Question 1

Do small businesses with fewer than 10 employees need HR?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Most employment laws do not wait until you have 50 employees to apply. The FLSA, EEOC guidelines, and many state wage laws apply from day one. The average cost of a single misclassification audit or wrongful termination claim is many times more than a year of HR support. The question is not whether you need HR at 8 people. It is whether you can afford the risk of not having it.

Question 2

What is fractional HR and how is it different from hiring an HR person?

Accepted Answer

Fractional HR provides senior-level HR leadership on a flexible retainer instead of a full-time hire. A full-time HR generalist at a startup level typically costs $70,000 to $95,000 per year in salary, plus benefits and overhead. For most companies under 50 employees, that level of spend is not justified. TalentForge360 provides fractional HR starting at $1,200/month with no long-term commitment, giving you senior expertise at a fraction of the cost.

Question 3

How much does small business HR consulting cost?

Accepted Answer

TalentForge360 HR consulting and fractional HR services start at $1,200 per month with no lock-in contracts. Recruiting is priced at 15% of the candidate's first-year salary on a contingency basis, meaning you only pay when a hire is made. All engagements are month-to-month and scoped around what you actually need.

Question 4

Does TalentForge360 work with companies outside North Carolina?

Accepted Answer

Yes. TalentForge360 works with companies across all 50 states. Riyadh Daud is based in Research Triangle Park, NC, but most HR consulting work is done remotely. TalentForge360 has supported multi-state employers hiring across the country and understands the compliance differences between states.

Question 5

What HR services does TalentForge360 offer?

Accepted Answer

TalentForge360 offers four core HR services for startups and small businesses: (1) Fractional HR, providing senior HR leadership on a flexible monthly retainer; (2) Recruiting and Talent Acquisition, full-cycle contingency recruiting at 15% of first-year salary with a 90-day placement guarantee; (3) HR Compliance, covering employment law, employee handbook creation, and I-9 audit services; and (4) HR Consulting, including strategy, workforce planning, and people programs.

Question 6

Can TalentForge360 help with employee terminations and difficult HR situations?

Accepted Answer

Yes. TalentForge360 helps companies navigate terminations, employee relations issues, and compliance risk. A poorly handled termination is one of the leading causes of employment claims. TalentForge360 helps prepare documentation, assess legal risk, and handle the process in a way that protects both the company and the employee's dignity.

Question 7

How quickly can TalentForge360 start working with a new client?

Accepted Answer

TalentForge360 can typically begin within one to two weeks of a signed agreement. Engagements are month-to-month with no long-term commitment required. Some clients need three months of intensive setup and then scale back. Others keep TalentForge360 on as an ongoing resource. The engagement is scoped around what you actually need.

Question 8

Who founded TalentForge360 and what is their experience?

Accepted Answer

TalentForge360 was founded by Riyadh Daud, an HR executive with over 20 years of experience. Riyadh began his HR career at Target in San Diego, spending more than six years inside the Fortune 50 retailer's HR department. He then served as Head of HR at QB Medical in San Diego and as HR Director at Mashura in Scottsdale, Arizona, a healthcare technology company operating across 16 countries. He founded TalentForge360 to bring senior-level HR to startups and small businesses in the 10 to 100 employee stage.