One plan. Clear numbers.
A single Nova plan covers formation, setup, and ongoing administration. Everything required to keep your ROBS structure compliant is included. Pass-through state filing fees and optional add-on services sit outside the plan and are handled through credits when they come up; see the "what the plan does not cover" section below.
Everything required, one plan
The complete ROBS structure -- formation, plan setup, and ongoing compliance administration.
What is included
- C-Corp formation and state filings
- EIN for the C-Corp and for the plan trust
- 401(k) plan document, trust agreement, and adoption agreement
- Custodian account setup and rollover coordination
- Stock issuance to the plan and cap table maintenance
- Annual Form 5500 filings
- Required nondiscrimination testing
- Ongoing compliance monitoring and plan amendments
- Support for corporate events (funding rounds, acquisitions, sale)
What the plan does not cover
A few things sit outside the plan. Most are either pass-through fees or work you'd expect to handle separately.
Pass-through and third-party
- State filing fees (pass-through, varies by jurisdiction)
- Registered agent renewal after the first year
- 409A valuations for outside equity rounds
Your operating stack
- Payroll software or W-2 filings
- Business bank account setup
- Tax preparation for your C-Corp or personal returns
A note on credits
Some ancillary services -- optional document amendments, extra filings, and pass-through work we handle on your behalf -- are billed in platform credits. 1 credit equals $1. You do not need to buy credits to be a Nova customer; they only appear when something falls outside the plan.
The Nova plan itself is the product. Credits are a mechanism we use so we can handle one-off work without having to re-paper scope each time.
How Nova stacks up against the alternatives
Price alone is not the whole story. Setup speed, compliance visibility, and platform depth determine how painful the next year feels.
| Category | NovaNova 401(k) by Talcott Forge | Legacy providersEstablished, advisor-led incumbents | ERISA / CPA firmsHigh-touch bespoke setup |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | |||
| Setup fee | $5,000 | $4,995 to $5,495 | $3,000 to $8,000+ |
| Ongoing fee | $500 / quarter | $149 to $155 / month | Hourly or retainer |
| Pricing publicly listed | Yes | Mixed | Rarely |
| Pricing model | One plan, flat quarterly | Monthly admin fees, inclusions vary | Custom scope, custom bill |
| Setup and process | |||
| Self-serve eligibility check | Yes | No | No |
| Online application | Yes | Partial | No |
| Dedicated advisor or contact | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Time to funded | 1 to 4 weeks1 | 3 to 6 weeks | 6 to 12 weeks |
| Entity formation (C-Corp + EIN) | Included | Included | Sometimes |
| Compliance and administration | |||
| Form 5500 + nondiscrimination testing | Included | Included | Billed separately |
| 409A valuation coordination | Included | Included | Billed separately |
| Compliance dashboard & alerts | Live, with automated alerts | No | No |
| Full 401(k) plan administration | Included | Partial, often tied to payroll bundle | Sometimes |
| Audit support | Included | Included | If retained |
| Plan amendments | Included | Included | Billed separately |
| Platform and technology | |||
| Modern client portal | Yes | Partial | No |
| Document vault and e-signature | Yes | No | No |
| Cap table management | Yes | No | No |
| Intelligent compliance monitoring | Yes | No | No |
| Payroll integration | Partner-based, no lock-in | Often bundled into their stack | No |
1 Nova's funding timeline depends on rollover processing at your current custodian and state filing speed.
Why founders choose Nova
- A modern app with a fully digital experience.
- Proactive compliance with intelligent automation.
- Full plan administration without being forced into a specific payroll vendor.
- One flat plan, published publicly.
When another option may fit better
- A legacy provider if you want a familiar phone-first process and bundled services.
- A boutique ERISA or CPA firm if your structure is unusually complex and you want direct attorney or CPA attention.
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