Your Competitors Use This Retirement Savings Plan

">there are a couple different choices that they have
when it comes to contributions. First, if the employee
You will find several investement vehicles for theis contributing to the Simple IRA as well, then the
small business and its employees, but the mostemployer can match dollar for dollar up to 3% of the
versatile one is the Simple IRA.total salary of the employee. On the other hand, if
While the most commonly heard of retirementthe employee is not contributing, then the employer
savings plan is the 401k plan, there are various otherwould only put in 2% of the employees annual salary
options for businesses and employees to chooseup to$3400 for each employee, each year.
from. While the 401k plan is common and an excellentEmployees also appreciate t his program, since they
plan, there are some companies that find it impossibleare 100% vested  from the first day they join the
to offer this plan, because of its expensive and moreplan. They also feel good about you helping them
complex nature. The great thing for businesses,save retirement money.
especially small ones, is there are other alternativesThere are some things to remember if you are
that they can use in place of a 401k plan. One suchconsidering making the Simple IRA your company's
alternative is theSimple IRA, which many smallretirement savings plan. First, you can only have a
businesses have found to be an easy andcompany of up to 100 employees to use the Simple
less-expensive answer.IRA program. If you have more than 100 employees,
Although there are several alternatives to using ayou will not be eligible to use this plan. Also, if you are
401k retirement pension plan, such as Keogh Profitalready using a 401k program, you cannot use both a
Sharing plans, and SEP IRA's, one of the most401k plan and a Simple IRA plan within the same
common choices among small businesses is thebusiness. On the good side, if you currently have less
Simple IRA. Why is the Simple IRA such a greatthan 100 employees you can start out with a Simple
choice for small businesses? Well, first they are easyIRA plan. After your total employees grows tomore
to start and maintain without mountains of confusingthan 100, you will have two years to change over to
paperwork. They are also a top choice because theyanother plan.
are not as expensive to employers as other plansTrue, there are various retirement savings plans to
can be as well. Usually this plan will only cost betweenchoose from, but for small businesses, you cannot
$15-30 each employee to set up initially, and thebeat the Simple IRA. If you are looking for a
record keepingfees for the program will usually onlycost-effective and hassle-free way to supply a
cost about $600 each year.retirement savings plan for your employees, then the
Another reason that some small business ownersSimple IRA is a great way to go for your small
decide on a Simple IRA retirements savings plan isbusiness.