401(k) & Retirement Plans · Reviewed

Guideline

Flat-fee 401(k) built for small businesses

★ 4.6 / 5|From $49/mo base + $6/participant/mo (Starter)|401(k) & Retirement Plans

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Overview

Guideline delivers a modern, low-cost 401(k) designed for the kinds of small-to-mid-sized businesses that dominate the HVAC trade. The platform handles recordkeeping, compliance testing, Form 5500 filing, and investment management for a flat monthly fee, with zero AUM fees and no transaction charges eating into employee balances.

For HVAC owners, Guideline's key advantage is deep payroll integration. Once connected to QuickBooks, Gusto, ADP RUN, Rippling, or similar systems, deferrals, employer matches, and new-hire eligibility sync automatically each pay period.

Guideline also makes Safe Harbor, profit-sharing, and SECURE 2.0 tax-credit-eligible plans straightforward to set up.

Key Features

360-degree payroll integration

With QuickBooks, Gusto, Rippling, ADP RUN, OnPay, and Square.

Fully managed admin

Eligibility tracking, vesting, distributions, and loans.

Low-cost portfolios

Vanguard, BlackRock, and State Street index-fund portfolios.

Automated nondiscrimination

Testing with proactive alerts.

Employee planning tools

Personalized projections and contribution nudges.

Flexible plan design

Traditional, Safe Harbor match, nonelective, or new comparability.

Dedicated support

Onboarding and ongoing client success.

Pros & Cons

Pros

+Transparent flat-fee pricing that does not scale with plan assets
+Fast, low-effort setup with automated payroll integration
+Low fund expense ratios preserve employee balances over time
+Strong mobile experience for field-based technicians
+SECURE 2.0 tax credits can fully offset fees for eligible small shops

Cons

−Limited investment menu compared to full-service brokers
−Fewer customization options than large legacy providers
−Participant asset fees (0.08%) still apply despite flat-fee branding
−Customer support can slow during tax season and year-end testing
−Not ideal for very large plans (500+ employees)

Best For These Industries

HVAC & Plumbing
small-business
smb
startups
owner-operators

Alternatives to Guideline

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Full-service 401(k) for small and mid-sized businesses

Human Interest is a full-service 401(k) provider focused on small and mid-sized businesses, pairing automated administration and 3(16) fiduciary services with 500+ payroll integrations.

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Paychex Retirement Services

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Bundled 401(k), payroll, and HR for small and mid-sized businesses

Paychex Retirement Services is one of the largest 401(k) recordkeepers in the US, offering traditional, Safe Harbor, SIMPLE, and Pooled Employer Plan options tightly integrated with Paychex payroll.

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ADP Retirement Services

★ 4.1

Integrated 401(k) and payroll for businesses of every size

ADP Retirement Services offers scalable 401(k), Starter-k, SIMPLE, and SEP IRA plans with SMARTSync payroll integration, designed for businesses from 0-4 employees up through the enterprise.

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Fidelity Small Business