How to Start a Human Resources Consulting Firm

Start a human resources consulting firm by following these 10 steps:

1. Plan your Human Resources Consulting Firm
2. Form your Human Resources Consulting Firm into a Legal Entity
3. Register your Human Resources Consulting Firm for Taxes
4. Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
5. Set up Accounting for your Human Resources Consulting Firm
6. Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Human Resources Consulting Firm
7. Get Human Resources Consulting Firm Insurance
8. Define your Human Resources Consulting Firm Brand
9. Create your Human Resources Consulting Firm Website
10. Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your human resources consulting firm. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.

Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.

STEP 1: Plan your business

A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:

• What will you name your business?
• What are the startup and ongoing costs?
• Who is your target market?
• How much can you charge customers?

Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.

What will you name your business?

Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Human Resources Consulting Firm Name Generator

If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.

When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:

• Your state's business records
• Federal and state trademark records
• Social media platforms
• Web domain availability.

It's very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.

What are the costs involved in opening a human resources consulting firm?

The costs to open a human resource consulting firm business are fairly low, totaling between $2,00 and $10,000. These funds are needed to purchase a computer, office software, a laser printer, a fax machine, and an internet connection. An office may be necessary at times, but business owners can rent a shared coworking space or meet in a cafe when first starting out.

Before opening a consulting firm, however, business owners should either have another source of income that’s stable or a significant amount of personal saving. It can take six months to develop a client base and another six months before consulting begins to provide a paycheck.

Because earning any income from consulting can take so long, many business owners start human resources consulting firms part-time while working at another job. Working in the evenings and on weekends gives business owners an opportunity to grow their client base without giving up their primary income. Once the client base is providing a steady income, they may choose to leave their job and consult full-time.

What are the ongoing expenses for a human resources consulting firm?

The ongoing expenses for a human resources consulting firm business are minimal. They include office supplies, office equipment depreciation, utility costs, and travel expenses if a business owner meets with clients in person.

Who is the target market?

The primary target market for a human resources consulting firm business is small and medium businesses that either don’t have in-house HR departments, or want to downsize and outsource their HR department’s work. Some firms also consult for nonprofit organizations.

How does a human resources consulting firm make money?

A human resource consulting firm business makes money by selling consulting services to other companies. Most firms charge an hourly fee, and some may be on a retainer for certain clients.

How much can you charge customers?

The average cost for a human resources consultant ranges from $99.52 to $184.74 per billable hour. Specialists will tend to be toward the higher end of this range, while generalists will likely be closer to the lower end because of the increased competition they face.

How much profit can a human resources consulting firm make?

Human resources consultants can earn a substantial income. In a full day with 8 billable hours, a consultant might bring home between $800 and $1,472. Of course, not every day will have 8 billable hours in it.

How can you make your business more profitable?

Human resources consultants who write articles for magazines and newspapers might earn a little side income while pursuing these marketing efforts. Additionally, business owners can write ebooks or traditional books on their areas of expertise.

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

The most common business structure types are the sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company (LLC), and corporation.

Establishing a legal business entity such as an LLC or corporation protects you from being held personally liable if your human resources consulting firm is sued.

You can form an LLC yourself and pay only the minimal state LLC costs or hire one of the Best LLC Services for a small, additional fee.

STEP 3: Register for taxes

You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.

In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It's really easy and free!

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.

When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.

Open a business bank account

Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:

• Separates your personal assets from your company's assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
• Makes accounting and tax filing easier.

Get a business credit card

Getting a business credit card helps you:

• Separate personal and business expenses by putting your business' expenses all in one place.
• Build your company's credit history, which can be useful to raise money later on.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting

Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.

Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.

STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses

Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.

State & Local Business Licensing Requirements

Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a human resources consulting firm business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.

Certificate of Occupancy

A human resources consulting firm business is generally run out of an office. Businesses operating out of a physical location typically require a Certificate of Occupancy (CO).  A CO confirms that all building codes, zoning laws and government regulations have been met.

• If you plan to lease a location:
• It is generally the landlord’s responsibility to obtain a CO.
• Before leasing, confirm that your landlord has or can obtain a valid CO that is applicable to a ___ business.
• After a major renovation, a new CO often needs to be issued. If your place of business will be renovated before opening, it is recommended to include language in your lease agreement stating that lease payments will not commence until a valid CO is issued.

• If you plan to purchase or build a location:
• You will be responsible for obtaining a valid CO from a local government authority.
• Review all building codes and zoning requirements for your business’ location to ensure your XXX business will be in compliance and able to obtain a CO.

STEP 7: Get business insurance

Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.

There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.

Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers' Compensation Coverage.

Is this Business Right For You?

Obviously, business owners who want to position themselves as human resources consultants must be knowledgeable in the field. It’s not enough to be an expert in HR, though.

Consultants must also be capable salespeople, for bringing on new clients forces business owners to sell themselves. They have to be able to show how their services will help other companies, earn the trust of those companies’ decision makers and ultimately, secure a consulting contract.

What happens during a typical day at a human resources consulting firm?

Human resources consultants spend time interacting with clients and working alone. Business owners can expect to be in regular contact with clients, connecting via email, fax, phone, and in-person meeting. When not talking to clients, business owners often work alone researching issues and assembling materials.

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful human resources consulting firm?

As mentioned, business owners must be knowledgeable in current human resources issues and how they’re solved.

Prospective business owners who would like to bolster their knowledge in a specific area may want to take an online HR course. ECornell, Study.com and other organizations offer courses on particular subjects. Some other institutions, such as the University of Phoenix, have certificate programs. For the highest level of education in the field, business owners can complete a bachelor’s degree or master of business administration at an accredited university.

Classroom education alone, however, may not sufficiently qualify prospective business owners for work as an HR consultant. Most people who successfully start HR consulting firm businesses have experience working in HR, and many have worked in the industry for decades.

What is the growth potential for a human resources consulting firm?

A human resource consulting firm business can be a small business run by one person, or it can grow to be a large international company. Burr Consulting, LLC in New York is an example of a small firm that has one consultant. Mercer is a much larger consulting firm, with operations in more than 130 countries.