State Retirement Mandate Compliance

Attention Salon & Spa Owners: Your State May Be Fining You for Missing a Retirement Plan

Hair salons, barbershops, nail salons, and spas with 5+ W-2 employees are subject to state retirement mandates. Get compliant affordably and unlock up to $15,000 in federal credits.

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Why It Matters

The Challenges Salons & Spas Owners Face

Most state mandates impose fines of $250–$500 per employee per year for non-compliance. The good news: setting up a qualifying retirement plan exempts you immediately — and federal SECURE 2.0 tax credits can offset up to $15,000 of your startup costs.

Flat-Fee Pricing

No AUM Minimums. One Flat Fee.

Unlike commission-based advisors, we charge a single flat fee — no percentage of assets, no hidden costs. SECURE 2.0 credits can cover most or all of your first three years.

Business Size Setup Fee Annual Flat SECURE 2.0 Credits
5–15 employees $1,500 $600/yr up to $15,000
16–30 employees $2,500 $900/yr up to $15,000
31–75 employees $3,500 $1,500/yr up to $15,000

*SECURE 2.0 Act credits available to employers with 100 or fewer employees. Credits apply to startup costs for the first 3 years. Consult a tax advisor for specifics.

How It Works

Get Compliant in 3 Simple Steps

1

Free Compliance Audit

We review your state's mandate requirements, your employee count, and your current retirement setup — at no cost.

2

Custom Plan Design

We design a flat-fee retirement plan optimized for your business size, budget, and owner contribution goals.

3

File State Exemption

We handle the mandate exemption filing and ensure you maximize your SECURE 2.0 federal tax credits — often worth $5,000–$15,000.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Salons & Spas Retirement Plan FAQs

Does the state retirement mandate apply to hair salons and barbershops?
Yes, if you have 5 or more W-2 employees. The mandate applies to most private employers including hair salons, barbershops, nail salons, and day spas. Booth renters who are independent contractors (1099) typically do not count toward the threshold, but W-2 stylists and support staff do.
My stylists are booth renters, not W-2 — do I still need to comply?
If all your stylists are genuine independent contractors (1099, booth renters with control over their schedule and clients), they generally don't count toward the mandate threshold. However, if you have any W-2 employees (receptionists, assistants, shampoo technicians), those count. We'll review your specific situation during the free audit.
What's the cheapest retirement plan option for a small salon with 6 employees?
A SIMPLE IRA is typically the lowest-cost, easiest-to-administer plan for salons with 6–10 employees. Our flat fee for this size is $1,500 setup + $600/year. With SECURE 2.0 startup credits covering up to $5,000/year, your actual net cost in year 1 could be $0. The plan satisfies state mandate requirements immediately upon establishment.
Can a salon owner get SECURE 2.0 tax credits?
Yes. Salon owners with 100 or fewer employees who establish a new retirement plan qualify for SECURE 2.0 startup credits of up to $5,000/year for 3 years. If you add automatic enrollment, you get an additional $500/year. A salon owner could receive up to $15,500 in credits while paying far less than that in plan costs.
How do I file a state mandate exemption for my salon?
Once you establish a qualifying retirement plan (401(k), SIMPLE IRA, SEP-IRA, etc.), you notify your state's program that you have a private plan in place. Most states handle this via their mandate program portal. We handle the filing on your behalf as part of our onboarding process.

Ready to Get Compliant?

Book a free 20-minute compliance audit. We'll tell you exactly what your state requires, what it costs, and how federal tax credits can cover most of it.

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Helpful Resources

States with Active Mandates

Local Coverage

Other Resources