Retirement Mandate Compliance for Professional-Services Firms | RetirementMandate.com
HomeIndustries › Professional-Services Firms
UPDATED FOR 2026 · 17 STATES · STATUTE-VERIFIED

Retirement mandates for professional-services firms, handled.

Accounting, consulting, real estate, insurance, agencies — partner-led firms cross the threshold as they add staff. We catch the deadline.

Verified to state statutes 17 states covered No obligation
Consultants collaborating at a table in a bright professional-services office
Compliant & covered17 states · 2026
Example exposure · VA · 21 staff
$4,200/yr≈ $0*
Do nothing → penalty · your plan → covered*
17
States tracked
60s
To check your exposure
$0
Setup with credits*
100%
Statute-verified data
// why professional-services firms get caught out

Where the mandate bites businesses like yours.

Growth crosses the line

Partner-led firms cross the threshold quietly as they add associates and support staff.

Salaried staff all count

Salaried associates, analysts, and admin staff are W-2 employees that count toward the mandate.

A 401(k) is a recruiting edge

A real 401(k) with a match is table stakes when you compete for professional talent.

No dedicated HR

Most firms have no dedicated HR tracking registration deadlines — that becomes our job.

// 60-second check

What does your state actually require?

Pick your state and headcount for your real exposure — data verified against each state's own statute.

Informational only — not legal or tax advice.

Annual exposure · Virginia
$4,200
RetirePath Virginia · applies at 5+ employees

Get your full breakdown + a private-plan savings estimate:

// state plan vs your own

You can comply two ways. Only one builds anything.

The state auto-IRA

Compliance, nothing else
  • No employer match allowed
  • Low Roth-IRA contribution limits
  • One-size-fits-all investments
  • No tax credits for your business
RECOMMENDED

Your own 401(k)

Compliant — and working for you
  • Match if and when you want
  • Far higher contribution limits
  • SECURE 2.0 credits offset setup
  • A real recruiting & retention perk
// the part nobody tells you

Federal credits can cover most of your startup cost.

Under SECURE 2.0, small employers starting a plan can claim credits toward setup and contributions. The amount depends on your size and phases out over the first years — we model your real number, not a headline.

See what you'd qualify for
$5,000/yr
Startup credit toward administration costs, up to three years.
$1,000/emp
Toward employer contributions for smaller employers, phasing down as you grow.
$0down
Most eligible businesses can start for little to nothing in year one.
// professional-services firms faq

Asked by owners like you.

Do partners and owners count toward the employee threshold?

Owner/partner treatment varies by state and entity type — W-2 employees generally count, while partners drawing K-1 income often don't. We confirm your firm's exact headcount under your state's rule.

We already have a SEP for the partners. Does that exempt the firm?

Only if it qualifies under your state's exemption rules and covers eligible employees — a partners-only arrangement may not. Most states also require you to formally certify the exemption.

What does a firm 401(k) cost compared to the state plan?

Often less than you'd expect: SECURE 2.0 startup credits can offset most setup and administration costs for eligible employers. We model your real number before you commit to anything.

Find out where your professional-services firms business stands.

Book a free 15-minute compliance audit. We'll show your exact requirement, your real exposure, and whether your own plan saves you money.

100% freeNo obligation15 minutes

Get your free audit

Takes 30 seconds. We'll reach out to schedule.
Submits to GHL / LeadConnector · or call (732) 444-8686