HR adviser for small businesses
Help small employers with hiring, contracts, policies and staff issues from your home office.
- A$500-3k
- Side hustle
- From home
Estimates for a small start in Australia, not guarantees.
What it is
Practical HR support for small businesses that have no HR team: writing position descriptions, running recruitment, setting up contracts and policies, and coaching owners through staff issues.
Your first three steps
- Pick a niche (for example hospitality or trades) and list three services with fixed prices
- Set up an ABN, simple contract templates and professional indemnity and public liability insurance quotes
- Offer a free HR health check to small business owners you know and ask for referrals
Who pays
Owners of small businesses with a handful to a few dozen staff, such as cafes, trades businesses, clinics and retailers.
How it makes money
A monthly retainer for ongoing advice, plus fixed-price projects like a policy pack or a recruitment round, or an hourly rate for one-off issues.
Skills that help
- Knowledge of Australian employment law and awards
- Clear writing and communication
- Calm, fair judgement with difficult conversations
Watch out for
- Professional indemnity insurance, since bad advice can lead to claims
- Make clear you are not a lawyer, and know when to refer clients to an employment lawyer
- Check the Fair Work Ombudsman and relevant award rules, as they change and vary by industry
- Check whether your council requires approval for a home-based business
Deep research report · Australia
Everything you need to start: hR adviser for small businesses
Researched with live web search for Australia: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start an HR consulting business?
Startup costs are typically estimated at around $500 to $3,000, depending on your setup. Professional indemnity insurance is worth budgeting for, since bad advice can lead to claims.
How much can an HR consultant for small businesses earn?
Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $1,000 to $6,000, depending on the number of clients and the hours you put in. The idea assumes from about 8 hours a week.
What rules should I check before starting as an HR adviser?
Check the Fair Work Ombudsman and relevant award rules, as they change and vary by industry. Make clear you are not a lawyer and know when to refer clients to an employment lawyer. Also check whether your council requires approval for a home-based business.
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