Small business employee benefits

Less than 500 employees

Small business

When you’re a growing business, you have unique challenges. Principal^® has trusted solutions.

Family business succession: Lessons learned

Learn how the right relationships and planning early on could have helped this dentist transition his practice to his son more smoothly.

Watch 2-min video

Research and insights

Insights on top business issues and themes currently impacting small and midsize businesses (SMBs) and employees.

Principal^® Business Owner Insights (annual)

How do your priorities and actions around protecting your business, your employees, and yourself compare to other business owners this year?

See rankings and get planning tips

Principal^® SMB Sentiment Insights (quarterly)

What are other SMBs and employees like yours thinking about the topics impacting today’s workplace?

See the latest quarter’s results

Helpful tips for your small business and employee benefits

Supporting my employees

Attracting & retaining my workforce

What are your retirement and benefits worth? Your employees might not know—but you can help fix that.

A regular cadence of communications with clear, accessible information can help every employee understand the value of and get more from their retirement and benefits plan.

5 min read

Attracting & retaining my workforce

Are your employees burned out? Here’s how you can help

Stressed employees may be overwhelmed with the demands of life and work. These benefits might help.

3 min read

Supporting my employees

6 ways to help employees feel valued, from a pat on the back to part ownership

Whether you recognize the performance of a single employee or change your entire ownership structure, you have a number of options to consider to empower the people who drive your business.

Discover more about supporting your employees

Attracting & retaining my workforce

Woman business owner working on benefits plan on computer in her shop

4 min read

Attracting & retaining my workforce

Need a better key employee benefits plan? These 4 tips can help

You value your key employees. Here’s how to help create a benefits plan that rewards them—and helps you achieve your goals, too.

4 min read

Benefit best practices

Engage employees of all generations by strategically shaping your workplace benefits

Explore how an inclusive benefits plan with opportunities for personalization can help accommodate all generations in the workforce.

2 min read

Benefit best practices

Client perspective: Benefits help your business attract and retain top talent

Recent research from Principal^® found that seven in ten business owners believe that benefits help improve employee retention, recruiting, and productivity. Hear what one client says about that.

Discover more about attracting and retaining your workforce

Protecting my business

Two smiling coworkers looking at the same screen.

4 min read

Protecting my business

6 reasons to be optimistic about cybersecurity for small business

Businesses can stay alert to cyber threats while feeling reassured by broader trends in technology, talent, and other areas.

5 min read

Protecting my business

5 steps to creating a financial plan to help your business withstand bumpy times

From cash reserves to financial professionals, these key steps can help your business navigate a crisis and build long-term resilience.

4 ways one owner boosted her business resilience—and how you can, too

Don’t panic or wait for a recession. Pivot and plan and help make your business stronger now.

Discover more about protecting your business

Growing my business

Male brewer using laptop in brewhouse distillery

4 min read

Growing my business

2 ways your small business can innovate with affordable technology

You know your customers well and can be nimble, and your digital innovations can build on those small-business strengths.

4 min read

Well-Being Index℠ Insights

5 work perks and practices that matter to Gen Z

Is your organizational culture fit for Gen Z? Discover what they want at work and what you can do to keep up.

3 min read

Growing my business

6 reasons business owners like you get overwhelmed (and what helps)

Here’s how to get back to what you love about owning and managing a business.

Discover more about growing your business

Benefit best practices

Young female ceramists using a laptop together in their store

2 min read

Attracting & retaining my workforce

3 affordable ways small business owners can start a retirement plan for employees

Offering a retirement savings plan can help employees feel valued and more financially secure. Walk through three options that help simplify the process.

3 min read

Attracting & retaining my workforce

7 retirement plan updates to help more Gen Z workers become better savers

A few simple updates can help modernize your employer-sponsored retirement plan in preparation for the new generation of workers.

3 min read

Attracting & retaining my workforce

Offer the benefits your employees really want (that you can also afford) with these 5 tips

Discover what employees want to see in a benefits package and how your business can accommodate without overspending.

Discover more about benefit best practices

Tools to help you and your growing business

Compare your benefits

Get a quick look at what organizations of your size, industry, and region offer for employee benefits.

Assess your needs

Answer just a few questions to get free, tailored strategies to safeguard your business, employees, and personal lifestyle.

Find a financial professional

Our nationwide network can help you design small business employee benefits and protection plans made for you and your business.

Make a connection

See more SMB insights (PDF)

Comprehensive business solutions

Employee retirement plans

Stay competitive with retirement benefits, like 401(k) and 403(b) plans, and deferred compensation that help attract high-quality employees—and keep them.

Group insurance

Flexible insurance solutions, like group dental, disability, life and accident insurance, help you to build a comprehensive employee benefits package.

Business and owner protection

Safeguard your business and yourself with succession and estate planning, key employee retention, key person protection, and life and income protection.

Follow business conversations

SEPTEMBER 10, 2024

Strategies to manage generational differences in the workplace

Generational perceptions and differences can contribute to challenges and conflict in the workplace, impacting culture and productivity. Explore some of the unique challenges small and midsize businesses (SMBs) are navigating in a multigenerational workplace and how business leaders can help bridge generational differences in this webinar hosted by Principal^®.

Webinar key takeaways:

The impact of a multigenerational workplace.
Strategies to help manage culture and generational perceptions in the workplace.
Practical tips from business leaders to be successful in a multigenerational workplace, including strategies for recruiting and retention, and offering benefits that meet employee life stage needs.

See all upcoming and recorded events

Expertise you can trust

No. 2 provider of total group benefits (dental, life, and disability) insurance²

No. 1 provider of nonqualified deferred compensation (NQDC) plans.³

144,000+ total ��small and midsize business customers⁴

Guides on trending issues

Get free step-by-step guides informed by ��expertise and the experiences of employers like you.

Develop and employee retention strategy that drives business growth

Addressing employee mental health through workplace and employee mental health initiatives.

1. 2024 ��Sentiment survey of small and midsize non-employer customers (257) and employees (260) conducted between January 22 and February 14, 2024.

2. Determined by fully insured employer groups in-force. Based on participants in LIMRA’s 4th Quarter 2021 U.S. Workplace Benefits Life Insurance, Disability Insurance, Dental and Vision Plans and Supplemental In-force surveys. (April 2022)

3. 2024 PLANSPONSOR NQDC Market Survey, July 2024 (1,970 clients).

4. ��SMB Segmentation Market Overview Dashboard, data as of 4Q22. (Note: There is some overlap in counts where clients have multiple products across lines of business)

ACCIDENT INSURANCE PROVIDES LIMITED BENEFITS.

Insurance products issued by ��National Life Insurance Co. (except in NY), ��Life Insurance Company^®, and the companies available through the Preferred Product Network, Inc., Plan administrative services provided by ��Life. Referenced companies are members of the ��Financial Group^®, Des Moines, IA 50392.

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