SMALL BUSINESS ESSENTIALS
Small Business Essentials Cost Containment Playbook
Explore practical strategies across healthcare, retirement, retention, and compensation to help manage rising costs and support your business and your people.
WHY THIS PLAYBOOK MATTERS
Rising costs don’t have to mean fewer options.
For small businesses, every dollar counts. As healthcare and operational costs rise, finding ways to manage expenses while supporting your people is more important than ever.
The Small Business Cost Containment Playbook explores practical strategies across:
- Healthcare plan options and cost containment
- Retirement plan management
- Employee retention and compensation planning
For small businesses, managing costs starts with understanding what’s driving them.
9.5%
Projected Cost Increase in 2027Healthcare costs for employers are expected to increase 9.5% in 2027, marking a second consecutive year at this level.
$18,500+
Annual Cost Per EmployeeAverage employer-sponsored health benefit costs are expected to exceed $18,500 per employee in 2026, with continued cost pressure expected into 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions
Explore common questions about benefits costs, healthcare trends, and cost containment strategies for small businesses.
The playbook explores practical cost containment strategies across healthcare, retirement plan management, employee retention, and compensation planning to help small business leaders better understand their options.
Benefits cost containment refers to strategies employers can use to manage healthcare and employee benefits costs while continuing to support their workforce. This can include evaluating plan design, funding options, vendor costs, retirement plans, and other workforce expenses.
Healthcare costs are influenced by factors such as prescription drug and specialty medication costs, healthcare utilization, provider prices, and medical inflation. Understanding what is driving costs can help small businesses identify areas to evaluate within their benefits strategy.
Small businesses can explore strategies such as reviewing plan design, evaluating alternative health plan options, managing pharmacy and vendor costs, and considering how retention and compensation strategies affect overall workforce spending.
In addition to traditional fully insured plans, some small businesses may consider options such as level-funded plans, PEO arrangements, or other funding approaches depending on their size, workforce, budget, and risk tolerance.
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