All Guides

Plain-language guides on health insurance and employee benefits for small businesses. Written for owners, not HR departments.

• Cost & Affordability
  Small Business Health Insurance Costs Hit a Record High. Here's What Most Owners Don't Know.
  Family premiums reached $26,993 in 2025. Small business workers pay $8,889 more than employees at large companies. But there's an alternative most aren't using.
  By Marcus Reid · The Benefits Desk · March 2026
• Getting Started
  How a Business With 3 Employees Can Offer Health Benefits Starting This Week
  Step by step. No jargon. The exact process for setting up real health coverage for a small team without a traditional group plan.
  By Marcus Reid · The Benefits Desk · October 2025
• 1099 & Contractors
  Can an Employer Pay for a 1099 Contractor's Health Insurance?
  The answer most business owners don't expect: yes, with caveats. Including a newer model built specifically for businesses with mixed W2 and 1099 workforces.
  By Marcus Reid · The Benefits Desk · October 2025