Fractional HR
I know I need HR, but I can't afford a full-time hire.
You're right on both counts. You do need it, and a full-time HR hire probably doesn't make sense yet. Good news: those aren't your only two options.
Let's do the math.
$149,280
Median salary for an HR manager in the U.S., before benefits and payroll taxes.
$75,940
Median salary for an HR specialist, who usually needs a senior person to guide them anyway.
$99 to $499
Per month for Phone-a-Friend HR. Fractional HR is quoted to fit your size, at a fraction of a full-time salary.
Salary figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, median annual wage, May 2025.
What's really going on
When I owned my businesses, I thought HR was a luxury for bigger companies. Then I learned what one wage claim, one bad termination or one missing policy actually costs. The expensive thing isn't HR. It's not having it when you need it.
Most businesses under 50 employees don't need a full-time HR person. They need a senior one, some of the time, and a real person to call when something goes sideways.
How I solve it
- Phone-a-Friend HR ($99 to $499/mo): call or text me before any people decision you can't take back.
- Fractional HR: a senior HR leader from a few hours a month or more, customized to what you need.
- One-time projects: handbook, HR audit or hiring system with a fixed price and a finish line.
Start small. Most of my clients start with one project or a Phone-a-Friend plan, then decide what else they need.
No forms. No pitch.
Tell me what's going on.
Text me, call me, or grab 30 minutes on my calendar. I usually reply within two hours during business hours.