For retailers
A 401(k) for your stores.
Store teams, seasonal hires and a head office, sometimes across several locations. A clear proposal shows a plan that fits, what it costs and who does the work.
What a good proposal shows.
Costs in writing
Administrative and investment fees, set beside the services you receive.
A fit for owners and staff
Plan options weighed against seasonal hiring, part-time schedules and how much the owners want to save.
Clear responsibilities
Who handles setup, payroll, recordkeeping, testing and filings, and what stays with the company.
What's different for retailers.
The parts of a plan that matter most in your line of work.
Seasonal and part-time staff
For plan years beginning after 2024, a 401(k) generally has to let employees with at least 500 hours in each of two consecutive 12-month periods make their own contributions.
Several stores or companies
Stores run as separate companies under common ownership are generally treated as one employer under the plan rules, so the proposal looks at all of them together.
Getting people started
401(k) plans set up after December 29, 2022 generally have to enroll new employees automatically, unless they opt out. Businesses with 10 or fewer employees, or in business for less than three years, are exceptions.
Common questions.
Do seasonal employees have to be included?
Our stores are separate companies. One plan or several?
We already have a plan. Can you compare it?
More questions about cost, switching and plan rules
- Internal Revenue Service, Publication 560 (2025), Retirement Plans for Small Business, Reminders, long-term part-time employees; read Oct 20, 2026.
- 26 U.S.C. 414(b) and (c), Definitions and special rules, text via Cornell Law School's Legal Information Institute, read Oct 20, 2026.
- 26 U.S.C. 414A, Requirements related to automatic enrollment, text via Cornell Law School's Legal Information Institute, read Oct 20, 2026.
- Cost comparisons depend on each plan's services and written fee disclosures. The proposal and applicable agreements identify the advisory entity, provider responsibilities and fees.
See a plan in writing.
Tell us about the company and what a written proposal should cover.