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4 Retirement Plans for Self-Employed People

Byline profile imageWritten by Sam Lipscomb, CEPF®
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Byline profile imageEdited by Arturo Conde, CEPF®
Updated on
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Being self-employed has a multitude of benefits. While you can be your own boss and enjoy the flexibility and agency that comes along with this style of employment, there are certain things that aren’t as readily available. This includes employer sponsored healthcare and 401(k) matching programs. This lack of structured benefits has the potential to make saving for retirement more difficult for entrepreneurs. However, those who choose to be self-employed actually have a number of solid retirement savings options. A financial advisor can also help you pick a retirement plan for your needs and goals.

Overview of the Retirement Plans for Self-Employed People

Saving for retirement when you’re self-employed can be tougher for a number of reasons. Self-employed individuals typically don’t have steady streams of income like those with more traditional employment. Healthcare and education expenses can also pile up when not under the coverage of a traditional employer. Plus, the costs of running a business can eat into your take-home pay. With no HR person to get you involved in workplace retirement plans, no matching programs and no automatic contributions, saving for retirement can easily become an afterthought.

However, being self-employed is becoming increasingly popular in the U.S. and around the world. What’s more is that a sizable percentage of those who are self-employed don’t save regularly for retirement. But while it’s true these people don’t have all of the same retirement savings options as the average employee, there are still plenty of plans you can use to save. Such plans include solo 401(k)s, SIMPLE IRAs, SEP IRAs and Keogh plans.

Solo 401(k)s

One of the most popular retirement plans for self-employed people is called a solo 401(k). The IRS actually refers to these as one-participant 401(k)s, though.

The popularity of these accounts stems partly from the fact that it closely mirrors the types of 401(k) plans offered by employers that many are familiar with. A solo 401(k) is reserved for sole proprietors who have no other employees. The exception to that rule is if the sole proprietor has a spouse who works in the business as well.

One of the top benefits of a solo 401(k) plan is that you can contribute as the employer and the employee. The IRS lets you contribute up to $23,500 as an employee in 2025 and make an employer contribution of up to 25% of your compensation. As a result, you may contribute up to $70,000 to a solo 401(k) in 2025, not including any catch-up contributions.

As is the case with a 401(k), you can also make catch-up contributions of up to $7,500 in 2025 if you’re 50 or older. And as of 2025, individuals aged 60 to 63 can make a higher catch-up contribution of up to $11,250, when permitted by their retirement plan. This raises their total contribution limit to $34,750 for the year. By comparison, those aged 50 to 59 or 64 and older will have a maximum limit of $31,000, assuming their plan allows catch-up contributions.

SEP IRAs

SEP IRAs are offered in contrast to 401(k) plans like the one above. While a 401(k) involves employer and employee contributions, SEP IRAs involve savings that come from the employer only. A SEP IRA is quite easy to set up and manage, and you can contribute up to 25% of your compensation or $70,000 for 2025, whichever is lesser.

There isn’t an annual funding requirement for a SEP IRA. You can also choose to make contributions regularly throughout the year or make a lump-sum deposit at some point during the year. While the plan is best for sole proprietors, you can still use a SEP IRA if you have multiple employees. However, in that case you’ll need to contribute to all eligible employees based on their first $350,000 of compensation in 2025.

SIMPLE IRAs

A senior couple reviewing their retirement plan.

A SIMPLE (Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees) IRA functions differently than a 401(k), as it also falls under the IRA umbrella. That said, it can be thought of as a mix between an IRA and a 401(k), as suggested by the fact that it involves matching contributions. You can use a SIMPLE IRA if you’re a sole proprietor, but it works even better for small businesses.

A SIMPLE (Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees) IRA follows the same rules as a SEP IRA when it comes to rollovers, distributions, investments and other details. However, contribution thresholds are lower. Specifically, the standard employee contribution limit is $16,500 in 2025, with a $3,500 catch-up contribution allowed for those age 50 or older.

Under the SECURE 2.0 Act, employees at businesses with 25 or fewer employees may contribute up to $17,600, plus a $3,850 catch-up if age 50 or older. Participants aged 60 to 63 can make an additional “super” catch-up contribution of $5,250, if the plan allows.

As an employer, you’re obligated to match up to 3% of each employee’s contributions or contribute 2% of each employee’s salary, whether or not the employee contributes.

Keogh Plans

A Keogh plan isn’t as well known as its IRA and 401(k) counterparts when it comes to saving for retirement as a self-employed individual. It’s more complicated to set up than the other options, though it comes with the added benefit of more potential growth. Keogh plans are also known as profit-sharing plans.

Total contributions to a Keogh plan in 2025 are limited to $70,000 or 25% of your compensation if the plan is a defined contribution plan. If it’s structured as a defined benefit plan, you can save even more. The cap for defined benefit Keogh plans is set at $280,000 for 2025 or 100% of the employee’s compensation.

Contributions to a Keogh plan are made on a pre-tax basis, as is the case with many retirement plans. Remember, though, that a Keogh plan is complex to arrange and requires more paperwork than average.

Which Self-Employed Retirement Plan Should You Use?

When it comes to determining which retirement plan you should use as a self-employed individual, it’s important to remember that no two people are alike. In other words, you should ultimately make your decision based on your specific financial situation. That said, there are guidelines that can help make your decision easier.

If you’re a sole proprietor and are interested in a simple way of saving for retirement, it’s probably best to look at either a solo 401(k) or SEP IRA. Both of these plans are designed with sole proprietors in mind and are easy to set up and maintain, while maximizing savings.

If you’re self employed and run a small business, it’s probably a good idea to use a SIMPLE IRA. You won’t need to do as much paperwork to set one up as you would with a Keogh plan, and you’ll be able to maximize the retirement savings of your employees, as well as yourself.

But let’s say you’re running a small business and want to make sure yourself and your employees can contribute high sums to retirement every year. In this case, a Keogh plan may be the way to go. Just remember that these are much more complicated to set up.

Bottom Line

Closeup of a person putting money into a piggy bank.

Saving for retirement as a self-employed individual can be challenging, and many put it off entirely—but there are accessible options designed to help. Whether you’re a sole proprietor or run a small business with employees, plans like SEP IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, solo 401(k)s, and Keogh plans offer ways to build long-term savings while reducing taxable income. Each has its own contribution limits, setup rules and tax advantages, so it’s important to evaluate what aligns best with your income and business structure.

Tips for Saving for Retirement

  • Saving for retirement isn’t always straightforward. A financial advisor can help you create a financial plan for your retirement needs and goals. Finding a financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can have a free introductory call with your advisor matches to decide which one you feel is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
  • If you’re going at your retirement journey alone, it pays to be prepared. Check out our retirement calculator today.

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