Overview
We've partnered with Vestwell to give you a simple way to offer a 401(k) retirement plan, right through your payroll account. Get started at housecallpro@vestwell.com.
What 401(k) plans does Vestwell offer?
Vestwell offers four 401(k) plan tiers built for businesses of all sizes:
Starter(k) – A simplified 401(k) for first-time plans with preset features, streamlined compliance testing, and no employer contributions
Solo(k) – A 401(k) for self-employed individuals to maximize their retirement savings with employee and employer contributions
Workplace — A full-featured 401(k) for businesses setting up a new plan
Workplace Plus — Everything in Workplace, plus extensive plan customization and support for converting from another provider
Plans include recordkeeping, plan administration, compliance testing, investment management, and government filing, so you're covered end to end.
Who is Vestwell?
Vestwell is a modern savings platform and one of the country's top 10 retirement recordkeepers. They've helped over 500,000 businesses across all 50 states offer retirement benefits to their employees.
Vestwell handles the complexity of running a retirement plan: compliance, reporting, participant support, and more so you can focus on running your business.
How do I get started?
You can access the purchase flow directly through the Vestwell component in the ‘Insurance & benefits’ tab within Payroll.
You can also reach Vestwell's team directly at housecallpro@vestwell.com if you'd prefer to talk through your options first.
The process is straightforward. You'll answer a few questions about your business, and Vestwell will recommend the right plan for you. Most businesses are up and running in a matter of weeks.
How does the integration between my payroll account and Vestwell work?
Once your plan is live, your payroll and Vestwell stay in sync automatically. When you run payroll:
Employee contributions are deducted and sent to Vestwell automatically
New hire enrollments are handled without any action from you
Deferral changes and employment updates flow through seamlessly
You don't need to upload files, reconcile spreadsheets, or manually update your 401(k) after every pay run. Most employers spend less than 15 minutes per month managing their plan.
What information do I need to get started?
When you connect with Vestwell, you'll answer a few basic questions about your business, such as:
Business name and location
Number of W-2 employees
Whether you currently have a retirement plan
Your preferences for employer contributions (matching, profit sharing, etc.)
Vestwell's team will guide you through the rest, including plan design decisions and enrollment setup.
What if I already have a 401(k) with another provider?
Vestwell supports plan conversions. If you're currently with another provider and want to switch, Vestwell will manage the transition process from start to finish.
Conversions typically take 2–3 months end-to-end, though the actual time
investment on your end is much less — Vestwell handles the heavy lifting. The Workplace Plus tier is specifically designed for businesses converting from another plan.
Reach out to housecallpro@vestwell.com to get a comparison and understand what's involved.
What are the benefits of offering a 401(k) through my payroll account?
Using Vestwell through your payroll account allows you to:
Offer a full-service 401(k) to your employees, making you an employer of choice without the usual administrative burden
Sync contributions and employee data automatically with every payroll run. Access a platform trusted by 500,000+ businesses and 2M+ active savers
Get full fiduciary support — Vestwell acts as your 3(16) plan administrator and 3(38) investment manager
Stay compliant with state retirement mandates without extra work
Potentially qualify for significant tax credits under SECURE 2.0 that can offset plan costs
How much does a Vestwell 401(k) cost?
Vestwell's pricing is transparent and straightforward. There are no hidden transaction fees.
Solo(k): $45/month +0.30% asset based fee & +$150/year for spouse(optional)
Starter(k): $39/month + $8 per participant per month + 0.20% annual asset fee
Workplace: $125/month base fee + $8 per participant per month + 0.20% annual asset fee
Workplace Plus: $175/month base fee + $8 per participant per month + 0.20% annual asset fee
Fees are based on participants with account balances — not total eligible employees. You can also structure fees so they're paid by participants, the employer, or split between both.
If you're setting up a new plan, tax credits under SECURE 2.0 may significantly offset your costs in the first few years. Vestwell's team can walk you through what you may qualify for.
What's included in the plan — do I need a separate TPA or advisor?
No. Both Vestwell plan tiers are fully bundled, which means you get everything in one place:
Recordkeeping — Tracks all participant balances, contributions, and transactions
3(16) Plan Administration — Vestwell takes on day-to-day fiduciary responsibility for running the plan
Bundled TPA Services — Plan documents, amendments, and IRS/DOL compliance filings included
3(38) Investment Management — Vestwell selects and monitors the fund lineup and is responsible for investment decisions
You don't need to hire a separate TPA or find a financial advisor to manage the plan. It's all handled.
How does Vestwell handle compliance and government reporting?
Vestwell automates compliance so you don't have to track it yourself.
Throughout the year, Vestwell monitors your plan's compliance status and generates projected non-discrimination testing results. You can review these anytime through your Sponsor Dashboard.
At the end of the plan year, Vestwell prepares and electronically files your Form 5500 at no additional cost. If your plan is new, Vestwell files for all plan years
administered on their platform.
If anything needs your attention, Vestwell's team will reach out proactively.
Does Vestwell satisfy state retirement mandates?
Yes. All Vestwell plans satisfy current state retirement savings mandates.
More than a dozen states — including California, Illinois, Colorado, and Oregon — now require employers to offer a retirement plan or enroll employees in the state-run program. Offering a 401(k) through Vestwell satisfies those requirements.
Vestwell is actually a leading provider of state-sponsored savings programs and powers over 85% of the country's live state auto-IRA programs, so they know this space well.
If you're unsure whether your state has a mandate, Vestwell's team can help you understand your obligations.
What if I'm new to retirement benefits?
Vestwell's team will guide you through everything.
You don't need prior experience with retirement plans to get started. Vestwell handles the plan design recommendations, enrollment setup, employee
communications, and ongoing administration. Most business owners find the process much simpler than they expected.
For specific questions about what plan is right for your business, contact Vestwell at housecallpro@vestwell.com.
How do my employees enroll and manage their accounts?
Once your plan is live, employees receive an invitation to enroll directly through Vestwell's platform. They can access their account on desktop, tablet, or mobile to:
Set and update their contribution rate
Choose their investment allocations
View their balance and transaction history
Request loans or withdrawals
What are the key 401(k) terms I should know?
If you're new to 401(k) plans, here are a few key terms to help you understand how your plan works:
Employee deferrals are the portion of your employee’s paycheck they choose to contribute to their 401(k). They set a percentage or dollar amount, and it’s automatically deducted each pay period through payroll.
Employer contributions are how you can contribute to your employees’ 401(k). You can do this in a few different ways, including:
Matching contributions are tied to what your employees contribute. For example, you might match 50 cents for every dollar they contribute, up to a certain limit.
Profit sharing is a contribution you make regardless of whether employees contribute. These contributions are typically discretionary and can vary based on your business performance.
Vesting determines when employer contributions fully belong to your employees. Employee contributions are always 100% theirs immediately. However, your contributions may follow a vesting schedule, meaning employees may need to stay with your business for a certain period of time before they keep the full amount.
Eligibility and waiting periods: You can set rules for when employees become eligible to participate in your plan. For example, you might require employees to be a certain age or to have worked for your business for a set period before enrolling.
Safe Harbor 401(k) is a type of 401(k) where you commit to making specific employer contributions using IRS-approved formulas. In return, your plan automatically satisfies annual nondiscrimination testing requirements.
This means:
You avoid complex annual testing
Highly compensated employees can contribute the maximum amount
You reduce the risk of needing to refund contributions
Employer contributions remain tax-deductible
What happens to your 401(k) plan if you leave Housecall Pro Payroll?
Your 401(k) plan stays active even if you stop using Housecall Pro Payroll.
The plan belongs to you, not to Housecall Pro or Vestwell. However, there are a few important things to keep in mind:
Your payroll integration will no longer be active Today, contributions are automatically deducted and sent to Vestwell through payroll. If you leave Housecall Pro Payroll, that connection stops. You’ll need to either submit contributions manually or connect Vestwell to a new payroll provider.
Your 401(k) plan remains active, and you’re still responsible for plan administration, required filings (like Form 5500), and ensuring contributions are handled correctly and on time.
Your options moving forward:
Connect to a new payroll provider: Vestwell supports integrations with other payroll systems, so you can continue running your plan with minimal disruption.
Terminate your plan: If you decide not to continue offering a 401(k), you can work directly with Vestwell to properly terminate the plan and distribute or roll over employee balances in accordance with IRS guidelines.
What this means for you:
Leaving Housecall Pro Payroll doesn’t automatically close your 401(k), but it does require you to take action to keep your plan compliant and running smoothly. Vestwell can help guide you through your next steps.
How do I get support for my plan?
For questions about getting started or plan options, contact Vestwell's dedicated Housecall Pro sales team at housecallpro@vestwell.com.
Once your plan is live, your primary point of contact will be your dedicated Vestwell Customer Success Manager, whose information will be listed in your Sponsor Dashboard. Vestwell's support team is available Monday–Friday during business hours.
Need help or have questions?
We're here for you! Chat with Support using the Blue Chat Bubble in your Housecall Pro account, or give us a call at (858) 842-5746.