Florida Small Businesses Back Retirement Savings Push as Lawmakers Prepare to Consider New Option for Workers in 2027
TALLAHASSEE, FL — Florida small businesses are showing strong support for a state-backed retirement savings option that would help workers without an employer plan set money aside for the future. AARP says the idea is meant to make saving easier for companies that want to offer a benefit but do not have the time, cost or administrative capacity to manage a traditional retirement plan.
The issue matters in a state where more than four million private-sector workers are employed by businesses that do not offer any kind of retirement plan. Without workplace access, many workers are left to depend mainly on Social Security when they retire. Florida lawmakers are expected to consider legislation in the 2027 session that would create a privately managed option for small employers.
Most Florida employers surveyed want more workers saving for retirement
AARP’s survey found broad agreement among Florida small businesses that retirement saving deserves more attention. Nearly 8 in 10 respondents, or 79%, said more should be done to encourage Florida residents to save for retirement.
The survey also found concern about the consequences of too many workers reaching retirement with too little saved. About 81% of small businesses said they worry, as taxpayers, that some residents have not saved enough and could end up relying on public assistance later in life. Another 66% said they are concerned their own employees will not have enough money in retirement.
Those findings suggest that many small business owners see retirement readiness not only as a personal issue for workers, but also as a wider community concern. AARP has used the survey to make the case that employers want practical tools that help employees prepare for the future.
The proposed option would be privately managed and simple for employers to use
According to AARP, the retirement savings model under discussion would be privately managed and designed to be easy for employers to facilitate. The group says the structure would allow small businesses to help workers save without taking on employer liability.
That distinction is important for smaller companies, many of which do not have dedicated benefits staff or the resources to build a full retirement program on their own. AARP describes the idea as a public-private savings option that would make participation more manageable while still giving employees a path to build long-term security.
Lawmakers are expected to review legislation in 2027 that would create this kind of retirement savings option. The proposal is being framed as a way to make workplace saving available to more Floridians, especially employees at businesses that have been unable to offer a plan so far.
Businesses say retirement benefits could help them recruit and keep workers
For many Florida employers, the appeal goes beyond employee finances. AARP says 84% of the small businesses surveyed believe offering a workplace retirement savings option would help them attract and retain quality employees and stay competitive.
That finding reflects a common challenge for small businesses: they often compete with larger employers that can offer a wider package of benefits. For owners trying to recruit and keep workers, retirement access may be one more tool that can make a job more attractive.
At the same time, the survey points to why some employers have not already added a plan. Retirement programs can be costly and complicated, which makes them difficult to set up and maintain without outside help. A simplified, state-facilitated structure could reduce those barriers while still giving workers a chance to save through payroll deductions.
Among businesses without a plan, interest in the option was especially high
The survey suggests that many employers who do not currently offer retirement benefits would be ready to consider the new model. Among Florida small businesses without a retirement savings plan, about 74% said they would be likely to offer the privately managed option described in the survey.
That level of interest points to a potential opening for lawmakers and advocates who want to broaden access without placing the full burden on employers. It also suggests that the problem may be less about opposition from small businesses and more about the practical barriers that have kept many of them from acting on their own.
For workers, broader access could mean more opportunities to save through the workplace, where automatic deductions can make participation easier. AARP says that kind of access is especially important for employees at smaller companies, who are less likely to have retirement benefits available now.
How AARP conducted the Florida small business survey
AARP commissioned Alan Newman Research to conduct the 2026 Florida Small Business Survey between June 16 and July 23, 2026. Researchers interviewed 552 small businesses by cell and landline phone.
The sample included businesses with 5 to 100 employees beyond the respondent and was weighted by business size, industry and county using 2023 Economic Census statistics. AARP said the survey was designed to reflect Florida’s small business landscape as accurately as possible within those categories.
The organization has also provided contact information for Florida residents and media outlets seeking more details about the issue. For AARP, the survey is part of an effort to build support around a retirement savings proposal before lawmakers take it up in 2027.