Open enrollment season can be stressful, especially when you’re a small business owner handling it all without an HR department.

Juggling deadlines, comparing plans, answering employee questions, and staying compliant isn’t easy when you’re also running the business day-to-day.

The good news? You don’t need a full HR team to run open enrollment smoothly. With the right processes in place and support from trusted partners, you can simplify the experience for yourself and your employees.

Here are five practical tips to streamline open enrollment as a small business owner:

1. Start Early and Keep It Clear

Without an HR lead managing timelines, planning ahead is essential. Aim to begin at least 60 to 90 days before enrollment starts.

To keep things on track:

• Create a clear schedule for reviewing, selecting, and announcing benefits.
• Notify employees of key dates and what they need to do.
• Use simple language and visuals to explain plans.

Tip: Send multiple reminders via email, meetings, or chat tools to make sure nothing gets missed.

2. Reevaluate Your Benefits Strategy

Take a step back and look at your current offerings:

• Are your employees actually using the benefits?
• Could you be offering better or more affordable options?
• Would voluntary benefits (like dental or vision) add value without raising costs?

You don’t have to do this alone. A benefits advisor can help assess your needs and recommend plans that fit your team and your budget.

3. Use Easy-to-Adopt Technology

Even small teams can benefit from simple HR tools. There are many affordable platforms designed specifically for small businesses.

Look for software that can:

• Store plan details in one place
• Let employees make elections online
• Automatically generate compliance documents

These tools reduce paperwork, cut down on mistakes, and save you time – so you can focus on your business.

4. Offer Personal Support

Your employees may have questions about what each plan offers, especially if they’re choosing on their own.

You can still offer helpful guidance:

• Host a brief group session (virtual or in-person)
• Share short videos or FAQs from your benefits provider
• Lean on your broker to provide one-on-one help if needed

Even a little support goes a long way in making employees feel confident in their choices.

5. Don’t Skip Compliance

Just because your team is small doesn’t mean you’re off the hook for regulations like ACA, COBRA, or ERISA. Staying compliant is key to avoiding penalties.

Make sure to:

• Keep records of elections and waivers
• Distribute all required notices (like Summary of Benefits Coverage)
• Stay current on any federal or state updates

Working with an experienced partner can take the guesswork, and stress, out of compliance.

Let’s Simplify Benefits Together

At OneDigital, we help small business owners like you simplify the process of open enrollment. From reviewing your current plans to guiding employees and ensuring compliance, our Employee Benefits team is here to support you – so you're never navigating it alone.

Let’s make this your easiest open enrollment yet. Contact OneDigital to learn how we can help your business today!