Frequently asked questions
Broker Resources
Foundation
#
What is Fringe?
A fringe benefits marketplace that gives you an easy way to offer employees their choice lifestyle benefits that they’ll love
For more, see What is Fringe? (90-second introductory video)
How do points work on Fringe?
Points gamify the experience of choosing lifestyle benefits on our platform.
$1 buys 5 points
Points never expire
What can employees buy with their points?
Fringe offers
130+ services to your employees that save them time, reduce stress, impact the family, and spark joy.
Local, national, and international vendors
No markups or hidden fees: most services on Fringe are priced below market value
Stats:
8 in 10 employees say that Fringe increased their loyalty to their company
87% of employees said that Fringe was more meaningful, or as meaningful, as their traditional benefits
84% of employees say they prefer lifestyle benefits over in-office perks
90% average utilization & engagement for programs with monthly contributions
Vendors & services #
How do you determine which vendors are on the site?
- Fringe focus on services, not products
- You won’t find gift cards or marked up vacuum cleaners on Fringe
- Our vendor team hand selects vendors that reduce stress, give back time, impact the family, or spark joy.
Are services on Fringe marked up?
- No, and in many cases they’re discounted.
What is the average cost of a service on Fringe?
- Services range from $10 for fitness classes to over a hundred of dollars for virtual therapy. Users can top off purchases with their credit card if they don’t have enough points.
How often do vendors change?
- New vendors are added to the platform regularly, and showcased in the New to Fringe category
Can employers edit or customize the marketplace to include standalone services they offer?
- Yes. They can remove services (such as competitors) or add services through a simple process.
- Adding a benefit the company already has to Fringe, like an EAP, is a great way to increase utilization. Please keep in mind that any marketplace additions do push out company launch times 2 – 3 weeks and may require emails and meetings between Fringe, your client, and the vendor..
Is there a fee for customizing the marketplace?
- Nope!
Setup and Onboarding #
What is the implementation process?
It takes only a few weeks to implement Fringe.
- You schedule a demo with Fringe and your client
- Your client signs our MSA reflecting your discounted pricing
- Your client receives a dedicated CSM who will help set up the client’s specific programs and instance of Fringe
- Employees receive an email to claim their accounts
The Fringe Customer Success team will take it from there!
Pricing and funding #
What are the program level options for Fringe: Essential vs Premium?
- Official Fringe partners get preferred pricing below our standard $5 PEPM. Contact broker@fringe.us if you’re unaware of your specific discount.
What programs can clients accomplish with Fringe?
Most of our customers use Fringe to offer their employees a lifestyle benefits stipend. Additional programs can be added for no additional cost:
Monthly point stipend for a flexible lifestyle (recommended for highest utilization & engagement)
Rewards or recognition
Manager spot bonuses and incentives
Birthdays/Celebrations/baby shower/wedding
Work anniversary & milestone gifts
Free lunches & snacks/drinks for employees not in the office
- We recommend scheduling a meeting between you, your client, and Fringe to come up with a strategy
- Here’s a simple use case deck to get started
Lifestyle stipend programs that target $50-$100 /mo see the highest engagement
- For additional programs we recommend:
Birthdays: $25 – 50 /yr
Service anniversaries: $100-$1,000+ depending on tenure
Manager rewards: $50/quarter
Wellbeing subsidy program: varies
How to Get a Quote / Pricing:
Contact broker@fringe.us to request a custom quote.
Points #
Can I use my credit card to buy up to additional items?
Yes, you can use any available points and “top off” by adding a credit card during the check-out process.
Can I donate to a charity of choice?
Yes, with Fringe Premium you can give your points to friends, family, coworkers, and any charity of your choice. Donations to 501©3s are tax deductible
- Nope! And if an employee doesn’t have enough points to make a selection, they can top off the purchase with a credit card.
What can employees redeem with their points?
Fringe offers 130+ services to your employees that save them time, reduce stress, impact the family, and spark joy.
- Categories of benefits include:
Fitness apps
Online therapy
Life coaching
Food and grocery delivery
Family support, including virtual learning, educational activity subscriptions
Caregiving for kids, pets, and aging family members
Entertainment, including streaming, gaming, and more
Available vendors may be customized at the client’s request
Do points expire?
- Nope! Points can be saved month to month and year to year, unless the employer chooses to set it up differently.
Invoicing and taxes #
How does invoicing work?
Fringe invoices the employer directly on the first of the month for any points allocated to employees as well as the PEPM user fee for all employees at the company in the program.
Here’s a 2021 w9 for Fringe if it’s requested.
Are Fringe selections tax deductible?
- Student Loan Repayment and charitable giving selections are tax-deductible to the employee. In both situations, the employee will receive receipts at the beginning of the next calendar year directly from Fringe’s vendors that facilitate these services. Those can be used when filling out their taxes.
At the beginning of the year, Fringe sends employers a report detailing total taxable income broken out by employee. This can then be added to a w2 as compensation.
We do not handle pre-tax benefits — we leave that up to FSAs/HSAs
Tax Information for Employers:
Taxable fringe benefit (treated by the IRS like a gift card; taxable income to the employee)
Fringe provides employers with reporting of taxable income per employee (customized reporting may be available upon request)
Customers typically add taxable income to W‑2s at the end of the year.
Here is a tax guide for employers to further understand the tax implications of Fringe Benefits — A Guide to Fringe Benefits.