How to open your small-business plan
Our dedicated team of small-business specialists will give you as much help as you need to start your plan.
Plan-by-plan instructions
Select your plan and download the appropriate materials.
SEP-IRA for one person
A single-person SEP-IRA is the only plan you can start online. It's for individuals who are self-employed or earn freelance income even if they have jobs.
SEP-IRA for more than one person
Consider this plan if you are self-employed, are a partner in a business, or own a business with employees. Contact us at 800-992-7188 to discuss your options.
Individual 401(k)
Consider this plan if you're a sole proprietor or have a business partner. Remember, your business can only employ your spouse or spouses of partners.
SIMPLE IRA
Consider this plan if you are self-employed, are a small-business owner, or have a business with 100 or fewer employees that doesn't maintain another retirement plan.
Small Business Online
Once your plan is up and running, you can manage it and make contributions anytime using Vanguard Small Business Online®, our secure website for small businesses. Your employees can then use vanguard.com to track their investments.
Next steps
One-person SEP-IRA
Congratulations! Opening your plan online means you're ready to contribute and start to build your retirement.
All other plans
You'll receive an email verifying that the plan has been set up and instructions on how to register for Small Business Online.
You'll make all your contributions online. Depending on your plan, you may also enroll future employees online.
Once your employees' accounts are set up, we'll let them know by email and provide them with instructions on how to access their accounts online.
How long does it take?
Establishing a new small-business retirement plan takes about 2 weeks.
We're here to help
For assistance with new plans:
Call 800-992-7188
For assistance with existing plans:
Call 800-205-6189
Monday through Friday
8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Eastern time
WHICH PLAN IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
Get complete portfolio management
We can custom-develop and implement your financial plan, giving you greater confidence that you're doing all you can to reach your goals.
Make retirement saving easy
If you don't know how to start saving for retirement, we can help you figure out how much you'll need and how to balance all your savings goals.
Consolidate your accounts
Consider moving accounts you hold elsewhere to Vanguard. You'll enjoy more control of your portfolio now and get a clear picture of your investment strategy.
REFERENCE CONTENT
Mutual fund
A type of investment that pools shareholder money and invests it in a variety of securities. Each investor owns shares of the fund and can buy or sell these shares at any time. Mutual funds are typically more diversified, low-cost, and convenient than investing in individual securities, and they're professionally managed.