Fractional HR and recruitment support: what it really takes.
Researched October 2026. Start-up costs were researched in Australian dollars and converted at approximate rates. Hours are the minimum to keep it moving. First income is how long a first paid job or sale often takes, not a promise.
What you'd do
Onboarding packs, policy sets, job ads, interview guides, screening and reference checks, and a monthly people check-in for owner-operators with no HR person. Processes and documents, not legal advice.
Who pays
Owner-operators with 5-40 staff: trades, clinics, cafes, agencies.
How people usually find customers
Referrals through bookkeepers and accountants, LinkedIn, local chambers; Expert360 for larger projects.
The catch
Needs real HR experience and a warm network; clients want legal certainty you cannot give; award and dismissal questions must go to a lawyer or the Fair Work Ombudsman.
Still unknown
Retainer level in your market (AU compilations cite AU$2,500-6,000/mo for 10-60 staff, EST). We'd rather say so than guess.
Rules to check
Wherever you live, check how self-employed income is taxed, when you need to register, and whether this kind of work is regulated. Our rules guides cover Australia, the US, the UK, Canada and New Zealand, with sources and dates, inside the Income Fit Test.
Fit before hustle.
This idea might be perfect or a terrible fit, depending on your week. The Income Fit Test checks it against your hours, budget, skills and where you live, then gives you a dated 14-day test with lines for when to stop.
Similar ideas
General information only: not financial, legal or tax advice, and not a forecast of what you'll earn. Spot something out of date? Write to hello@herlittleempire.com and we'll fix it and say so.