What is outsourced HR and how does it work?

Outsourced HR means an experienced HR team handles your people operations — compliance, employee relations, hiring, handbooks and strategy — without you hiring an internal HR department. Forge HR Group works as your HR department on a monthly membership, delivered virtually across the United States.

What size businesses does Forge HR Group work with?

We work exclusively with small businesses that have fewer than 250 employees. That focus is deliberate: the compliance exposure, hiring pressure and budget realities of a small business are very different from those of a large corporation.

How much does outsourced HR cost?

Membership plans start at $149.99 per month on a 12-month commitment, with Growth and Advantage tiers for businesses that need more hands-on support. Outsourced HR typically costs a fraction of a single full-time HR salary while giving you a whole team's worth of expertise.

Do you support businesses outside Michigan?

Yes. We are based in Plymouth, Michigan and support small businesses nationwide. Employment law is largely set at the state and local level, so we build compliance around wherever your people actually work.

Nationwide outsourced HR

Specialized HR & staffing for small businesses

Built exclusively for businesses with fewer than 250 employees. From employee relations to compliance and workforce strategy, Forge HR Group delivers expert HR guidance — so you can focus on running your business.

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Compliance & risk
Employee relations
Recruiting & onboarding
Payroll
HR strategy

A business owner and an HR advisor talking over a laptop in a sunlit office

Your HR department

without the headcount

Compliance & risk protectionCovered

Employee relations supportOn call

Recruiting & onboardingIncluded

Nationwide virtual delivery50 states

Plans from

$149.99/ month

Essentials, on a 12-month membership

Small business HR across

HealthcareDentalRestaurantsManufacturingIndustrial & WarehouseProfessional OfficesAdministrative & ClericalNationwide

Our services

Why outsourced HR services for small businesses matter

Comprehensive outsourced Human Resources solutions designed for small businesses with fewer than 250 employees nationwide — across healthcare, dental, administrative/clerical, industrial, restaurant, manufacturing, and more.

Outsourced HR Support & Strategy

We serve as your dedicated HR partner, providing structured guidance on policies, operations, workforce planning, and long-term people strategy — tailored specifically to small business environments.

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Employee Relations & Compliance

From workplace investigations and mediation coaching to handbook development and regulatory guidance, we help protect your business and maintain a compliant, professional work environment.

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Recruiting, Onboarding & Workforce Development

We support the full employee lifecycle — recruiting, onboarding, job description development, engagement initiatives, training, and retention strategies to build stronger teams.

Learn more

Explore all services

We support small businesses nationwide

Forge HR Group brings industry knowledge, compliance awareness, and structured HR systems to every client partnership.

15+

Years of HR leadership experience

50 states

Nationwide virtual support

<250

Employees — our specialty

Why choose Forge HR Group

HR expertise you can trust

Specialized outsourced Human Resources solutions designed for small businesses with fewer than 250 employees nationwide.

Industry-Specific Expertise

We specialize in HR for small businesses across healthcare, dental, administrative/clerical, industrial, restaurant, manufacturing, and more — understanding the regulatory demands and unique culture of each.

Compliance & Risk Protection

Proactive guidance on investigations, documentation, policy development, and regulatory alignment to protect your business from costly liabilities.

Strategic HR Partnership

We go beyond administrative support, providing structured HR strategy, workforce planning, and long-term organizational guidance.

Employee Relations Support

Professional mediation coaching, workplace investigations, and conflict resolution tailored to your team.

Structured HR Systems

Custom handbooks, forms, onboarding processes, and operational frameworks designed specifically for small businesses.

Nationwide Virtual Support

Access experienced HR professionals anywhere in the United States with responsive, reliable virtual service delivery.

James Jones, Founder and Managing HR Director of Forge HR Group

Who we are

Small business HR support built around clarity, compliance, and human relationships.

James Jones is the Founder and Managing HR Director of Forge HR Group, bringing more than 15 years of progressive Human Resources leadership across the healthcare and manufacturing industries — from leading a multi-state healthcare staffing agency to supporting multi-site manufacturing operations in both union and non-union environments.

He believes effective HR leadership is about more than policies and procedures. It requires building strong cultures, supporting leadership teams, and creating environments where people succeed while the business achieves its goals.

More about Forge HR Group

Membership plans

Find the right membership plan for your business

Three flexible plans that scale with your business, plus custom options built around your goals.

1-Year Commitment — best value

Best for small teams

Essentials

Foundational protection for small teams that need to get compliant and covered.

$149.99per month

with a 12-month membership

Choose Essentials

HR compliance foundation
Custom employee handbook
Required policies & postings
On-call HR guidance

Growth

Active HR partnership for growing teams that need ongoing, hands-on support.

$249.99per month

with a 12-month membership

Choose Growth

Everything in Essentials
Employee relations support
Recruiting & onboarding help
Manager coaching
Handbook & policy updates

Best for full coverage

Advantage

Your outsourced HR department, for businesses that want a strategic partner.

$399.99per month

with a 12-month membership

Choose Advantage

Everything in Growth
Fractional HR strategy
Workforce & comp planning
Workplace investigations
Priority, dedicated support

Month-to-month pricing available. 1-year commitment pricing is shown by default.

Compare plans in detail

Industries we serve

HR that understands your industry

Every industry has its own compliance rules, hiring realities, and people challenges. We bring expertise built for how you actually operate.

Industrial & Warehouse

Professional Offices

From the blog

Practical HR, in plain English

Short, useful articles on the compliance, hiring and people questions small business owners actually ask.

All articles

Two document folders side by side on a desk, a hand pausing between them

ComplianceJul 1, 2026

Employee vs. Contractor: Are You Misclassifying Your Workers?

Worker misclassification is one of the most common — and expensive — small-business mistakes. Here's how to tell employees from contractors and stay compliant.

Read article

Employee RelationsHow to Handle a Workplace Harassment Complaint, Step by StepA harassment complaint is a defining moment for a small business. Here's a calm, step-by-step approach that protects your employees and your company.

HR Strategy5 Signs Your Small Business Has Outgrown DIY HRDIY HR works until it doesn't. Here are five clear signs it's time to get professional HR help before a small problem becomes an expensive one.

HR StrategyThe True Cost of a Bad Hire (and How to Avoid It)A bad hire costs far more than a salary. Here's what it really costs a small business — and the simple steps that make bad hires far less likely.

RestaurantsTipped-Wage Compliance: What Every Restaurant Owner Should KnowTip credits, overtime, and tip pooling are where restaurants most often slip up. Here's a plain-English guide to tipped-wage compliance for small restaurants.

All articles

Flyers & downloads

Everything we do, on one page

Six printable one-pagers covering how we work, what a membership includes, and the support we provide. Read one here, or download the PDF to share with your leadership team.