Self-employment is freedom carrying paperwork. Building retirement savings without an employer match requires you to become both HR and employee—but the tools are strong if you use them.

Key options:

• Solo 401(k): for businesses with no employees other than you and a spouse. High contribution limits by combining employee deferrals and employer profit-sharing. Traditional and Roth options often available. Allows loans in some plans (use sparingly). Good for high-income years.
• SEP IRA: simpler setup, generous employer-only contributions up to a percentage of net earnings. No employee deferrals. Easy to administer; great for variable income. Contributions must be proportional if you add employees.
• SIMPLE IRA: for small businesses with employees. Lower limits than 401(k) but simpler, with required employer match or nonelective contributions. Useful bridge before a full 401(k).
• Defined benefit/cash balance plans: turbocharge savings for older, higher-earning owners. Complex and actuarially driven; pair with a pro.

Coordinate with IRAs. Even with business plans, you can contribute to a traditional or Roth IRA subject to income and deduction rules. Backdoor Roth strategies may apply in some systems; watch pro-rata rules.

Timing matters. Establish deadlines differ by plan: Solo 401(k)s generally must be opened by year-end for employee deferrals, while SEP IRAs can often be opened and funded by the tax filing deadline, including extensions. Automate contributions monthly to smooth cash flow.

Invest simply. Low-cost index funds or target-date funds reduce decision fatigue. Keep bonds in tax-deferred accounts where possible. Rebalance annually.

Taxes intersect everywhere. Contributions reduce taxable income for traditional versions, lowering estimated taxes. Plan quarterly. Use an accountant; the ROI is high when complexity meets opportunity.

Do not neglect insurance—disability to protect income, liability to protect the business, health to protect everything else. Build an emergency fund for both personal and business needs; self-employed volatility prefers thicker buffers.

Freedom is sweeter with a plan. Choose the account that fits your income pattern, contribute even in lean years, and let compounding do what employers usually help do. You are the boss; give your future self a generous benefits package.