The Lowest-Cost Answer Depends on the Price Input
Among providers that publish both setup and recurring administration prices, the lowest source-supported first-year total is My Solo 401k Financial: $3,000 setup, including first-year support.[10] The lowest source-supported three-year total is also My Solo 401k Financial under this page's formula: $3,000 + 2 × $899 = $4,798 because the annual fee starts 12 months later.[10]
The lowest public recurring sticker is ROBSPRO at a starting $50 per month billed quarterly, or $600 per year.[15] That does not automatically make ROBSPRO the lowest total contract for every buyer because its page says the monthly administration fee will be discussed after the plan is installed and employee eligibility is clearer.[15]
Quote-only providers, incomplete records, first-year promotions and unreachable websites stay visible below. They are not treated as more expensive or lower quality; they simply do not supply the public inputs needed for reproducible arithmetic.
Setup Cost, Recurring Cost, and What the Arithmetic Omits
Setup cost means the provider-published one-time amount for the initial ROBS structure. Depending on provider scope, that may include C corporation formation, plan and trust documents, rollover coordination, employer-stock issuance, EIN work, initial valuation support, registered-agent service, state filing fees or attorney consultation.[5][6][7][8][10][14][18]
Recurring cost means the provider-published ongoing plan administration charge after setup. Providers describe different inclusions: Form 5500 preparation, testing, participant statements, employee census review, valuation support, plan amendments, fidelity bond facilitation, registered-agent renewal, audit assistance or online account access may or may not be included.[5][7][9][10][14][15][18]
The formulas omit unpriced state pass-throughs, franchise taxes, business licenses, registered-agent renewals when not included, payroll, bookkeeping, corporate Form 1120 preparation, employee surcharges, added participants, independent valuations beyond included scope, audit legal work, correction fees, stock redemptions, business-sale work and plan termination. The DOL says fiduciaries should compare both fees and services, and the IRS identifies Form 5500, Form 1120, valuation, employee-access and promoter-fee issues in ROBS examinations.[1][2][3][4]
First-Year and Three-Year Calculations You Can Reproduce
Formula 1: first-year total = published setup amount + first 12 months of published recurring administration, except when the provider states first-year support is included in setup. Formula 2: three-year total = published setup amount + 36 months of published recurring administration, or setup + two annual renewals when first-year support is included. These calculations compare public sticker fees only; they do not score service quality or completeness.
Source-supported arithmetic for providers with current public setup and recurring fees.
| Provider | Inputs used | First-year formula | Three-year formula |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guidant Financial [5] | Setup $5,495 + annual recurring $1,788 | $5,495 + $1,788 = $7,283 | $5,495 + 3 × $1,788 = $10,859 |
| Benetrends Financial [6] | Setup $4,995 + annual recurring $1,860 | $4,995 + $1,860 = $6,855 | $4,995 + 3 × $1,860 = $10,575 |
| FranFund [7] | Setup $4,995 + annual recurring $1,980 | $4,995 + $1,980 = $6,975 | $4,995 + 3 × $1,980 = $10,935 |
| Pango Financial [8][9] | Setup $4,695 + annual recurring $1,548 | $4,695 + $1,548 = $6,243 | $4,695 + 3 × $1,548 = $9,339 |
| My Solo 401k Financial [10] | Setup $3,000 + annual recurring $899 | $3,000 + $899 = $3,000 | $3,000 + 3 × $899 = $4,798 |
| Accelefund [14] | Setup $4,500 + annual recurring $1,188 | $4,500 + $1,188 = $5,688 | $4,500 + 3 × $1,188 = $8,064 |
| ROBSPRO [15] | Setup $4,000 + annual recurring $600 | $4,000 + $600 = $4,600 | $4,000 + 3 × $600 = $5,800 |
| Nexus 401(k) by Talcott Forge [18] | Setup $5,000 + annual recurring $2,000 | $5,000 + $2,000 = $7,000 | $5,000 + 3 × $2,000 = $11,000 |
IRA Financial is not in this table because its public page shows $3,500 setup and a $1,000 first-year promotional/display amount with a crossed-out $1,200 figure and promo code, but the reopened page did not show a renewal amount needed for recurring or three-year arithmetic.[11] Business Funding Trust, Tenet, Aprio, Directed Equity and ROBsAdvisor also lack complete current public dollar inputs.[12][13][16][17][19]
Providers With Public Setup and Recurring Prices
These eight providers publish enough price data to compare setup and recurring sticker amounts. The table is alphabetical by maintained provider order, not an endorsement order.
Current public setup and recurring ROBS pricing records; citations are next to each provider claim.
| Provider | Setup | Recurring or display price | How to use the record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guidant Financial [5] | From $5,495 | From $149/month | Starting prices only; contract must identify included administration, valuation, audit, filing, employee and exit support. |
| Benetrends Financial [6] | $4,995 Rainmaker; $9,995 Roth Advantage | $155/month Rainmaker; $195/month Roth Advantage | Two plan lines are public; arithmetic below uses the lower Rainmaker line only and does not price the Roth Advantage service tier. |
| FranFund [7] | $4,995 | $165/month | Business-loan packaging is separately priced at $2,500 and is not included in ROBS-only arithmetic. |
| Pango Financial [8][9] | $4,695 on ROBS page; conflicting $3,995 reference | $129/month | Recurring price is public, but setup references conflict. Arithmetic uses the higher $4,695 displayed on the ROBS page and should be replaced by a written quote. |
| My Solo 401k Financial [10] | $3,000 | $899/year after year one | Setup includes first-year support; annual fee begins 12 months later for the first 10 participants, before any $75 additional-participant charges. |
| Accelefund [14] | $4,500 | $99/month | Public plan-administration fee is separate from a stated approximate $100 annual fidelity-bond cost for most clients and other pass-throughs. |
| ROBSPRO [15] | $4,000 | Starts at $50/month billed quarterly | Lowest public recurring sticker in this set, but the fee can change after employee eligibility and recordkeeping needs are known. |
| Nexus 401(k) by Talcott Forge [18] | $5,000 | $500/quarter | Published quarterly administration converts to $2,000 per year; source states estimated year-one cost of $7,000 for Nexus services. |
First-Year, Incomplete, Quote-Only, and Unverified Records
These records remain part of the 14-provider universe because removing them would make the comparison look cleaner than the evidence allows. Ask each provider for the same written fee schedule before treating a quote as higher or lower than a public-price provider.
Provider records visible to buyers but not used for full recurring arithmetic.
| Provider | Setup | Recurring or display price | How to use the record |
|---|---|---|---|
| IRA Financial [11] | $3,500 | $1,000 first-year promotional display; renewal not verified | The page shows a first-year promotion and setup fee, but not the later renewal amount needed for recurring or three-year arithmetic. |
| Business Funding Trust [13] | No exact current public setup price found | No-cost administration kit; optional help not priced | The public page discusses avoiding monthly maintenance fees but does not provide a complete current dollar denominator. |
| Tenet Financial Group [12] | Contact for pricing | Contact for pricing | Service scope is described; exact setup and administration fees must be requested in writing. |
| Aprio [16] | Contact for pricing | Contact for pricing | Advisory scope appears broader than basic setup, but no exact public dollar pricing was found. |
| Directed Equity [17] | Contact for pricing | Contact for pricing | The directINVEST service page describes support but not exact setup or recurring fees. |
| ROBsAdvisor [19] | Unavailable during verification | Unavailable during verification | The site could not be reached during this update; no current service or price claim is made. |
A Lower Sticker Price Can Buy a Different Service Scope
Guidant publishes higher starting prices than several competitors, but its pricing page describes lifetime audit protection, ERISA attorney access, 401(k) plan administration, valuation and broader business services.[5] FranFund publishes a $4,995 setup fee and $165 monthly TPA fee with listed support for Form 5500, 1099-R, Form 945, fair market value support, employee enrollment, amendments and audit assistance.[7] Nexus publishes a higher three-year sticker than several providers but states that first-year fidelity bond, registered-agent renewal, Form 5500 filing, testing, cap-table and valuation recordkeeping are included.[18]
Lower-price providers can still be appropriate. My Solo 401k Financial publishes a lower fee structure and specifies Form 5500 preparation, participant additions, 1099-R reporting, routine valuation, amendments, statements, contribution monitoring and testing in the annual fee.[10] ROBSPRO publishes a lower starting recurring amount, but also warns that the plan is a full retirement plan and employee participation can affect later administration fees.[15] Accelefund publishes a moderate setup and administration price but identifies separate fidelity-bond cost for most clients and added-partner pricing.[14]
How Different Buyers Should Use the Price Data
Use these examples to decide which price questions matter for your situation before treating a low published fee as the best fit.
Contract Questions Before Choosing by Price
Ask each provider the same questions in writing so you can compare scope, pass-throughs and renewal terms instead of only headline fees.
- What exact setup fee, deposit, cancellation term and refund rule apply?
- What recurring fee applies after first-year support or a promotion expires?
- Which state filing fees, registered-agent costs, annual reports, franchise taxes and business licenses are included or passed through?
- Who handles employee eligibility, census, notices, plan entry dates, testing and participant statements?
- Who prepares Form 5500, 1099-R, Form 945 and coordinates the corporate Form 1120 with your CPA?
- What valuation support is included at formation, annually, after material events and at sale or shutdown?
- Does audit support include IRS and DOL correspondence, attorney defense fees, document production, correction work, or only consultation?
- What fees apply when adding a partner, employees, another rollover account, a plan loan, an acquisition, a stock redemption or plan termination?
- Who is a fiduciary, trustee, recordkeeper, TPA, attorney, CPA, custodian or non-fiduciary consultant under the agreement?
- How are cybersecurity, account access, records retention and service-provider monitoring handled?
The DOL fiduciary guidance recommends asking providers for comparable information and monitoring fees and services over time; the IRS ROBS materials show why annual filings, valuation and plan operation matter after the initial rollover.[1][2][3][4]
Frequently Asked Questions
These answers summarize the price evidence without turning missing or promotional inputs into unsupported totals.
Who is the lowest-cost ROBS provider?
Among providers with current public setup and recurring prices, My Solo 401k Financial has the lowest source-supported first-year and three-year arithmetic in this update because its $3,000 setup includes first-year support and the $899 annual fee begins after 12 months. ROBSPRO has the lowest public recurring sticker at a starting $50 per month, but its own page says the ongoing administration fee may be discussed again after employee eligibility is known.[10][15]
Why not rank every provider by total cost?
Fourteen providers remain in the comparison, but several do not publish a complete current price schedule. Quote-only, incomplete, first-year-only and unavailable records are useful buyer information, but converting them into totals would require invented renewal, employee, valuation, audit or exit prices.[11][12][13][16][17][19]
What counts as setup cost?
Setup cost means the provider-published one-time amount to establish the ROBS structure, usually involving the C corporation, qualified plan, rollover coordination and employer-stock transaction documents. Exact scope differs by provider, so the same dollar label does not guarantee the same deliverable.[5][6][7][8][10][14][18]
What counts as recurring cost?
Recurring cost means provider-published ongoing plan administration, monthly, quarterly or annual. It may or may not include registered-agent renewal, Form 5500 preparation, valuation support, employee notices, fidelity bond costs, audit help, correction work or exit support.[5][7][9][10][14][15][18]
Sources and Update Notes
Government sources support ROBS mechanics, compliance duties, fiduciary standards and filing context. Provider-controlled sources support only what each provider says about its own pricing or services. Pricing was reopened on August 13, 2026; readers should verify contract terms directly before relying on any source-date-sensitive fee.
- [1] IRS ROBS compliance project
IRS page last reviewed or updated November 16, 2025. It says a ROBS uses rollover assets to buy stock of a new C corporation, determination letters do not protect incorrect operations, Form 5500/Form 1120 failures were project issues, and recurring promoter fees or legal issues were factors in some failures.
- [2] IRS ROBS examination guidelines
IRS Employee Plans memorandum dated October 1, 2008. It describes the C corporation, qualified plan, rollover, employer-stock purchase sequence and identifies valuation, prohibited-transaction, nondiscrimination and employee-access concerns.
- [3] DOL fiduciary responsibilities
DOL EBSA booklet dated September 2021. It explains prudence, exclusive-benefit duties, following plan documents, diversification, reasonable expenses, fidelity bonds, service-provider selection and monitoring.
- [4] DOL Form 5500 Series
DOL EBSA Form 5500 page. It states the Form 5500 series satisfies annual reporting requirements under ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code and must generally be completed and filed electronically.
- [5] Guidant Financial pricing
Provider pricing page reopened August 13, 2026. It publishes 401(k) Business Financing starting at $5,495 and 401(k) Plan Administration starting at $149 per month.
- [6] Benetrends ROBS/RAPS cost article
Provider article reopened August 13, 2026. It publishes Rainmaker at $4,995 setup plus $155 per month, and Rainmaker Roth Advantage at $9,995 setup plus $195 per month.
- [7] FranFund pricing
Provider pricing page reopened August 13, 2026. It publishes a $4,995 one-time 401(k) Business Funding setup fee, $165 per month TPA fee, and separate $2,500 business-loan standard fee.
- [8] Pango ROBS page
Provider ROBS page reopened August 13, 2026. It displays DreamSpark setup at $4,695 and describes incorporation, initial valuation and 12 months of registered-agent services.
- [9] Pango common questions
Provider Q&A reopened August 13, 2026. It repeats $4,695 setup and $129 monthly maintenance, but another answer says Pango charges a flat setup fee of $3,995; this page treats the setup conflict as unresolved.
- [10] My Solo 401k Financial pricing
Provider pricing page reopened August 13, 2026. It publishes $3,000 setup including first-year annual support and $899 per year starting 12 months later for the first 10 participants, plus $75 per additional participant.
- [11] IRA Financial ROBS 401(k)
Provider page reopened August 13, 2026. It displays a ROBS 401(k) first-year price of $1,000 with $1,200 crossed out, promo code SUMMER200, and a $3,500 setup fee; renewal pricing was not visible on the reopened page.
- [12] Tenet Financial Group ROBS funding
Provider service page reopened August 13, 2026. It describes ROBS design, installation and administration, employee eligibility support, Form 5500 help and exit support, but no exact public setup or recurring dollar fee was found.
- [13] Business Funding Trust fees
Provider fees page reopened August 13, 2026. It discusses avoiding $100-$150 or $100-$120 monthly plan-maintenance fees and a no-cost administration kit with optional professional help for an affordable fee; no exact current setup fee or optional-help amount was published.
- [14] Accelefund pricing
Provider pricing page reopened August 13, 2026. It publishes a $4,500 one-time setup fee with $1,000 non-refundable deposit, $99 per month plan administration, approximately $100 annual fidelity bond cost for most clients, and $1,000 to add a partner and retirement funds.
- [15] ROBSPRO fees
Provider fees page reopened August 13, 2026. It publishes a $4,000 turnkey package and monthly administrative fee starting at $50 per month, billed quarterly, with later employee-related administration fee discussion after plan installation.
- [16] Aprio ROBS services
Provider service page reopened August 13, 2026. It describes C-corporation formation, plan setup, compliance documentation, rollover coordination, tax advisory, valuation and exit support, but no exact public setup or recurring dollar fee was found.
- [17] Directed Equity directINVEST
Provider service page reopened August 13, 2026. It describes directINVEST ROBS financing and professional support, but no exact public setup or recurring dollar fee was found on the reopened page.
- [18] Nexus 401(k) pricing
Provider pricing page reopened August 13, 2026. It publishes one plan at $5,000 one-time setup plus $500 per quarter and states an estimated year-one cost of $7,000 for Nexus services.
- [19] ROBsAdvisor website
Website reopen attempted August 13, 2026 and failed to connect through the reader tool. Current operating status, scope and pricing were not independently verified.
Qualified review note: ROBS involves a qualified retirement plan, employer stock, a C corporation, fiduciary duties, tax filings and business risk. Before signing, have the written provider agreement and transaction plan reviewed by appropriate legal, tax, valuation and retirement-plan professionals for your facts.