According to the U.S. Census Bureau's Statistics of U.S.Businesses Employment and Payroll Summary: 2012 (released February2015), small businesses employ more than 39 millionpeople. Based on MetLife estimates, about half of today's 4million small business employers in the U.S. offer employeebenefits.

Like their larger counterparts, businesses with 100 employees orless struggle to attract and keep employees. The challenge ofbalancing cost concerns with employee needs falls on companies ofall sizes, but is much more daunting to small business owners.

Small business owners also have limited resources, making itchallenging to identify and manage affordable benefits options andpackages. Plus, they tend to be more focused on their business andhave neither the time nor the inclination to become experts inbenefits options and regulations. Still, small business ownersshould be providing the most attractive, useful benefits possibleto their employees. These employer clients need help understandingwhich products are best for their employees — and where to findthem.