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UPDATED FOR 2026 · 17 STATES · STATUTE-VERIFIED

Retirement mandates for salons & spas, handled.

Booth renters, small teams, no HR department — we sort exactly who counts and handle the rest.

Check your exposure Book a free 15-min audit

Verified to state statutes 17 states covered No obligation

Salon owner standing in her bright, plant-filled salon between client appointments

Compliant & covered17 states · 2026

Example exposure · VA · 21 staff

$4,200/yrCovered*

Do nothing → penalty · your plan → covered*

// why salons & spas get caught out

Where the mandate bites businesses like yours.

Booth renters vs W-2 staff

Only W-2 employees count toward the mandate — 1099 booth renters don't. We sort exactly who is in scope.

Small teams cross the line quietly

Add a front-desk hire and an assistant, and a small salon quietly crosses the state threshold.

Benefits keep good stylists

A real retirement benefit helps you keep stylists who would otherwise take their book elsewhere.

No HR to catch the deadline

Owner-operators have no HR department 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.

Your state

Number of employees

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

Credits can offset much of the startup cost for eligible employers.

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.

Low net cost

Credits can offset much of the startup cost for eligible employers. We model your real net.

// salons & spas faq

Asked by owners like you.

Do my booth renters count toward the employee threshold?

No — independent contractors (1099) generally don't count. Only W-2 employees do. Misclassification is its own risk, so we help you confirm each role is categorized correctly.

I only have a few employees. Does the mandate really apply to me?

It depends on your state's threshold — several states now start at 1–5 employees. The 60-second check above shows your state's exact rule.

What does it cost to offer a plan instead of using the state program?

Often less than you expect: SECURE 2.0 startup credits can offset much of the setup and administration cost for eligible small employers. We model your real number before you commit.

Find out where your salons & spas 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

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Or call 848-400-4899