Man in a brown apron opening the glass door of a small shop

For founders, co-founders & startup teams of one · Licensed in 20 U.S. states

Health insurance
for entrepreneurs.

Your income may be close to zero this year and much higher the next. Coverage for you and your family should keep up as the business grows, from the first invoice to the first hire.

Private & Secure
Fast Response
No Spam Calls

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From idea to payroll

Your company changes every year.
Your plan can too.

Leaving a job is only the first step, and our guide to health insurance when starting a business covers it. This page is about what comes next. Three founder stages we see:

Pre-revenue and running lean.

A lean year can lower your household income, and a lower income can mean a larger Marketplace tax credit, within the income limits. Base it on what you really expect, and update it when a big contract lands.

A breakout year.

As of October 22, 2026, under current law, household income above 400% of the federal poverty line generally means no Marketplace tax credit. If that looks likely, compare the full price of a Marketplace plan with private options.

Co-founders, but no staff yet.

Owners and partners do not count as employees for the SHOP small-business program. Two founders with no staff usually each buy their own individual or family plan.

Founder in a denim jacket pitching a startup plan at a whiteboard — Photo: Pexels photo 7413924 by RDNE Stock project, used under the Pexels License. Cropped, resized, and converted to WebP. Modified from the original.

Planning for swings

One estimate per year, revisited often.

The Marketplace bases tax credits on your household income for the year you are covered.

Each open enrollment, set a fresh income estimate for the coming year. Last year's number may be far off.
Count net self-employment income, meaning revenue minus business costs. A net loss counts too.
Paying yourself a salary through an S corporation changes the picture. See our S-corp owner guide and ask your tax pro.
When revenue jumps mid-year, update your application so your advance credit tracks the new estimate.

New businesses in numbers

More than half a million
business applications in one month.

534,947

U.S. business applications in September 2026, seasonally adjusted.

35,786

Of those applications listed planned wages, about 1 in 15.

29,022

New employer businesses Census projects from those applications within four quarters.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Formation Statistics, September 2026 data released October 14, 2026. Applications are requests for an employer ID number, and not every one becomes a business. U.S. figures only.

Paul DanielsLicensed health advisor · NPN 20986580

Working with Paul

A broker who checks in
as the company grows.

Daniels Health Advisors is the independent brokerage Paul Daniels founded, licensed in 20 U.S. states. We help founders in a bootstrapped first year, owners whose revenue has grown fast, and co-founders sorting out coverage before a first hire. Marketplace plans are often where we start, since a lean year may qualify you for a tax credit. In a year when a credit looks unlikely, we can also go over private PPO options. Some private plans ask health questions, and approval is not guaranteed. Some may not cover care for health problems you had before you enrolled.

Marketplace plans can't turn you down or charge you more for a health problem you had before coverage started. That protection can matter if you have a health condition and are weighing a move out on your own.

Quick calls between customer meetings
Licensed in 20 U.S. states · Paul Daniels, NPN 20986580 · FL license G065122
You do not pay us for our help. We are paid by the insurance companies when you enroll. Your price for a plan is the same whether you use us or sign up on your own. Commissions can differ by company.

Your first call

Entrepreneur coverage in three steps.

Tell us where the company is

Pre-revenue, growing, or about to hire, plus who in your household needs coverage.

We set this year's estimate

Wages already earned this year plus expected business profit become one household figure.

Choose, then check in

Pick a plan with your doctors checked, and revisit it each open enrollment as the business changes.

Book a 15-minute call

Recommended on Facebook

What people say
about working with us.

“I’ve know Paul for years and definitely trust him in the health advisor dept! Working with small business owners he has been a great partner with explain options and provide solutions!”

Sandra D.
Facebook recommendation

“Paul was very helpful in my search for business group insurance. He was able to explain my options and answer all the questions I had before signing up. Highly recommend working with him!”

Adil J.
Facebook recommendation

Before each open enrollment

Re-check your plan
every open enrollment.

Founder income rarely holds still. If you take advance tax credits and income beats your estimate, the extra is repaid on your tax return. Under current law, starting with 2026 taxes, there is no cap on that payback. If income falls short, you could qualify for more savings, so update your application when things change. You will leave our call with:

An income estimate for this year, not last year
Where the 400% line falls for your household size
Network results for your family's doctors and prescriptions
A short list of options to look at before your first hire

A checklist for

Founders reviewing coverage each year.

Compare this year's revenue and costs with the income on your application.
List any co-founder or family member who needs coverage, and whether a spouse's job offers a plan.
Put the open enrollment dates on your calendar.
Planning a first hire? Read our ICHRA vs QSEHRA guide.

Founder questions

Entrepreneur health insurance FAQ.

Is there a special health plan for entrepreneurs?

No. Founders buy the same individual and family plans as anyone else, on or off the Marketplace. What is different is estimating a household income that can change a lot from one year to the next.

My income could jump this year. What happens to my tax credit?

If your income ends up higher than your estimate, you may have to repay some or all of the advance credit when you file. As of October 22, 2026, under current law, household income above 400% of the federal poverty line generally means no tax credit for that year. Update your application when you expect a change.

Can I use an HRA or a group plan just for myself?

Not as the only person in the business. HealthCare.gov says CHOICE Arrangements (formerly individual coverage HRAs, or ICHRAs) are only for employees, not self-employed owners. A QSEHRA reimburses employees too. The SHOP small-business program needs at least one full-time-equivalent employee who is not an owner, a partner, a spouse, or a family member.

What changes when I hire my first employee?

You may be able to offer a small-group plan, including through SHOP. Small employers can also look at HRAs, such as a QSEHRA or a CHOICE Arrangement, that help employees pay for their own plans. Each has its own rules. See our small business health insurance in Florida page.

My spouse has a job plan. Does that matter?

It can. If your spouse's employer offers you coverage that is affordable and meets minimum value under IRS rules, you may not get a Marketplace tax credit. Compare the cost of joining that plan with a plan of your own.

Do I have to wait for open enrollment?

Not for every plan. A private plan (not from the Marketplace) can often be bought any time of year. Some private plans ask health questions, and approval is not guaranteed. Some may not cover care for health problems you had before you enrolled. Marketplace plans, and other plans that follow ACA rules, work differently. As of October 22, 2026, under current law, open enrollment for 2027 plans on HealthCare.gov runs from November 1, 2026, to January 15, 2027. To start coverage January 1, pick a plan by December 15. States that run their own Marketplace may set different dates, so check with your state's Marketplace. A federal appeal about these rules is pending (City of Columbus v. Kennedy, 4th Cir. No. 26-1938), with oral argument set for October 30, 2026, so confirm the dates before you enroll. Outside open enrollment, you need a special enrollment period, such as one after losing job-based coverage.

Grow the business.
Keep your coverage.

Book a free 15-minute call, or start a quote online.

Book a 15-minute call Get a quote online

By Paul Daniels, licensed insurance agent (NPN 20986580).

Disclaimer

Daniels Health Advisors LLC is an independent brokerage, not a carrier, HealthCare.gov, or CMS. Agent: Paul Daniels, NPN 20986580, Florida license G065122. This page is about personal and family health insurance. It is not business, liability, or tax advice. Business counts are from public government data and describe groups, not you. Tax credits, plans, networks, and prices depend on your state, zip code, income, and household. We never guarantee approval, a doctor, or a price. Not medical, legal, or tax advice.

Health insurancefor entrepreneurs.

Your company changes every year.Your plan can too.