Do you own or run a company with 50 to 5,000 workers?
You want to give your team a great retirement plan that is strong, cheap, and easy to run.
The smart choice many owners make today is retirement plans for mid-sized businesses Vanguard.
Vanguard is famous for low costs and great results. Their special program is called Vanguard Retirement Plan Access™ (or VRPA for short). It lets medium-size companies offer the same top-quality 401(k) that giant companies use — but at prices small companies can afford.
In this super-simple guide, we will show you everything in plain words even a 9-year-old can understand.
Why Growing Companies Love Vanguard Plans
Most bosses want three things from a retirement plan:
- It must cost very little money.
- It must follow all the government rules without headaches.
- Workers must love it and actually use it.
Vanguard gives you all three with a big smile.
What Is Vanguard Retirement Plan Access™ (VRPA)?
Think of VRPA as a “401(k) in a box” made just for companies that are not tiny but also not huge.
Here is what you get:
- Real 401(k) with matching money from the boss
- Roth 401(k) choice (pay taxes now, take money out tax-free later)
- Safe Harbor plans so the owner can put in the maximum every year
- Loans and hardship withdrawals when workers need cash fast
- Automatic sign-up so more workers save (most plans jump from 60% to 90% saving!)
Vanguard does the investing part.
Their trusted partner Ascensus does the paperwork part.
You just sit back and look good to your team.
Quick links to see it yourself:
→ Vanguard official small-business page1
→ How VRPA recordkeeping works
→ Ascensus plan comparison chart
How Much Does It Really Cost in 2025? (Very Little!)
Many owners are scared the plan will cost a fortune. Here is the happy truth:
| What You Pay For | Vanguard Cost (2025) | What Most Other Companies Charge |
| Investment fees | 0.03 % – 0.15 % per year | |
| Paperwork & recordkeeping | $30 – $50 per worker + tiny % | $80 – $150 per worker + hidden fees |
| Hidden kickbacks | $0 | Thousands of dollars |
| First 3 years (tax credit) | Government can pay up to $15,000 | You pay everything |
Example: A company with 150 workers and $8 million saved pays about $22,000 a year total with Vanguard. The same plan with another big-name company can cost $65,000 or more!
Different Kinds of Plans You Can Pick
| Plan Name | Best For | Easy Words Explanation |
| Regular 401(k) | Companies that want to match worker money | You put in $1 when they put in $1 |
| Safe harbor 401(k) plans Vanguard | Owners who want to save the most for themselves | You are “safe” – IRS lets you max out every year |
| Roth 401(k) | Younger workers who want tax-free money later | Pay tax today, never pay tax when you retire |
| Profit-sharing | Companies that have good years and bad years | Share extra profits only when the company makes money |
Step-by-Step: How to Start Your Vanguard Plan (Takes Only Weeks)
- Call Vanguard or a helper advisor (free call).
- Pick if you want matching, Safe Harbor, Roth, etc.
- Choose 8–12 easy funds (most bosses pick the famous Vanguard target-date funds for business plans).
- Turn on automatic enrollment retirement plans Vanguard style (workers start saving 6 % unless they say no).
- Sign papers on your computer.
- Vanguard and Ascensus send welcome kits to workers.
- Done! Your plan is to live in 30–45 days.
Real Stories from Real Companies
- A Texas factory with 220 workers saved $74,000 in the first year after switching to Vanguard2.
- A California software company with 90 workers saw 94 % of workers saving after turning on auto-enrollment.
- A family-owned trucking company used the new 2025 tax credit and paid $0 in fees for the first three years.
What Workers Love Most
- Super easy phone app
- Can move old 401(k) money in with one click
- Free advice phone calls any time
- Money grows faster because fees are tiny
- New 2025 emergency savings pocket inside the 401(k)
Quick Comparison Table: Vanguard vs Other Big Names
| Question | Vanguard Answer | Other Companies Usually Say |
| Can I keep my own financial advisor? | Yes – and Vanguard pays them! | Sometimes no or extra big fee |
| Are there surprise fees? | Never | Yes, lots of them |
| Do workers get the same cheap funds I use at home? | Yes – same exact funds! | Usually more expensive versions |
Other Choices You Might Look At (All Work with Vanguard)
- Small business retirement plan options Vanguard (great when you are still under 100 workers)
- Vanguard small business 401(k) solutions3
Pooled Employer Plans (PEP) if you want to join with other companies and save even more
Most Asked Questions – Answered in Plain Words
How much does a Vanguard 401(k) really cost my company?
Most companies with 100–300 workers pay $20,000 to $35,000 a year total (that includes everything). That is usually half or less than what they paid before.
Do I have to switch if I already have a 401(k) somewhere else?
No. But 9 out of 10 companies that get a free Vanguard quote end up switching because they save so much money.
Can the owner (me) put in the maximum $69,000+ every year?
Yes! Pick a Safe harbor 401(k) plan Vanguard design and you can max out every single year with no IRS worry.
Will my employees lose the money they already have?
Never. We move every penny from the old plan to the new Vanguard plan for free. Most workers see their balance the very next day.
How long does it take to start the plan?
From the day you say “yes” to the day workers can start saving = 30 to 45 days (sometimes faster).
Do workers have to do anything?
Almost nothing. With automatic enrollment retirement plans Vanguard style, they are signed up automatically. They only have to pick how much to save if they want to change it.
In Conclusion – The Simple Truth
Retirement plans for mid-sized businesses Vanguard give you the perfect mix:
- Rock-bottom costs so more money grows for your team (and for you)
- Zero headaches because pros handle the paperwork
- Happy workers who stay longer because they love their 401(k)
You do not need to be a giant company to give giant-company benefits. Thousands of growing businesses already made the switch and never looked back.
Take the next easy step today – it costs nothing to get your free custom quote.
Question for you:
What is the #1 thing stopping you from looking at a Vanguard plan right now? Cost worry? Switching worries? Or just not enough time?
Tell me in the comments – I read and answer every single one!
References & Helpful Links
- Vanguard Official – Small Business Retirement Plans ↩︎
- Ascensus – Plans Featuring Vanguard Investments Comparison ↩︎
- Vanguard Workplace – VRPA Recordkeeping for Small & Midsized Plans ↩︎
