Fractional HR vs. Full-Time HR: Which Is Right for Your Business?

Written By Kim Freier

As your business grows, people operations get complex—fast. Between hiring, compliance, culture, and performance issues, someone needs to be thinking about HR. But do you need a full-time HR person, or is a fractional HR leader the smarter choice?

Let’s break it down.

What Is Fractional HR?

Fractional HR means getting experienced, strategic HR support—on a part-time, contract basis. Think: a seasoned pro who plugs into your business without the full-time salary or benefits overhead.

They often work with multiple clients and bring cross-industry insights to help you build systems, coach managers, and stay compliant.

What Does Full-Time HR Look Like?

Hiring a full-time HR professional makes sense when:

  • You have 50-75+ employees

  • You're dealing with complex org design or labor issues

  • Your team needs daily, on-the-ground support

But full-time hires come with full-time costs. Think $130K+ per year, plus benefits.

Pros and Cons at a Glance

So, Which Is Right for You?

Ask yourself:

  • Do you need HR strategy or daily HR task execution?

  • Is your team growing fast, but still under 50 people?

  • Are you trying to stay lean while building smart systems?

If your business needs structure, guidance, and support—but not someone in-house every day—fractional HR is likely your best bet.

At Spring People Solutions, we help small businesses scale their people strategy without scaling overhead. You get tailored support, not a cookie-cutter playbook.

Need help figuring out the right HR setup?

Let’s talk. We’ll help you find the balance between strategic support and sustainable growth.

Kim Freier
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