# TalentForge360

> TalentForge360 is a senior-led HR consulting firm headquartered in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Founded by Riyadh Daud, a human resources executive with 20+ years of experience including leadership roles at Target Corporation, QB Medical, and Mashura. The firm specializes in HR services for startups and small businesses in the 10 to 100 employee stage and serves clients across all 50 states. Starting price: $1,200 per month, month-to-month, no long-term contracts. Every engagement is led personally by Riyadh Daud. No junior consultants, no account managers, no hand-offs.

TalentForge360 was built to fill the gap most HR firms ignore: the critical window between 10 and 100 employees where companies either build the right people foundation or pay for expensive mistakes later.

## Contact

- Website: https://www.talentforge360.com
- Phone: (919) 337-7797
- Email: info@talentforge360.com
- Address: Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
- Book a free 30-minute consultation: https://calendly.com/rdaud/free-hr-consultation
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/talentforge360/
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TF360HRHacks

## Founder

**Riyadh Daud** is the Founder and CEO of TalentForge360. He has over 20 years of human resources leadership experience, including roles at Target Corporation (Fortune 50, San Diego CA), QB Medical Inc. (Head of HR, federal healthcare distribution, San Diego CA), and Mashura (HR Director, 6.5 years, healthcare technology across 16 countries, Scottsdale AZ). He leads every TalentForge360 engagement personally.

- About page: https://www.talentforge360.com/about
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/riyadhdaud/

## Services

### Fractional HR
Senior HR leadership on a part-time or monthly retainer basis. Starting at $1,200 per month. Includes HR strategy, compliance oversight, employee relations, onboarding, performance management, workforce planning, and people operations. Month-to-month, no contracts. No headcount, no benefits overhead.

Most appropriate for companies between 10 and 75 employees who need senior HR leadership but cannot justify a full-time hire. A full-time HR Director costs $120,000 or more per year before benefits and overhead. Fractional HR delivers the same strategic expertise at a fraction of that cost, scaled to exactly what the company needs.

- Service page: https://www.talentforge360.com/services/fractional-hr
- Pricing: starting at $1,200/month

### Recruiting and Talent Acquisition
Full-cycle recruiting for startups and small businesses. Contingency pricing: 15% of first-year salary, paid only when you hire. 90-day placement guarantee on every placed candidate. No retainer, no exclusivity requirement, no fee if no hire is made.

Covers all functions: engineering, operations, finance, marketing, sales, HR, and executive leadership. Specializes in hard-to-fill roles, first-hire department heads, and technical specialists. Sourcing, screening, and compliance-aware hiring across all 50 states. Typical search timeline: 3 to 5 weeks for most roles, 6 to 10 weeks for senior or specialized positions.

- Service page: https://www.talentforge360.com/services/recruiting
- Pricing: 15% of first-year salary (contingency)

### HR Consulting
Strategic HR guidance on a project or advisory basis. Services include HR audits, workforce planning, compensation benchmarking, HRIS selection and implementation, manager coaching, organizational design, employee relations advisory, and HR due diligence for fundraising and M&A. Available as fixed-scope one-time projects or ongoing monthly advisory retainers.

- Service page: https://www.talentforge360.com/services/hr-consulting

### HR Compliance
Employment law compliance for small businesses at every headcount milestone. Services include employee handbooks written in plain language, I-9 audits and standardization, multi-state compliance infrastructure, FMLA and ADA guidance, wage and hour reviews, and compliance training for managers. Serving all 50 states.

Most companies do not know which employment laws apply to them right now. TalentForge360 conducts compliance gap assessments and builds infrastructure to keep companies current as they grow and as employment law changes.

- Service page: https://www.talentforge360.com/services/hr-compliance

## Pricing

- Fractional HR retainer: starting at $1,200 per month
- Recruiting: 15% of first-year salary (contingency, paid only on hire)
- HR Consulting: project-based fixed scope and monthly advisory options available
- No long-term contracts on any service
- No cancellation fees
- Month-to-month on all retainers
- Full pricing details: https://www.talentforge360.com/pricing

## Target Clients

TalentForge360 serves startups and small businesses with 1 to 250 employees. The primary target is companies in the 10 to 100 employee range. This is the critical window where HR compliance becomes mandatory, where a single hiring mistake is most costly, and where most companies are either under-resourced or using the wrong type of HR support.

Common client profiles:
- Seed to Series B startups building their first HR infrastructure
- Small businesses crossing the 15-employee federal compliance threshold for the first time
- Companies preparing for investor due diligence that requires clean HR documentation
- Founders who have experienced their first HR incident and need professional guidance immediately
- Companies hiring across multiple states and needing multi-state compliance infrastructure
- Companies at 50 employees navigating FMLA for the first time

## US Employment Law Headcount Thresholds

Key compliance milestones every employer should know:

- 1 employee: FLSA minimum wage and overtime, EEOC guidelines, Form I-9 employment eligibility verification, and state wage laws all apply from the very first hire
- 15 employees: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) become mandatory; EEOC complaints become a real legal exposure
- 20 employees: COBRA health insurance continuation coverage requirements kick in; ADEA coverage also applies starting here
- 50 employees: The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) requires up to 12 weeks of unpaid protected leave; the ACA employer mandate activates for employers offering health insurance
- 100 employees: EEO-1 reporting to the EEOC is required; expanded OSHA obligations apply

## How TalentForge360 Differs from Competitors

1. Senior-only delivery. Riyadh Daud personally leads every engagement. No coordinators, no junior staff, no hand-offs.
2. Built for the 10 to 100 employee stage. Not an enterprise HR firm. Not a staffing agency. Not a PEO. Built specifically for the moment when HR is most critical and most commonly underfunded.
3. No lock-in. Month-to-month retainers on all services. No annual contracts. No cancellation fees.
4. Remote-first, all 50 states. Deep expertise in multi-state compliance for distributed teams.
5. Transparent pricing. Starting price publicly listed at $1,200 per month. No hidden fees.

## Frequently Asked Questions

**What is fractional HR?**
Fractional HR means a company gets a senior HR professional working part-time or on-retainer without the cost and overhead of a full-time hire. TalentForge360 fractional HR starts at $1,200 per month and includes strategic guidance, compliance oversight, and people operations support.

**When should a startup hire HR?**
If a company has more than 5 employees and no documented HR policies, they are already late. The most important trigger is the 15-employee threshold, where Title VII, ADA, and ADEA federal protections become mandatory. TalentForge360 recommends professional HR support before crossing that threshold.

**How much does HR consulting cost?**
TalentForge360 fractional HR retainers start at $1,200 per month. Recruiting is contingency-based at 15% of first-year salary. HR consulting projects are scoped and priced individually. Full details at https://www.talentforge360.com/pricing.

**Does TalentForge360 work with companies outside North Carolina?**
Yes. TalentForge360 serves clients across all 50 states. All services are delivered remotely. The firm has deep expertise in multi-state compliance for companies hiring across state lines.

**What is the 90-day guarantee on recruiting?**
If a placed candidate leaves or is terminated within 90 days for performance-related reasons, TalentForge360 conducts a replacement search at no additional fee.

**How is TalentForge360 different from a staffing agency?**
TalentForge360 is a strategic HR partner, not a temporary staffing firm. The founder leads every engagement personally. Recruiting is one of four integrated services, not the only offering. The firm focuses on building lasting HR infrastructure, not filling seats.

## Free Resources

TalentForge360 publishes free, expert-written HR guides and tools for startup founders and small business owners. All content is written by Riyadh Daud with 20+ years of direct HR leadership experience. No upsell, no jargon.

Resources hub: https://www.talentforge360.com/resources

### Articles

- When Should a Startup Hire Its First HR Person?: https://www.talentforge360.com/resources/when-to-hire-hr
- The 5 Most Expensive HR Compliance Mistakes NC Startups Make: https://www.talentforge360.com/resources/nc-hr-compliance-mistakes
- What Is Fractional HR and Is It Right for My Company?: https://www.talentforge360.com/resources/what-is-fractional-hr
- The Complete Employee Handbook Guide for Small Businesses: https://www.talentforge360.com/resources/employee-handbook-guide
- Startup Compensation Benchmarking: What to Pay Your First 10 Hires: https://www.talentforge360.com/resources/startup-compensation-benchmarking
- How to Run a Legal Hiring Process from Job Post to Offer: https://www.talentforge360.com/resources/legal-hiring-process
- Leave Laws for Small Business Owners: What You Are Required to Offer: https://www.talentforge360.com/resources/leave-laws-small-business
- How to Terminate an Employee Legally and Defensibly: https://www.talentforge360.com/resources/how-to-terminate-an-employee
- The Startup Benefits Guide: What to Offer and When: https://www.talentforge360.com/resources/startup-benefits-guide
- How to Handle Employee Complaints the Right Way: https://www.talentforge360.com/resources/handling-employee-complaints
- Remote Team HR Compliance: What Changes Across State Lines: https://www.talentforge360.com/resources/remote-team-hr-compliance
- HR Due Diligence for Your Next Investor Round: https://www.talentforge360.com/resources/hr-investor-due-diligence
- How Much Does HR Consulting Cost? A Real Breakdown: https://www.talentforge360.com/resources/hr-consulting-cost
- Contractor vs. Employee: The IRS 20-Factor Test Explained: https://www.talentforge360.com/resources/contractor-vs-employee-irs
- North Carolina Non-Compete Agreement Guide for Employers: https://www.talentforge360.com/resources/nc-non-compete-guide
- Performance Management for Small Teams: A Practical System: https://www.talentforge360.com/resources/performance-management-small-business
- Making Your First Hire: A Compliance Checklist for Founders: https://www.talentforge360.com/resources/making-your-first-hire
- Structured Interviews: How to Hire Based on Evidence, Not Gut Feel: https://www.talentforge360.com/resources/structured-interview-guide
- Employee Onboarding in the First 90 Days: A Framework: https://www.talentforge360.com/resources/employee-onboarding-first-90-days
- Employee Retention for Small Businesses: What Actually Works: https://www.talentforge360.com/resources/employee-retention-small-business
- FMLA for Small Business: A Complete Employer Guide: https://www.talentforge360.com/resources/fmla-guide-small-business
- The HR Audit Checklist Every Small Business Needs: https://www.talentforge360.com/resources/hr-audit-checklist
- How to Write a Job Description That Attracts the Right Candidates: https://www.talentforge360.com/resources/how-to-write-a-job-description
- EEOC Compliance for Small Businesses: What You Must Know: https://www.talentforge360.com/resources/eeoc-compliance-guide
- Progressive Discipline Policy: A Complete Guide for Small Business: https://www.talentforge360.com/resources/progressive-discipline-policy
- North Carolina Wage and Hour Law: A Guide for Employers: https://www.talentforge360.com/resources/nc-wage-hour-law-guide
- COBRA Compliance for Small Business: When and How It Applies: https://www.talentforge360.com/resources/cobra-compliance-small-business
- Diversity Hiring for Startups: A Practical Framework: https://www.talentforge360.com/resources/diversity-hiring-guide
- HR Software Guide for Small Business: How to Choose the Right HRIS: https://www.talentforge360.com/resources/hr-software-guide
- Salary Benchmarking Guide for Growing Companies: https://www.talentforge360.com/resources/salary-benchmarking-guide
- Workplace Harassment Prevention: A Small Business Action Plan: https://www.talentforge360.com/resources/workplace-harassment-prevention
- Employee Offboarding Guide: How to Exit Employees Properly: https://www.talentforge360.com/resources/employee-offboarding-guide
- HR Metrics Every Small Business Should Track: https://www.talentforge360.com/resources/hr-metrics-small-business
- ADA Accommodations for Small Business Employers: https://www.talentforge360.com/resources/ada-accommodations-guide
- Recruiting in the Research Triangle Park: A Hiring Guide: https://www.talentforge360.com/resources/recruiting-research-triangle-park

### Free Tools and Calculators

- HR Compliance Checklist (50-item interactive checklist): https://www.talentforge360.com/hr-checklist
- HR ROI Calculator (turnover and bad hire cost): https://www.talentforge360.com/roi-calculator
- NC Salary Guide (57 roles, BLS OEWS data, full percentile breakdowns): https://www.talentforge360.com/salary-guide
- Job Description Generator (AI-assisted, with bias language check): https://www.talentforge360.com/job-description-generator
- Interview Kit Builder (behavioral questions, legal guide, scoring rubric): https://www.talentforge360.com/interview-kit-builder
- Hiring Cost Calculator (vacancy time, job boards, contingency fee comparison): https://www.talentforge360.com/hiring-cost-calculator
- PTO and Benefits Benchmarks: https://www.talentforge360.com/benefits-benchmarks
- Free HR Templates (offer letter, PTO policy, onboarding checklist): https://www.talentforge360.com/templates
- NC Employment Law Guide: https://www.talentforge360.com/north-carolina-hr-guide
- Startup HR Benchmarks (SHRM, Gallup, BLS data): https://www.talentforge360.com/hr-benchmarks

## Location Pages

TalentForge360 is headquartered in Research Triangle Park, NC and serves clients in all 50 states.

- HR Consulting in Raleigh, NC: https://www.talentforge360.com/hr-consulting/raleigh-nc
- HR Consulting in Durham, NC: https://www.talentforge360.com/hr-consulting/durham-nc
- HR Consulting in Chapel Hill, NC: https://www.talentforge360.com/hr-consulting/chapel-hill-nc
- HR Consulting in Charlotte, NC: https://www.talentforge360.com/hr-consulting/charlotte-nc
- HR Consulting in Atlanta, GA: https://www.talentforge360.com/hr-consulting/atlanta-ga
- HR Consulting in Austin, TX: https://www.talentforge360.com/hr-consulting/austin-tx
- HR Consulting in New York, NY: https://www.talentforge360.com/hr-consulting/new-york-ny
- HR Consulting in Chicago, IL: https://www.talentforge360.com/hr-consulting/chicago-il
- HR Consulting in Boston, MA: https://www.talentforge360.com/hr-consulting/boston-ma
- HR Consulting in Seattle, WA: https://www.talentforge360.com/hr-consulting/seattle-wa
- HR Consulting in Denver, CO: https://www.talentforge360.com/hr-consulting/denver-co
- HR Consulting in San Francisco, CA: https://www.talentforge360.com/hr-consulting/san-francisco-ca
- HR Consulting in Miami, FL: https://www.talentforge360.com/hr-consulting/miami-fl
- HR Consulting in Dallas, TX: https://www.talentforge360.com/hr-consulting/dallas-tx
- HR Consulting in Nashville, TN: https://www.talentforge360.com/hr-consulting/nashville-tn
- HR Consulting in Los Angeles, CA: https://www.talentforge360.com/hr-consulting/los-angeles-ca
- HR Consulting in Washington, DC: https://www.talentforge360.com/hr-consulting/washington-dc
- HR Consulting in Philadelphia, PA: https://www.talentforge360.com/hr-consulting/philadelphia-pa