Hotels, motels, restaurants and seasonal businesses in Ely must comply with Minnesota Secure Choice if they meet the 5+ employees threshold — or offer a qualifying plan. Escalating: $100 per employee (2nd anniversary of the enrollment window); $200 per employee (3rd anniversary); $300 per employee (4th anniversary); $500 per employee (each later anniversary).
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Minnesota Secure Choice covers Minnesota employers with 5+ employees that do not offer a qualifying retirement plan. Counting rule: Five or more covered employees (18+, full- or part-time); seasonal or temporary workers under 180 days are excluded. The program uses headcount data as of January 2026. No years-in-business test; employers not doing business in Minnesota in the preceding 12 months are not covered.
Escalating: $100 per employee (2nd anniversary of the enrollment window); $200 per employee (3rd anniversary); $300 per employee (4th anniversary); $500 per employee (each later anniversary). The program has launched; enforcement has not begun.
Upcoming: 50–99 employees by 2026-12-31; 25–49 employees by 2027-06-30; 10–24 employees by 2027-12-31; 5–9 employees by 2028-06-30. Already passed: 100+ employees (2026-06-30) — unregistered employers should register or certify an exemption now.
Minn. Stat. §§187.03, 187.05, 187.07, 187.12 (Laws 2025 c.37; 2026 c.106) · Official program: securechoice.mn.gov · Verified 2026-09-17.
Yes, if the business meets the threshold. Minnesota Secure Choice applies to Minnesota employers with 5+ employees that do not offer a qualifying plan. Hotels, motels, B&Bs and restaurants in Ely follow the same rules as any other employer — seasonal operation does not exempt you.
Not automatically. Coverage depends on how Minnesota counts employees: Five or more covered employees (18+, full- or part-time); seasonal or temporary workers under 180 days are excluded. The program uses headcount data as of January 2026. No years-in-business test; employers not doing business in Minnesota in the preceding 12 months are not covered. Seasonal employers can also satisfy the mandate with a SIMPLE IRA or 401(k), which may exclude employees who work fewer than 1,000 hours a year.
Yes. Exempt with a 401(a), 403(b), 457(b), SEP, SIMPLE, IRA-based or multiemployer plan sponsored in the preceding 12 months; certification required. A private plan also gives you a real recruiting benefit for seasonal and year-round staff.
Yes. SECURE 2.0 Act tax credits are available to small businesses with fewer than 100 employees that start a new qualifying retirement plan (the full startup credit applies at 50 or fewer employees; it phases down from 51–100). Credits of up to $5,000/year for 3 years, plus up to $1,000 per employee in employer-contribution credits (phasing down over five years), are available regardless of whether your business is seasonal.
Upcoming: 50–99 employees by 2026-12-31; 25–49 employees by 2027-06-30; 10–24 employees by 2027-12-31; 5–9 employees by 2028-06-30. Already passed: 100+ employees (2026-06-30) — unregistered employers should register or certify an exemption now. Penalty: Escalating: $100 per employee (2nd anniversary of the enrollment window); $200 per employee (3rd anniversary); $300 per employee (4th anniversary); $500 per employee (each later anniversary). The program has launched; enforcement has not begun. Contact Kandelaki Solutions for a free compliance audit.
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