Home › Industries › Seasonal Businesses
State Retirement Mandate Compliance

Attention Seasonal Business Owners: The Retirement Mandate Doesn't Take a Season Off

Ski resorts, beach rental companies, summer camps, and tour operators face unique mandate challenges. Peak-season staffing can trigger year-round compliance obligations.

Book Free Compliance Audit →

Why It Matters

The Challenges Seasonal Businesses 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.

Start With a Free Audit →

Frequently Asked Questions

Seasonal Businesses Retirement Plan FAQs

Does the state mandate apply to businesses that only operate 4-6 months per year?
It depends on your employee count during those months. If you have 5 or more employees at any point during the calendar year, most state mandates consider you a covered employer. Operating seasonally does not automatically exempt you. However, properly structured plans with hour-of-service requirements can limit who must actually participate in the plan.
Can I exclude seasonal employees who work less than 1,000 hours from my retirement plan?
Yes. Under ERISA's 1,000-hour rule (for traditional 401(k) plans), employees who work fewer than 1,000 hours in a plan year can be excluded from participation. For a summer camp or beach rental company where most employees work 3–4 months, this exclusion is highly relevant. Note: recent SECURE 2.0 changes reduced the threshold to 500 hours for long-term part-time employees after 2 years of service.
What's the best time of year for a seasonal business to set up a retirement plan?
Off-season is ideal — it gives you time to document the plan, enroll year-round employees (if any), and get state exemption filed before your busy season. For ski resorts: spring/summer. For beach businesses: fall/winter. You can often front-load or back-load contributions based on when your cash flow is strongest.
We had 12 employees in July but only 2 in January — which count matters for the mandate?
The July count is what matters for most state mandates. States typically look at your peak employment or an average across months to determine if you're a covered employer. With 12 in July, you're almost certainly covered. The silver lining: you can use a plan that only covers employees meeting an hours-of-service threshold, limiting how many actually participate.
Can a ski resort or beach motel qualify for SECURE 2.0 tax credits?
Yes. SECURE 2.0 credits are available to any employer with 100 or fewer employees who establishes a new retirement plan. A 20-employee ski resort or beach motel can qualify for startup credits up to $5,000/year for 3 years, plus auto-enrollment credits of $500/year. The credits apply regardless of whether your business is seasonal.

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.

Book Free Compliance Audit →

Explore More

Helpful Resources

States with Active Mandates

New York Vermont Colorado View All States →

Local Coverage

Lake George, NY Stowe, VT Aspen, CO

Other Resources

Home All Industries Already Have a Plan? Level-Funded Health