This page covers what is specific to Old Orchard Beach: local employers, seasonal hiring, and where to get help. For the statewide rules, see the MERIT requirements and deadlines.
ZIP codes with an Old Orchard Beach mailing address had 251 business locations in 2023, with about 1,033 people on payroll in the March pay period.
At least 58 of the 251 locations had 5 or more employees on site, the headcount at which MERIT starts to apply. The law counts all of an employer's Maine employees, not one location, so treat this as a local indicator.
The most common types of business in these ZIP codes are accommodation and food services (101 locations), retail trade (37 locations) and real estate (22 locations). Across York County, the largest industry by employment is retail trade (10,231 jobs), and private leisure and hospitality employment ran from 8,591 in January 2024 to 17,618 in July 2024.
107 of the 251 business locations in Old Orchard Beach's ZIP codes are in accommodation and food services or arts, entertainment and recreation, the leisure and hospitality industries where staffing levels tend to change with the season. Maine counts employees under Maine Retirement Savings Board Rule Ch. 101 §1(M)(3). The rule reads: “as of the date the employer provides an Exemption Certification or Onboards”. If your Old Orchard Beach business's headcount rises and falls during the year, that wording decides whether you meet the threshold, so confirm your status with MERIT.
Free one-on-one advising for Old Orchard Beach businesses is available from the Maine SBDC - Wells, the Maine SBDC office in Wells, at York County Community College.
Local business network for Old Orchard Beach: Old Orchard Beach Chamber of Commerce.
MERIT employer assistance: 1-833-608-8811.
If your business has 5 or more employees in Maine, has been in business at least 2 years, and offers no qualified retirement plan, MERIT requires you to register or certify an exemption. All announced registration deadlines have passed.
Book a free 15-minute compliance audit. We'll show your exact requirement, your real exposure, and whether your own plan saves you money.