Betterment at Work Startup Deals & Discounts

Betterment at Work runs an application-based program that can credit a new plan's first-year base fees, with the savings reaching up to roughly $1,000 depending on how many eligible employees enroll. It is aimed at companies establishing a brand-new, tax-qualified 401(k) on the platform rather than at existing plans already under contract elsewhere, so it functions as an onboarding incentive for first-time plan sponsors.

Why it matters for an early-stage company: standing up a retirement benefit usually means an upfront implementation charge plus a recurring monthly base fee, and those costs land before the plan has produced any value. Offsetting year-one base fees lowers the initial hurdle for a founder weighing whether to add a 401(k) at all, which is often the point where the decision stalls.

Qualification is assessed when the plan is set up, and the exact credit scales with the size of the eligible workforce, so a growing team generally captures more of the benefit. Treat it as a starting-cost reduction tied to launching a qualifying new plan, not a discount on ongoing per-participant or advisory fees.

Founder launching a first 401(k): A startup that has never offered retirement benefits can stand up a compliant plan with outsourced fiduciary and administrative work, avoiding the need to hire benefits staff.

Growing team adding perks for retention: Companies competing for talent can layer in student-loan 401(k) matching, 529 savings, and financial coaching to differentiate their benefits package.

Switching from a clunky legacy provider: Employers frustrated by manual payroll reconciliation or late compliance filings can migrate to a platform with broad payroll integrations and a delivery guarantee.

Solo founder or owner-only business: A self-employed individual can open an all-digital Solo 401(k) with no setup fee, separate from the employer plan tiers.

Betterment at Work publishes tiered pricing for employer 401(k) plans, generally structured as a monthly base fee plus a per-active-participant fee, with an annual percentage advisory fee on participant assets and a one-time implementation charge.

• Essential - entry tier with a lower monthly base fee and per-participant rate, dedicated onboarding, core payroll integrations, and 3(38)/3(16) fiduciary services.
• Pro - higher base and per-participant fees in exchange for flexible plan design, a dedicated plan-support contact, guided conversions, and added employee benefits such as student-loan matching and 529 savings.
• Flagship - custom-priced tier with enhanced compliance guidance, a dedicated 401(k) consultant, and expanded employee benefits.

Implementation is charged once at setup, with new plans and conversions priced differently. A separate all-digital Solo 401(k) is offered with no setup fee. Confirm current figures directly with the provider, as fees change over time.