Small Business Employee Benefits Guide for 2025

By: Marshall Hargrave

In the race to keep employees happy, employers have gone to great lengths, providing things like dry cleaning pickup and bring-your-dog-to-work days. In truth, the types of benefits you offer, whether health insurance or certain unique benefits, will depend on the type of work environment you are trying to cultivate and the types of employees you want on your team.
To build a great team, you’ll want to attract (and keep) your top employees. One of the most influential factors in keeping employees happy is offering employee benefits. Keeping your employees happy and productive. Building a benefits package and payroll functions is a balancing act, but one that gets easier if you leverage payroll software like QuickBooks with built-in human resource functions.
Managing benefits can be tricky and costly for a small business. However, with a little forethought and planning, you can build an employee benefits package that will encourage loyalty, which can positively impact your bottom line. Let’s explore the various employee benefits you can offer:
How small business employee benefits work:

Financial benefits you can offer:
Financial benefits are a crucial aspect of attracting and retaining top talent in small businesses. Financial benefits go beyond ensuring employees’ well-being by addressing their financial security and long-term goals. Here are several financial employee benefits that small businesses can consider offering:
Many organizations offer a retirement savings plan “match” to their employees. This means that if employees invest a certain percentage of their annual salary, the company matches part or all of the investment.

Unique employee benefits:
In today’s competitive job market, small businesses are increasingly turning to unique and unusual employee benefits to attract and retain top talent. Here are some examples of unique employee benefits that small businesses can consider implementing:
Gym memberships
Providing employees with gym memberships or on-site fitness facilities can promote a healthy lifestyle and encourage physical well-being. Regular exercise can boost mood and improve focus—both useful in the workplace.
Paid time off to volunteer
Paid time off to volunteer, also known as paid volunteer time or volunteer time off, allows employees to volunteer their time for a cause they care about. It can be a great way to give back to the community and show employees that the company values its commitment to social responsibility.
Pet insurance
Many employees are pet owners, and offering pet insurance as an employee benefit shows compassion and understanding for their furry family members. This benefit helps alleviate the financial burden of veterinary expenses.
Other interesting benefits
When offering unique employee benefits, you can get creative and cater to your workforce. For example, consider these other interesting benefits that might work well for your business:

Yoga classes.
Pet-friendly locations at work.
On-site laundry.
Backup care.
Referral bonuses.
Legal assistance.
Free ebooks.
Tax preparation help.

When implemented effectively, unique benefits can contribute to employee satisfaction and loyalty, offering something competing employers can’t (or haven’t thought of).

Small Business Employee Benefits Guide for 2025

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Small Business Employee Benefits Guide for 2025

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