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FranFund vs My Solo 401k: which ROBS provider fits your deal?

My Solo 401k looks like the lower-cost public option for a straightforward ROBS setup with up to 10 participants. FranFund looks easier to evaluate when you want published monthly TPA scope and may also need separate business-loan packaging. The better fit changes if your contract, employee count, valuation needs, audit-support expectations, financing stack or exit plan changes.

Compare ROBS providers FranFund profileMy Solo 401k profile

Research notes

Dennis Shirshikov authored this comparison. It was published July 26, 2026 and updated July 31, 2026.

This educational comparison is ratings-free, review-schema-free, contact-form-free and independent of compensation factors.

Provider claims are treated as provider-reported facts. Unpublished items become questions for the written service agreement.

The decision answer depends on your transaction

If your ROBS transaction is mostly a clean C corporation setup, rollover, plan stock purchase and ongoing administration for a small participant group, My Solo 401k's published math is materially lower: $3,000 in year one and $4,798 over three years for up to 10 participants.[5] If you want a provider with a separately published monthly TPA package and a separately priced business-loan support path, FranFund gives more public detail on those items: $4,995 setup, $165/month required TPA and a separate $2,500 Business Loans fee.[3]

The comparison supports fit, rather than a universal safety or quality claim. A ROBS transaction turns retirement-plan assets into stock of one privately held C corporation. The IRS says ROBS plans are questionable because they may primarily benefit the person rolling funds into the plan, while also identifying scrutiny areas around filings, valuation, participant access, prohibited transactions, discrimination and promoter fees.[1] The provider decision should follow the deal facts ahead of the lowest headline fee.

ROBS and TPA basics in plain English

ROBS means rollover as business start-up. In the standard structure, a C corporation sponsors a qualified retirement plan, eligible retirement assets roll into that plan, and the plan buys stock in the C corporation. The corporation receives cash from the stock sale and uses that money for the operating business; the plan owns employer stock instead of the prior retirement investments.[1]

The actors matter. In the basic structure, the individual uses a rollover path rather than a personal distribution. The retirement plan is the stock buyer. The C corporation is the stock issuer and business-capital recipient. A brokerage or trust account may hold plan assets before the stock purchase, while the corporation bank account receives company funds after the stock purchase. My Solo 401k's process page spells out this sequence: transferred retirement funds go to the new 401(k) brokerage account, funds are wired from the plan to the corporation bank account, and stock certificates are issued.[6]

TPA means third-party administrator. In this comparison it refers to ongoing plan-administration support such as contributions, testing, annual filings, participant records, notices, plan amendments and valuation support. The DOL frames provider selection as a fiduciary task: services must be necessary, costs reasonable, and monitoring ongoing.[2]

Public price examples, recalculated

FranFund[3]

Public product
401(k) Business Funding setup plus required TPA
Setup
$4,995
Annualized recurring fee
$1,980
Year one
$6,975
Three years
$10,935
Formula and limits
$4,995 + ($165 × 12) = $6,975 in year one; $4,995 + ($165 × 36) = $10,935 over three years. This base ROBS scenario excludes FranFund's separate Business Loans fee, state-specific costs, brokerage or investment expenses, special valuation work, corrections or exit work.

My Solo 401k[5]

Public product
Business Financing 401k setup with first-year support included
Setup
$3,000
Annualized recurring fee
$899
Year one
$3,000
Three years
$4,798
Formula and limits
$3,000 in year one; $3,000 + ($899 × 2) = $4,798 over three years for up to 10 participants. The public annual fee starts 12 months later for the first 10 participants; add $75 for each additional participant and verify brokerage, valuation, correction, contract and exit costs in writing.

Loan packaging stays separate

FranFund also publishes Business Loans at a $2,500 one-time standard fee with loan package preparation, lender matching, lender coordination and closing support.[3] That price is useful if your transaction combines ROBS with SBA or conventional debt, but it is kept outside the base ROBS setup examples because the public page presents it as a separate service.

What each provider publicly says it will handle

Published base price[3][5]

FranFund public evidence
$4,995 setup plus $165/month required TPA.
My Solo 401k public evidence
$3,000 setup including first-year support; $899 annually starting 12 months later for the first 10 participants.
How to read it
My Solo's public base cadence is lower in the first and three-year examples. FranFund's published TPA is monthly and required.

Setup scope[3][5][6]

FranFund public evidence
Corporation filing, organizational documents, federal tax ID, 401(k) plan assistance, corporate checking account assistance, asset transfers, stock certificates and attorney consultation.
My Solo 401k public evidence
C corporation formation, business-financing 401(k)/PSP, plan and corporation EINs, corporation bank account, brokerage account, transfer forms and audit guarantee.
How to read it
Both publish core setup mechanics. My Solo is more explicit about separate plan and corporation EINs and the brokerage account.

Ownership, custody and money movement[1][3][6]

FranFund public evidence
Publishes asset-transfer assistance and stock certificates for personal and plan investments; its checked page leaves the wire sequence for written confirmation.
My Solo 401k public evidence
States former-employer retirement funds move to the new 401(k) brokerage account, plan funds are wired to the corporation bank account, and stock certificates are issued.
How to read it
The practical distinction is record clarity, the same legal mechanism: the plan buys C corporation stock and the corporation receives operating capital.

Ongoing administration and employee plan work[2][3][5]

FranFund public evidence
TPA list includes contributions, annual testing, Form 5500, Form 1099-R, Form 945, annual fair market value support, Summary Annual Report, benefit statements, employee census support, amendments, restatements and employee notifications.
My Solo 401k public evidence
Annual support list includes Form 5500, participant additions, Form 1099-R, annual routine corporation valuation, mandatory amendments, participant statements, contributions, vesting, contribution computation, nondiscrimination testing, top-heavy, additions and coverage.
How to read it
Both publish meaningful administration scope. FranFund is more explicit on Form 945, Summary Annual Report and employee notifications; My Solo is more explicit on top-heavy/additions/coverage wording.

Valuation[1][3][5][7]

FranFund public evidence
Includes annual fair market value support in the TPA list.
My Solo 401k public evidence
Includes annual routine corporation valuation for Form 5500 preparation; separate valuation page lists a $495 valuation report service that is free for new clients.
How to read it
Both statements preserve the owner's fiduciary duty to support employer-stock value prudently, especially for recapitalizations, redemptions, distributions or sale events.

Audit support[3][8]

FranFund public evidence
Includes IRS and DOL audit assistance when necessary.
My Solo 401k public evidence
Offers audit-response help if procedures and requirements are followed, and offers reasonable tax-court counsel only for IRS or DOL allegations that the initial employer-stock investment is a prohibited transaction; terms and conditions must be requested.
How to read it
My Solo publishes more guarantee detail, but the promise is conditional and narrower than full audit or penalty coverage.

Loan packaging[3][4][5][6]

FranFund public evidence
Separately prices Business Loans at $2,500 and describes loan-package preparation, lender matching, lender coordination and support through closing.
My Solo 401k public evidence
The checked ROBS pricing, process, valuation and guarantee pages leave any equivalent loan-packaging fee or scope for written confirmation.
How to read it
If an SBA or conventional loan will sit beside ROBS, FranFund is easier to evaluate from public pages; still request lender, closing and refund terms in writing.

Contract gaps[2][3][5][8]

FranFund public evidence
Checked public pages leave cancellation terms, refund timing, data export rights, correction fees, exit fees, cybersecurity terms or fiduciary allocation in the service contract.
My Solo 401k public evidence
Checked public pages leave cancellation terms, refund timing, data export rights, correction fees, exit fees, cybersecurity terms or the guarantee terms and conditions unless the buyer requests them.
How to read it
Unknown means the eight checked sources leave the item for written contract confirmation; the price example includes the item only after written terms confirm whether it is free or included.

The table is intentionally symmetric: the same buyer questions are asked of both providers. A public-record gap becomes a written diligence item. The buyer should request the missing actor, fee, timing, document and liability terms before signing.

Risks, documents and failure points to discuss before signing

Documents

Expect corporation formation records, bylaws or organizational minutes, EINs, plan documents, transfer paperwork, stock subscription or purchase documents, stock certificates, bank or brokerage account records, annual filings and participant records. FranFund and My Solo 401k each publish parts of this setup scope.[3][5][6]

Valuation

Employer stock needs support at formation and later reporting or transaction points. My Solo states annual value is disclosed on Form 5500 and one-time valuations may be needed for additional investment, stock buyback and distributions including RMDs.[7] FranFund includes annual fair market value support in TPA.[3]

Employee plan obligations

The IRS warns that ROBS sponsors can run into coverage, discrimination, benefits-rights-and-features and filing problems, including misunderstanding Form 5500 requirements because the plan owns the trade or business through company stock.[1]

Business failure

The plan's asset becomes employer stock. If the business fails, the retirement account may lose value even if the ROBS paperwork was set up correctly. The IRS project reported many failed or failing ROBS businesses, bankruptcies, liens, dissolutions and depleted retirement savings.[1]

Alternatives to compare against ROBS

ROBS is one funding structure among several that may fit a transaction. Compare it with an SBA 7(a) loan, conventional bank financing, seller financing, equipment financing, investor equity, cash savings, a taxable retirement distribution, or waiting until the deal is better capitalized. FranFund's homepage explicitly presents SBA Loans and FranPlan 401(k)/IRA Rollover Funding as options to explore.[4]

The tradeoff extends beyond interest cost. A loan may add payments, collateral and a personal guarantee, but it may preserve retirement diversification. ROBS may avoid immediate income tax and early-distribution penalty when properly structured, but it concentrates retirement assets in one private company and adds plan-administration duties.[1][2]

Written diligence questions for both providers

Use the same written questions with both providers so price, scope and responsibility differences are visible before you choose a service agreement.

  • Which entity, plan, trustee, custodian, brokerage and bank accounts will exist, who controls each, and where does money move at each step?
  • Which fees are fixed, which are pass-through, and which are extra for state filing, registered agent, brokerage, investment, added participants, valuations, amendments, corrections, distributions, loans, plan termination, stock redemption or exit?
  • Who prepares, reviews, signs and files Form 5500, Form 1099-R, Form 945, plan amendments, Summary Annual Reports, participant statements, employee notices and correction submissions?
  • What audit support is included, what is excluded, who pays outside counsel, and what conditions must be met before any guarantee applies?
  • What happens if the business misses its opening date, takes on investors, hires employees, buys an existing business, sells assets, closes, becomes insolvent or wants to terminate the plan?
  • What data export, cybersecurity, service cancellation, refund and transition rights are in the contract?

A practical next step

If My Solo's lower public pricing fits your needs, ask for its guarantee terms and a complete service agreement before assuming audit, valuation, correction or exit work is covered. If FranFund's TPA scope or business-loan support fits your deal, ask for a complete fee schedule that separates FranPlan, TPA, loan packaging and any add-on services.

Then compare the written answers beside your business plan, employee forecast, valuation needs, financing plan and exit assumptions with a CPA, ERISA attorney or benefits professional. The provider can coordinate implementation, but the plan sponsor and fiduciaries still need to understand the ongoing duties.[2]

Compare more providers ROBS fees and services

FAQ

These answers summarize the buyer-facing decision points above and keep the supporting sources visible beside each answer.

Which provider is the better fit for a ROBS transaction?

FranFund is the better public fit if you want a provider that publishes a required monthly TPA package and separate business-loan packaging. My Solo 401k is the better public fit if the base price cadence and detailed bank, brokerage, EIN, participant and audit-guarantee language matter more. The final choice should depend on written contracts, employee count, loan needs, valuation needs, exit plans and adviser review.[3][5][8]

What is a ROBS transaction?

A ROBS transaction uses a qualified retirement plan sponsored by a C corporation. Eligible retirement assets roll into that plan, the plan buys employer stock in the C corporation, and the corporation receives operating capital. The retirement plan then owns employer stock, so the retirement assets are exposed to the business value.[1]

What does TPA mean?

TPA means third-party administrator. In this context, it generally refers to ongoing plan-administration support such as testing, filings, participant records, notices, contribution work and plan-document updates. The exact duties depend on the service agreement.[2][3][5]

Why is FranFund's Business Loans fee separated from the ROBS totals?

FranFund publishes Business Loans as a separate $2,500 one-time standard fee with lending support. Because it is loan-support pricing rather than the 401(k) Business Funding setup fee or required TPA charge, the comparison keeps it separate.[3]

Sources checked

  1. IRS: Rollovers as business start-ups compliance project

    Defines ROBS as retirement funds used for business start-up costs through a plan purchase of new C corporation stock; flags Form 5500/Form 1120, participant, rollover, stock valuation, prohibited-transaction, promoter-fee, discrimination and business-failure concerns. Page last reviewed or updated November 16, 2025.

  2. DOL: Understanding Retirement Plan Fees and Expenses

    Explains fiduciary duties to prudently select and monitor plan service providers, evaluate complete services and fees, consider bundled and unbundled arrangements, provide participant fee information, and ask about cybersecurity practices.

  3. FranFund pricing

    Provider pricing page checked July 31, 2026: 401(k) Business Funding is published at $4,995 one-time setup; required TPA is $165/month; Business Loans are published separately at a $2,500 one-time standard fee.

  4. FranFund homepage

    Provider homepage checked July 31, 2026: describes a process of exploring SBA Loans and FranPlan 401(k)/IRA Rollover Funding, a free pre-approval letter based on FranScore, in-house teams and continued guidance through TPA services.

  5. My Solo 401k Business Financing pricing

    Provider pricing page checked July 31, 2026: setup fee is $3,000 including first-year annual support; $899 annual fee starts 12 months later for the first 10 participants; additional participants are $75 each.

  6. My Solo 401k Business Financing process

    Provider process page checked July 31, 2026: says an attorney and compliance officer are involved from beginning to launch; lists C corporation formation, plan adoption, EINs, bank and brokerage accounts, rollover funding, employer-stock purchase, wire to the corporation bank account and stock certificates.

  7. My Solo 401k ROBS business valuations

    Provider valuation page checked July 31, 2026: says existing-business recapitalization needs an initial valuation, annual stock value is disclosed on Form 5500, one-time valuations may be needed for later events, and a valuation report service is $495 and free for new clients.

  8. My Solo 401k Business Funding Guarantee

    Provider guarantee page checked July 31, 2026: guarantee applies if customers follow procedures and requirements; includes audit-response assistance and reasonable tax-court counsel only if the IRS or DOL alleges the plan's initial employer-stock investment is a prohibited transaction; terms and conditions are available upon request.