A hands-on approach and easy access is what we strive to provide — whether you're an employer with 2 employees or 8,000. If you're searching for small business group health insurance or a full small business benefits package, Professional Benefits Incorporated designs affordable, competitive plans for companies of every size in Sarasota and beyond.
Small businesses are the backbone of our country, and they deserve the same robust employee benefits large corporations use to recruit, retain, and reward key talent. We handle the plan design, carrier negotiations, compliance, and renewals — so you can spend your time running the business, not chasing paperwork. We want our small business employers to spend the time on what brings them the most revenue and let us worry about the benefits.
We work with any size budget to provide a comprehensive benefits program. As an independent agent we have a large market with a wide array of options.
Start a Group Medical Plan With as Few as 2 Employees
One of the most common misconceptions about small business group health plans is that you need a large staff to qualify. In Florida, a business can establish a small group medical plan with as few as two full time eligible, unrelated employees — meaning at least two people on payroll who aren't each other's spouse or family member. This "bona fide employer group" requirement opens the door to group-rated coverage for even the smallest startups, partnerships, and family-owned businesses that have at least one full-time non-family employee. Eligibility rules vary by carrier and state, so we'll walk you through exactly what qualifies your business.
What's Typically Included in a Small Business Benefits Package
A well-rounded small business benefits program usually includes a mix of the following:
- Group medical insurance — HMO, PPO, or high-deductible health plans (HDHPs). Either fully insured, level funded, self-funded or part of a Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA) or a Qualified Small Employer Health Reimbursement Arrangement (QSEHRA). Often paired with HSA or FSA options. While important, it is not a requirement to offer medical to offer other benefits.
- Dental and vision coverage — low-cost add-ons employees consistently rank as high-value
- Group life and AD&D insurance — a baseline benefit employees expect, and an easy way to stand out to candidates
- Group short-term and long-term disability — income protection if an employee can't work due to illness or injury
- Voluntary/worksite benefits — accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity plans employees can elect and often pay for themselves
- Wellness programs and Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) — low-cost perks that support retention
As an independent agency, we're not tied to a single carrier — we shop your business across a wide market of insurers to build a plan that fits your budget and your team's needs.
Supplemental Guaranteed Issue Benefits for Owners & Key Employees
Beyond core group options above, many small business owners and executives layer in supplemental guaranteed issue disability, life, and long term care benefits — coverage that's approved without medical underwriting when enrolled through the employer, making it an efficient way to protect key people who might otherwise face high premiums or coverage limits on the individual market.
Carriers We Work With
As an independent agency, we shop your business across the top-rated carriers licensed to write small group business (under 50 lives) in Sarasota and throughout Florida:
- Medical: Florida Blue, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna
- Dental: Aetna, Delta Dental, Guardian, MetLife, Principal, Ameritas, UnitedHealthcare, Unum
- Vision: Aetna, VSP, EyeMed, Guardian, Principal, Ameritas, UnitedHealthcare, Unum
- Group Life & AD&D: Guardian, MetLife, Principal, Sun Life, Unum, Hartford, Lincoln
- Group Disability (STD/LTD): Guardian, Unum, MetLife, Principal, UnitedHealthcare, Unum, Hartford
- Voluntary/worksite benefits: Aflac, Colonial Life, Metlife, Unum, Reliance Standard, Guardian, Teladoc, Beyond Med, Basic
- Guaranteed-Issue Supplemental (Disability, Life, LTC): Unum, Ameritas, Principal, Standard, Guardian, Met Life, MGIS, Lloyd’s of London, Trustmark, Chubb, Protective, Transamerica
Small Business Group Benefits FAQ
Small business group benefits are employer sponsored insurance and employee benefit plans designed for companies that want to provide valuable coverage to employees and their families.