What's included
- HR audit and a 90-day plan in the first two weeks
- Employee handbook, core policies and state-specific addenda
- Onboarding and offboarding checklists, offer letters and approval flow
- Hiring process: job architecture, interview loops, scorecards and ATS setup
- Comp decisions: offer ranges, raises, promotions and equity refreshes
- Manager support: feedback, performance issues, terminations done properly
- People metrics your investors will ask for
Fractional HR vs. outsourced HR vs. a PEO
A PEO handles payroll, benefits and HR administration as co-employer. An outsourced HR firm usually provides a pool of generalists answering tickets. Fractional HR gives you one named senior leader who makes and owns decisions with you. Many companies use a PEO or payroll platform for administration and a fractional leader for everything strategic.
Who it's for
- 15–150 person startups without a senior HR lead
- Founders who want HR done right before the first big hiring push
- Companies whose first HR hire left, or who need cover while they recruit one
- Distributed teams with employees in several states or countries
Frequently asked questions
What does fractional HR cost?
FlexHR's fractional HR retainers start at $4,000 per month for about one day a week (Fractional Head of People) and $8,000 per month for about two days a week (Fractional CHRO). Fixed-scope projects start at $7,500.
How quickly can you start?
Typically within one to two weeks of a signed scope. Rapid Response work for urgent situations can start within 48 hours.
Do we still need a PEO or payroll provider?
Usually yes. Fractional HR is leadership and execution, not payroll processing. We help you pick the right PEO or payroll and benefits setup and manage it, including transitions off a PEO when you outgrow it.
Can a fractional HR leader help us hire our first full-time HR person?
Yes. A common end state is that we build the function, then hire and onboard your full-time People lead and hand over a working system.