Wondering how to start an HR consulting business in 2025?
Yes, there’s a lot to consider but there’s a lot to be optimistic about too.
Now that the world has moved to hybrid work, there is a global market for new start-up HR consultancies to help employers get the best out of their workforce.
In a recent episode of the HR business marketing podcast, A Better HR Business, Ben spoke with Ricardo Ghekiere, Co-Founder of BetterPic, about how you can instantly turn everyday selfies into premium, studio-quality headshots – no awkward photo shoots required.
Ricardo shares his journey from acquiring a small SaaS business for $1 to scaling it into a thriving company with $270K monthly revenue only 18 months later, along with actionable marketing strategies and key lessons for HR and tech entrepreneurs.
BetterPic allows individuals and teams to upload a handful of casual selfies and, in under an hour, receive dozens of polished headshots tailored for use on LinkedIn, corporate websites, and more. This solution is not just about convenience; it’s about democratizing access to professional images that used to require expensive photoshoots and significant time investments.
Ricardo didn’t found BetterPic – he acquired it in December 2023 for just $1 when it was generating about $1,500 per month. Driven by his ambition to prove himself in the SaaS space, he saw an opportunity in a market still in its infancy.
The turning point came quickly. Within a year, BetterPic had skyrocketed from that modest $1,500 monthly revenue to over $280,000.
In a recent episode of the HR business marketing podcast, A Better HR Business, Ben spoke with Diane Faulkner, Founder of Human Resources Made Easy, about her journey, her passion for compliance, and practical strategies for building a thriving HR consulting business for small employers.
Diane Faulkner’s story begins in the corporate sector, where she spent 17 years in leadership roles, including as VP of Human Resources in a Jacksonville credit union. Over her 40-year career, she not only led HR departments but also became an industry voice through writing and speaking engagements. Diane’s knack for simplifying complex compliance topics was first noticed when she contributed a candid article to a trade magazine, propelling her into the world of HR writing and consultancy.
When a life event required her to leave corporate HR, Diane didn’t hesitate – she recognized the gap in HR support for small businesses and decided to fill it. Through Human Resources Made Easy, Diane has helped countless small business owners navigate compliance, manage people within the law, and communicate effectively with their teams.
Diane Faulkner
Diane Faulkner’s story offers a powerful reminder: small businesses deserve HR support that’s both expert and empathetic. By blending compliance expertise, clear communication, and careful business tracking, HR consultants can not only safeguard their clients but help them thrive.
For more on Diane’s approach, her upcoming book “Don’t Get Sued, Get Smart: A Small Business’s Pocket Guide to Avoiding Legal Landmines” promises actionable insights for employers, especially those with 49 staff or fewer.
In a wide-ranging discussion, Diane and Ben talked about:
In a recent episode of the HR business marketing podcast, A Better HR Business, Ben spoke with Robin Adda, Founder of SkillAssess, about how AI is revolutionizing the way we identify, address, and close skills gaps.
NOTE: Register for Robin’s upcoming panel discussion on AI for HR & L&D.
In a world where technology continues to accelerate at a staggering pace, organizations are wrestling with an ever-expanding skills gap. Traditional one-size-fits-all training simply can’t keep up, and neither can businesses that fail to innovate.
Robin Adda (Source: retrainexpo.co.uk)
Robin is best known as the founder of GTS Learning, a global training content company eventually acquired by CompTIA. He’s a seasoned entrepreneur with a career full of innovation, resilience, and more than a few fascinating war stories, including a legendary legal showdown with Apple in the 1980s that he actually won.
He recently captured his entrepreneurial journey in his new book, “The Bumpy Road to Success”, which is packed with business lessons, war stories, and moments of real insight.
Now, Robin is on a mission to reinvent workforce development with his latest venture, SkillsAssess, an AI-powered platform designed to pinpoint skills gaps and deliver truly personalized learning plans for businesses and training professionals.
Current statistics reveal that as much as 30% of the UK’s workforce lacks the skills necessary for their jobs. The implications stretch far beyond HR and they impact overall productivity, business agility, and organizational innovation.
In a wide-ranging discussion, Robin and Ben talked about:
You’ve already started your HR-related consultancy. You’ve got the skills, the experience, the drive. But still, something nags at you in the quiet moments, “Am I building this business the right way? Why does it feel harder than it should?”
Not because you’re not smart enough. Not because you’re not experienced enough. But because growing a consultancy – pricing your services, attracting clients, figuring out your marketing – feels like a completely different job than delivering great HR work.
And you’ve been trying to figure it out alone.
After helping hundreds of HR-related consultants around the world, I’ve noticed that most of them hit the same roadblocks, and they stem from 10 common, deeply embedded beliefs.
Let’s take a closer look at the ten hidden mistakes that quietly hold HR-related consultants back.
In a recent episode of the HR business marketing podcast, A Better HR Business, Ben spoke with Jeff Greenfield, CEO and Co-Founder of Provalytics, about the changing landscape of marketing attribution in the wake of third-party cookie decline.
As privacy regulations like GDPR rise and tracking technology evolves, marketers are struggling to accurately measure which campaigns are driving their results—especially as “walled gardens” like Meta, Amazon, and LinkedIn restrict access to valuable data.
Jeff Greenfield previously co-founded C3 Metrics, where he pioneered the cookie-less identifier and drove ROI gains of 25%+ for clients like JP Morgan and Nestlé.
Jeff Greenfield
With over 30 years of experience in strategy and innovation, Jeff’s career is grounded in a data-driven mindset shaped by his early studies in biochemistry. His background spans marketing, tech, aviation, magic, and healthcare—fueling a creative, analytical approach to leadership. Today, as the Co-Founder and CEO of Provalytics, he’s focused on helping marketers make smarter, faster decisions in a rapidly changing digital landscape.
The team behind Provalytics previously built a leading attribution company that delivered marketing insights to some of the world’s largest advertisers, including JP Morgan, US Bank, Hertz, Nestlé, Peapod, Carhartt, Edward Jones, and Fender.
They are now applying that expertise to guide marketers into a new era with a modern, cutting-edge, and future-proof solution.
In a wide-ranging discussion, Jeff and Ben talked about:
In a recent episode of the HR business marketing podcast, A Better HR Business, Ben spoke with Nia Pommerenke, Founder and Culture Transformation Consultant of SeaBright Culture Solutions, about the real challenges organizations face when trying to build strong, engaging cultures, and why leadership commitment is key to meaningful change.
Workplace culture is often misunderstood and reduced to perks and morale boosters. But culture isn’t an HR task; it’s a leadership responsibility. Without CEO commitment, even the best HR efforts won’t stick.
With over 25 years of HR experience and a specialized focus on culture transformation, Nia offers pragmatic and actionable wisdom for business leaders navigating today’s complex work environment.
Nia Pommerenke’s journey spans more than two decades in the HR world, culminating in the founding of Seabright Culture Solutions nine years ago. Early in her career, she gravitated to the “softer” side of HR – culture, engagement, and leadership – recognizing these as foundational elements that shape the employee experience.
Nia Pommerenke
Today, Nia’s consultancy is dedicated exclusively to helping small and mid-sized organizations transform their workplace cultures. Her approach is “focused, pragmatic, no fluff,” targeting real employee engagement, strong performance, and sustainable growth for businesses that are poised to make an impact, from technology startups to mission-driven organizations.
In a wide-ranging discussion, Nia and Ben talked about:
In a recent episode of the HR business growth podcast, A Better HR Business, Ben spoke with Tobba Vigfusdottir, CEO and Founder of rapidly-growing Kara Connect, a customised mental health and wellbeing platform for employees.
Tobba has an M.Ed. in Educational Psychology from the University of Washington in Seattle and a B.Ed. from the University of Iceland; both focused on cognitive psychology.
Tobba has, throughout her career, focused on the problem of access to help and support. Her experience as a local politician brought forward the systemic problems people face in getting the proper support to get better.
Tobba established an online speech therapy company before establishing Kara Connect. She sits on the National Theatre board and the Science and Technology board appointed by the Minister of Innovation. Before entrepreneurship, Tobba was an elected city councillor in Reykjavík for 12 years, a political Advisor to the Minister of Education, and a project manager for a women’s entrepreneurial program.
In a wide-ranging interview, Tobba and Ben discussed these topics:
In a recent episode of the HR business marketing podcast, A Better HR Business, Ben spoke with Adam Daines, CEO and Founder of ADDA, about the challenges facing modern HR departments – from the unpredictable needs of SMEs to the surge in employment-related lawsuits – and how his company is helping clients navigate these waters with both traditional consulting and cutting-edge innovation.
ADDA is a consulting firm providing HR, Payroll, Benefits Administration, and Talent solutions. Its Consulting Services support HR teams with complex projects like pay transparency initiatives and HCM system implementations. Its Managed Services deliver the full administrative and strategic support of an HR, Payroll, Talent, or Benefits department.
Adam Daines
Founder and CEO Adam Daines built ADDA to solve a problem he saw throughout his career: only large companies could afford strategic, high-impact HR. ADDA is changing that, making world-class HR support accessible to businesses of all sizes.
One of the most exciting milestones in ADDA’s journey is the launch of MyHRAlly, a secure, AI-driven platform built to reduce administrative overload for HR teams.
Leveraging a proprietary database of employment laws, company policies, and handbooks, MyHRAlly delivers fast, accurate answers to both simple and complex HR queries. Routine questions are automated, while sensitive issues – like harassment or bereavement – are instantly routed to a human expert, preserving empathy where it matters most.
Closed and fully encrypted, the platform eliminates security risks common to open AI tools. It also empowers HR teams with case management tools and early-warning insights, helping them spot patterns and address problems before they escalate.
In a wide-ranging discussion, Adam and Ben talked about:
In a recent episode of the HR business marketing podcast, A Better HR Business, Ben spoke with Reece Akhtar, CEO and Co-founder of Deeper Signals, on how their psychometric assessment platform is bridging gaps between people, roles, and organizational strategy.
As an organizational psychologist and data scientist, Reece specializes in leveraging behavioral science and technology to help organizations make smarter, data-driven talent decisions. With expertise in applied personality assessment and computational psychometrics, he has held academic positions at New York University (NYU) and University College London (UCL) and led product innovation at Hogan Assessment Systems and RHR International.
A recognized thought leader, Reece contributes to scientific journals, HBR, and Forbes, sharing insights on talent, technology, and the future of work. He also published The Future of Recruitment: Using the New Science of Talent Analytics to Get Your Hiring Right.
Deeper Signals doesn’t just focus on technical acumen. Instead, it’s pioneering the measurement and development of soft skills – qualities like communication, collaboration, and adaptability – that are becoming increasingly essential as AI takes on more routine tasks. As Reece puts it, “Our uniquely human aspects, like our ability to coordinate, invent, and communicate, are going to become more important.”
Reece Akhtar
Reece explained that Deeper Signals was founded to address a persistent market gap: the existing assessments were either too scientific and cumbersome, used only at the top of organizations, or too light and lacking in scientific rigor. “How can we democratize self-awareness?” became their guiding question.
Their answer: scalable, scientifically validated assessments that are as intuitive and user-friendly as the everyday tech tools we use outside of work. The platform is intentionally designed for multiple stakeholders: HR leaders, hiring managers, team leaders, and employees themselves. “It’s not just about the HR user or the candidate,” Reece notes. “We want to make everyone’s lives better in the world of work.”
In a wide-ranging discussion, Reece and Ben talked about:
In a recent episode of the HR business marketing podcast, A Better HR Business, Ben spoke with Luis Garcia, President and Co-Founder of PETE, an Orlando-based HR tech startup, about how personalized, scalable training solutions – covering everything from onboarding to compliance and technical upskilling – are not just helpful, but essential for long-term success.
Luis is an experienced international executive with 25+ years in technology, digital media, and education. He is also the co-founder of Collectiva, offering fractional executive services to game tech startups, helping them scale and prepare for fundraising. Previously, at Full Sail University, he led the growth of technology and gaming programs, increasing student enrollment by 130% and boosting revenues from $40MM to $60MM. He also played a key role in launching Full Sail’s online university, growing its student base from 13 to 12,000, generating $180MM in revenue.
Luis Garcia
PETE (Personalized Education, Training and Enrichment) is an innovative AI-powered learning platform that is transforming workforce training.
The platform enables companies to streamline knowledge management by creating customized virtual academies. With PETE, businesses can develop, host, and manage tailored courses without the need for a dedicated training department.
From personalized onboarding to sales and compliance training, PETE’s adaptive technology ensures each employee receives the most relevant content based on their role and experience, maximizing the impact of their learning.
In a wide-ranging discussion, Luis and Ben talked about:
In a recent episode of the HR business marketing podcast, A Better HR Business show, Ben spoke with Cecilia Clark, founder of Aphrodite HR, about helping independent fertility practices overcome industry challenges and build sustainable teams.
Cecilia‘s entrepreneurial journey began during the COVID-19 pandemic when her former employer declared bankruptcy, leaving her and five dependent practices without HR support. Recognizing the opportunity, she founded Aphrodite HR to fill the gap, offering comprehensive HR services, from payroll management to employee relations.
Cecilia Clark
After a brief hiatus, Cecilia returned to her passion, and today, Aphrodite HR thrives by supporting independent fertility practices. Balancing a full-time job and her consulting business, Cecilia uses her HR expertise to address the unique needs of the fertility sector.
Aphrodite HR’s success is driven by its specialized approach to the unpredictable schedules and work-life balance challenges faced by fertility practices. This focus on the niche has helped Cecilia build a strong reputation within the industry.
With a network of over 13,000 LinkedIn connections in the fertility field, Cecilia connects the right talent to the right practices, showcasing the power of niche specialization in HR consulting.
In a wide-ranging discussion, Ceciclia and Ben talked about:
In a recent episode of the HR business marketing podcast, A Better HR Business show, Ben spoke with Christian Hicks, owner and founder of Targeted HR Consulting, about the HR challenges faced by construction and manufacturing companies.
Christian Hicks brings extensive expertise to Targeted HR Consulting, with PHR, SHRM-CP, and MBA credentials. He began his career in education and nonprofit leadership, where he developed his skills in designing HR systems that align with business objectives and drive growth.
Christian Hicks
Over the years, Christian has led the development and implementation of company-wide ATS and HRIS systems. He also played a key role in expanding an HR department during a significant growth phase, increasing the workforce from 180 to 300 employees while boosting revenue from $49M to $75M. His strategic improvements in recruitment, training, and retention efforts resulted in a 28.8% increase in employee diversity and an 8% reduction in turnover.
Christian’s proactive approach to HR helps companies adapt and thrive, whether they are experiencing growth, navigating downturns, or adjusting to shifting regulations.
Targeted HR Consulting is transforming HR management for industries like construction and manufacturing by tackling critical issues such as workforce retention and hiring shortages. The firm offers fractional HR services to smaller companies that cannot sustain a full HR department. With an in-depth understanding of the current market dynamics, Christian and his team focus on solving complex challenges such as supply chain disruptions and workforce shortages.
In particular, Christian has made it a priority to integrate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) practices in industries like steel, helping companies attract and retain qualified, diverse talent. Through strategic HR consulting, Targeted HR not only helps businesses navigate economic uncertainties but also fosters inclusive work environments and develops innovative solutions to improve talent acquisition and retention.
In a wide-ranging discussion, Christian and Ben talked about:
Starting your own HR consulting business can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. As with any entrepreneurial venture, there are bound to be a few bumps in the road along the way. However, being aware of common mistakes can help you avoid them altogether or at least mitigate their impact on your new business.
In this article, we will detail 10 common mistakes that many HR consultants make when launching their businesses and provide tips for avoiding them. Whether you’re just starting out or have been in the game for a while, reading through these potential pitfalls could go a long way toward ensuring the success of your HR consulting business.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok
