF0EFA986BA8) ADP 401k Enhanced Our Best Retirement plan for 50–99 employees ### ADP 401k Enhanced Midsized businesses can get flexible retirement benefits that keep employees engaged and consultative support from our highly knowledgeable service team. - Flexible plan design and investment choice — with **no proprietary funds** - Radically **simplified compliance** process saves time and minimizes risk - Access to Third-Party Administrators **(TPAs)** and **3(16)** administrative fiduciary services - **3(21)**and **3(38)** investment management services available - **Personalized insights** through ADP’s unparalleled employee data ADP 401k Premier Our Best Retirement plan for 100+ employees ### ADP 401k Premier Our dedicated and seasoned service team supports the unique plan needs of larger businesses, while seamless HCM integration saves time and reduces risk. - **Easy plan administration** with a dedicated client service manager - **Insightful guidance** from a personal relationship manager - Support for **mergers, acquisitions and spin-offs** with an ERISA consultant - **Plan-specific communications** for employees drives participation - **Curated content** increases retirement knowledge and financial wellness - **Specialized plan support** for P.E. firms and profit-sharing only plans PEP Our best pooled retirement plan for 100+ employees ### SAVE4RETIREMENT Pooled Employer Plan (PEP) The SAVE4RETIREMENT PEP combines fiduciary expertise, plan administration and payroll integration. Designed for organizations seeking to reduce administrative burden and streamline compliance, the **PEP allows unrelated employers to participate in a single plan** with ADP as the recordkeeper. - Shared fiduciary and administrative oversight - Seamless payroll integration with SmartSync® - Compliance support and reduced filing requirements - Designed for midsized to enterprise organizations [Download our brochure to learn more](https://marketing-assets.adp.com/api/public/content/9ac2dc27a10b4d9bb48e050987f9b46c?v=bdb5798b) ![SAVE4RETIREMENT Pooled Employer Plan guidebook cover image.](https://marketing-assets.adp.com/api/public/content/272d8207a48f4f488d898735d50f7022?v=8ec3e399) Get Pricing ## Why our 401(k) plans can make a difference for your business Retirement is no longer a “nice-to-have” benefit — it’s a requirement for hiring the right people. And now, with SECURE 2.0 Act tax benefits, discover potential tax breaks to help offset expenses. Performance ### 9/10Business owners say offering a retirement plan positively impacts employee attitude and performance.2 Employee demands ### 60%Of employees today consider retirement plans a “must-have” benefit.3 Recruitment & retention ### 90%Of business owners say retirement plans give them a competitive edge in hiring and retaining employees.2 ## Real reps, real solutions: We do retirement different Our knowledgeable, experienced team members understand your business’s unique needs and work at every turn to help your employees achieve better financial outcomes. Let's Talk ![RS\_401k\_CTA\_RealReps\_400w\_EN\_VID](/-/media/adp/refresh2025/images/what-we-offer/benefits/retirement/401k/rs_401k_cta_realreps_400w_en_vid.jpg?h=242&iar=0&w=400&rev=b0149318a66d44a581c9acc90a7342c0&hash=9B544FBFDED34C26476065A48196A784) ## ADP is a 401(k) provider transforming the way people save for retirement At ADP, we provide resources to help your employees take control of their 401(k) planning. Through easy enrollment, clear dashboards, financial education and useful tools, we help participants understand how to think about the future and design a path to get there. Unbiased Choices Unbiased choices ### A wide array of unbiased 401k retirement planning investment choices Making the best possible investment decisions for your retirement 401k plan is critical to its success. Whether your advisor is providing investment advisory services or you are considering hiring a third party for this support, ADP offers two distinct options for selecting investments:
 - **Our open-fund architecture** provides access to over 13,000 nonproprietary investment options from 300+ investment managers. You and your advisor can compare and evaluate funds to find the right candidates for consideration. - **Our screened investment tiers** put simplicity at the forefront by offering fund tiers that have been evaluated and are organized based on ADP’s underwriting criteria.4 In both options, as an independent record keeper, ADP is able to provide retirement 401k plan investment options without any bias or agenda. Risk Control Risk Control ### Control risk and reduce your fiduciary burden Today, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, part of ERISA, is actively overseeing, and ensuring the integrity of, the private employee retirement system in the U.S. Sponsoring a retirement 401(k) plan makes your company responsible for the investment selection and monitoring associated with your plan. That’s often more than most small or midsized companies want to take on. **ADP can help you reduce this “investment fiduciary burden.”** - For retirement 401(k) plans working with an advisor, Mesirow Financial offers co-fiduciary or investment manager services, depending on the support needed.5 - For retirement 401(k) plans not working with an advisor, ADP's affiliate, [ADP Strategic Plan Services, LLC](https://www.adpstrategicplanservices.com/), is available.6 ![Monthly base fee of $100 per month with a monthly participant fee of $0. ](/-/media/adp/refresh2025/images/what-we-offer/benefits/retirement/401k/rs_401k_riskcontroltab_550w_en.jpg?h=350&iar=0&w=550&rev=252a25eb46a44621b1d7926e51f122f8&hash=B25CC7F097028C18A4921478126D3D04) Easy to Set Up Easy to Set Up ### Flexible plan designs that are easy to set up Whether you are looking to **establish a new retirement 401(k) plan or move your plan to ADP**, we can help you design 401(k) planning that meets the needs of your workforce and answers questions like:
 - At what age should my employees be eligible to participate in the plan? - How long should employees work for me before qualifying to join the plan? - Should my employees have access to a third-party online investment advisory service? - Is a **[Safe Harbor retirement 401k](/resources/articles-and-insights/articles/s/safe-harbor-401k)** plan a good choice for my company? - Should the plan offer employees a Roth 401(k) option? - Would my employees benefit from automatic enrollment to a retirement 401(k) plan? And when it comes to getting up and running, **we make implementation easy**, with a specialized ADP manager to help ensure the process runs smoothly. Seamless Integration Seamless Integration ### Experience embedded retirement and payroll with SMARTSync® For companies using ADP payroll and HR solutions like **[RUN Powered by ADP®](/what-we-offer/products/run-powered-by-adp)** and **ADP Workforce Now®**, SMARTSync is an efficient way to connect ADP’s payroll and retirement 401(k) plan record-keeping systems. Not only do **embedded solutions seamlessly flow real-time data**, they also allow you to review, verify and manage information — and even assume responsibility for accuracy and compliance, **giving you more peace of mind**. In recent surveys, ADP customers have reported real benefits, including **time savings and reduced compliance concerns.** ## Get easier administration and bigger engagement with 401(k) plans from ADP Through superior support, technology and flexibility, our 401(k) plans meet the unique needs of your business and your people — whether you have one employee or thousands. - ### Smart Data-driven tools and insights that power better outcomes - ### Easy Simplified 401(k) experiences for you and your employees - ### Human Real help and support from real people — [watch this video for more](https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/r-YHEmc6xWA?amp;rel=0) Get Started State Mandates ## Do new state mandates affect your business? Many states now require employers to offer retirement plans, with others soon to follow. Is your state on the list? [Learn More](/resources/state-mandated-retirement-plans) - ![The 2025 Pension & Investments Eddy Awards](/-/media/adp/reskin2022/images/whatweoffer/benefits/retirement/overview/cardimage_2025-eddy-awards.png?h=172&iar=0&w=234&rev=32af2f135646454f8ac40d205edb4211&hash=3FD2C2BB5976CF415DDFD60BF04FB974) ### ADP Earns 1st Place† For: - Financial Wellness - Pre-Retirement Preparation - Special Projects for Retirement Success Pod(k)ast - ![ADP Business.com best employee retirement plan bes for small business badge.](/-/media/adp/reskin2022/images/whatweoffer/benefits/retirement/overview/cardimage_bestemployeeretirementplan_143w_en.png?h=171&iar=0&w=143&rev=bf9b5d5931d449d793a80a73ae0f64f0&hash=2FE73210E091D65C4975676BF5AC3EAD) ### Best Employee Retirement Plan for 2026 ADP was named best for small business by Business.com‡ Offering a 401(k) plan is more affordable for small businesses than ever, thanks to new tax credits introduced by the SECURE 2.0 Act. Discover your potential savings with our Tax Credit Calculator. Resources ## 401(k) webinars, insights and more Scan our resources to learn more about retirement — and how 401(k) plans from ADP can help drive your business forward. - [ Webinar Engaging Your Team ### Women's Perspectives on Saving & Investing Insights on women's financial challenges and retirement readiness. Watch Now ](https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/5300142/59292F7C1ED45B6C365A970D4CA54A7E?partnerref=site) - [ Webinar Managing Your Workforce ### Scaling Your Business with Fiduciary Governance Best Practices An on-demand webinar designed exclusively to help financial advisors grow their business while strengthening their fiduciary expertise. Watch Now ](https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/5239410/EC7923D5532D904CCC04066CB3ABF0A0?partnerref=site) - [ Webinar Maintaining Compliance ### SECURE 2.0 and Beyond: What's new? What's next? Join to gain insight into key features of SECURE 2.0. Don't miss the opportunity to prepare for what’s next in 2026. Watch Now ](https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/5205097/A3B59FC4417AB360BE241F6F1CA78358?partnerref=site) ## 401(k) FAQs ### How much does an ADP Retirement Plan cost? Our starter 401(k) referred to as ADP Starter-k Complete has a $100 monthly base recordkeeping fee regardless of plan activity and is perfect for ultra-small businesses. For businesses of 1-4 employees, the monthly participant fee is $0. Once you meet 5 or more active participants, its $5 per participant, per month. This structure is designed to keep pricing predictable while the plan is being set up and maintained. Participant fees (when applicable) are billed based on the number of active participants at the end of the monthly billing cycle. The $100 monthly base fee supports ongoing plan maintenance and core recordkeeping. With our ADP Starter-k Complete plan, recordkeeping services include Form 5500 filing, which states your plan meets retirement benefit responsibilities. Some employers may choose add-ons or incur delivery-related costs depending on setup and preferences: - SPS 3(38): $0 until the plan has assets, then $8.33/month (shown as $25/quarter) with a $100 annual minimum, plus an asset-based component referenced as 10 bps with a $100,000 threshold. - Participant notices: $2.50 per mailing, and free if sending electronically. For other plan types (such as a traditional 401(k), Safe Harbor 401(k), 403(b), SIMPLE IRA, SEP IRA, or a PEP), pricing typically varies based on factors like employee count, plan design, service model, and the level of compliance/administrative support needed. If you’re comparing options, the fastest path is to [get pricing](#) for the plan type that matches your business needs. ### What is a 401(k) retirement plan, and how does it work? A 401(k) is a workplace retirement plan that lets employees contribute a portion of pay into an individual account. Contributions are generally made pre-tax (traditional) or after-tax (Roth, if available), and accounts can grow tax-deferred. Employers may also choose to contribute (e.g., match or other employer contributions) depending on plan design. ### What types of workplace retirement plans does ADP support? ADP Retirement Services supports several common workplace retirement plan types, including: - 401(k) (traditional and Roth features, depending on plan design) - Safe Harbor 401(k) (a 401(k) design intended to help satisfy certain nondiscrimination requirements) - Starter 401(k) - 403(b) (for eligible organizations) - SIMPLE IRA - SEP IRA - Pooled Employer Plans (PEPs) ### What are the benefits of offering employees a 401(k) retirement plan? For employees, a 401(k) can make saving easier through payroll deductions, potential employer contributions (if offered), and tax advantages depending on contribution type. For employers, offering a plan can support recruiting and retention, reinforce a financial wellness benefit, and may help eligible businesses access available tax incentives (where applicable). ### Are employers required to offer a 401(k) or retirement plan to employees? Employers are not federally required to offer a retirement plan. However, some states have retirement mandate programs that require eligible employers to either enroll in a state program or offer a qualifying private retirement plan. Requirements vary by state and business size.. ### What retirement plan should I order as a small business? Is there an introductory 401(k) plan? Many small businesses compare: - Starter 401(k) (streamlined structure) - Traditional 401(k) (more flexibility as you grow) - Safe Harbor 401(k) (can reduce certain testing concerns depending on design) - SIMPLE IRA or SEP IRA (often simpler in some respects, with different contribution/design rules) - PEP (for employers who prefer a pooled structure) The right choice depends on many factors including the number of employees, whether you want to contribute as an employer, how much administration you want to manage internally, and how important plan design flexibility is as your business scales. ### Can a small business offer a 401(k)? Yes. Small businesses — including very small employers — can offer a 401(k). Eligibility, setup steps, and ongoing administration vary by plan type and design. Many employers also prioritize solutions that connect contributions and eligibility tracking directly to payroll to reduce manual work. ### How do I evaluate the right retirement plan provider for my employees? A practical way to evaluate providers is to focus on operational fit and long-term usability: - Plan administration & recordkeeping: contribution tracking, eligibility, vesting, participant activity - Payroll integration: automated calculation and processing of contributions from payroll data - Compliance support: nondiscrimination testing (as applicable), required filings, participant disclosures - Participant experience: enrollment, contribution changes, investment selection, account monitoring via mobile/desktop - Scalability: ability to support your plan as your workforce grows or becomes more complex ### What are the responsibilities of a retirement 401(k) plan administrator? [Retirement 401(k) plan administrators](/resources/articles-and-insights/articles/p/partnering-with-third-party-administrators) are responsible for the day-to-day operations and administrative tasks to ensure that retirement plans are compliant with regulations and help everyone on the plan enroll and save for retirement. They work with legal documents, analyze, test, and monitor the plan's operation. ### How do I set up a 401(k) for my business? Creating a 401(k) — sometimes called 'sponsoring a 401(k)' — involves a number of steps. Often times a plan provider will handle many of these steps for you. Activities required for establishing a 401(k) include selecting a plan, setting up a trust to hold plan assets, maintaining records of employee contributions and values, and providing information to plan participants. There are other administrative tasks as well like connecting your 401(k) plan contributions to your payroll process. Get started Find the right retirement solution for your business. By submitting this form, you acknowledge that you have read our [Privacy Statement for Business Contacts](/privacy) and agree to our [Terms of Use](/legal). †[Business.com](https://www.business.com/categories/best-employee-retirement-plans/) article last updated Apr 01, 2026. ‡[Pension and Investments Award](https://www.pionline.com/defined-contribution/pensions-investments-announces-61-eddy-award-winners/) published March 11, 2025. 1. Internal survey of 450 RUN Powered by ADP® customers who offer retirement plans through ADP Retirement Services in 2025. 2. [**ebri.org**](https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.ebri.org/__;!!L8-7AA!Q7c83CrRRcr-iGFFpxDCG9Xrn7RwBJOLWjzrNoolh5o4xjipuaUkQuh-K4qAFDSwYBPOxrCch-xJ28ssyMpAuO4uc7hMqw$) Issue Brief, February 1, 2024. 3. 17th Annual U.S. Employee Benefit Trends Study — MetLife, October 2018. 4. EBSA Fact Sheet 10/14/2020. 5. Fiduciary services are provided through Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc., (“MFIM”) an SEC-registered investment advisor. Mesirow Financial is not affiliated with ADP, Inc. or its affiliates. Mesirow Financial refers to Mesirow Financial Holdings, Inc. and its divisions, subsidiaries and affiliates. The Mesirow Financial name and logo are registered service marks of Mesirow Financial Holdings, Inc. Advisory Fees are described in MFIM Form ADV Part 2 Mesirow Financial does not provide legal or tax advice. The specific instances in which a party may be entitled to indemnity are set forth in detail in the agreement between the plan sponsor and Mesirow Financial, and nothing herein is intended to modify that agreement. 6. Investment advisory and management services provided through ADP Strategic Plan Services, LLC, an SEC registered investment advisor (SPS). Registration does not imply any level of skill or training. SPS affiliates may also receive fees paid by manufacturers or distributors of the investment options included in this product in connection to other professional services provided by the applicable SPS affiliate. The advice provided by SPS is in no way related or contingent upon the payment received for these other services. SPS and its affiliates do not offer investment, tax or legal advice to individuals. SPS is not acting and does not purport to act in any way as an advisor or in a fiduciary capacity vis-a-vis any plan beneficiaries. It is strongly suggested that any prospective client obtain independent advice in relation to any investment, financial, legal, tax, accounting or regulatory issues discussed herein. Analyses and opinions contained herein may be based on assumptions that if altered can change the analyses or opinions expressed. Nothing contained herein shall constitute any representation or warranty as to future performance of any financial instrument or other market or economic measure. 7. Service Integration Analysis - Small Market; Retirement Insights, LLC, February 2018. 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**](https://www.finra.org/), an affiliate of ADP, Inc., One ADP Blvd, Roseland, NJ or (in the case of certain investments) ADP, Inc. Only licensed representatives of ADP BD or, in the case of certain products, of a broker-dealer firm that has executed a marketing agreement with ADP, Inc. may offer and sell ADP retirement products 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 a SEC Registered Investment Adviser. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or services. 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 for such advice. In assembling and presenting its investment platforms, ADP, Inc. is not undertaking to provide impartial investment advice or to give advice in a fiduciary capacity. M-883018-2026-02-09