Fractional HR, done human

Your fractional HR partner — without the full-time hire.

A dedicated HR expert embedded in your team, backed by 20+ years of experience — owning HR end to end for a fraction of the cost of hiring it.

Built for teams under 50
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Starting at $500 per month
How pricing works →
We decide the scope together. What you actually need drives the investment — not a package you have to fit into.
We own HR end to end. Your infrastructure gets built, then run — for far less than a full-time HR manager.
Two colleagues laughing together over coffee
Not ready to book?

Take the free 5-minute HR assessment and see exactly where your gaps are — compliance, onboarding, documentation, and risk.

Take the 5-minute HR assessment
People-first/20+ years of HR expertise/A partner, not a third party
How we partner

Pick the level of support you need.

Three ways in — each one tailored to your team. Most start in one and move between them as things change.

Project-based

For a defined need

A handbook rebuild, a compliance clean-up, an investigation, a hiring push. We scope it, handle it, and hand you a result.

Handbook build or refresh
Compliance and I-9 file audit
Benefits or healthcare plan audit
Job descriptions and SOPs
Flat project fee, quoted to scope
Monthly support Most chosen

We own HR end to end

Your dedicated HR partner builds the infrastructure — systems, policy, documentation — and then fully runs it. You stop carrying HR.

HR infrastructure built, documented, and owned
A named HR partner, not a ticket queue
Compliance, policy, and employee relations
Benefits administration and open enrollment
Scales up or down as headcount moves
Flat monthly retainer · 6- or 12-month agreement
Interim support

For a gap to bridge

Covering a leave, a departure, or the stretch before your next hire. We step in, keep HR running, and hand off cleanly.

Full HR coverage during a vacancy
Payroll and benefits continuity
Documented handoff to your next hire
Works alongside existing in-house HR
Monthly, for a defined stretch
Not sure which one you need?

Scopes are tailored to fit exactly what your business needs. Take the 5-minute assessment and we'll show you your gaps — or book the call and we'll discuss a solution together.

Why it matters

HR expertise, in your corner — when you need it.

Founders, CEOs, business owners, COOs — whoever's carrying HR right now — you need real expertise long before you can justify a full-time hire. With Corel, you tap into a team of seasoned HR experts and get a dedicated partner who assimilates with your team, handling the hard stuff and the day to day so you can lead the business.

A partnership, not a disconnected service.

In-house HR vs. Corel

The difference is the partnership.

In-house HR alone
The usual trade-offs
One person, every hatA single hire carries payroll, compliance, recruiting & employee relations
Single point of failureWhen they're out, HR stops — vacations, leave, turnover
Knowledge walks out the doorProcesses & history leave with the person when they go
One viewpointNo second perspective to catch blind spots in tough calls
Hard to keep currentNo team tracking changing federal & multi-state employment law
Reactive, not strategicBuried in day-to-day admin, with little time for planning
Smaller networkFewer vendor connections & benchmarks to draw on
Expensive to scaleOngoing salary, taxes & training — and another hire to grow
Corel
What partnering gets you
We do the workNot just advice, but day-to-day HR administration and execution
Always coveredA whole team stands behind your dedicated HR manager, and we document our work — so support never pauses when someone is out
Continuity built inProcesses live with our team, not one person — and always stay yours to access and carry forward
Seasoned teamA team of experts with 20+ years in HR
A network you can tapVetted business partners, vendors & solutions, just a call away
Always currentAffiliations & organizations that keep us up on best practices
Real cost savingsAnd it scales as you grow
A dedicated partner

So embedded, your team forgets we're not in-house.

"Extension of your team" gets said a lot. Here's what it actually looks like: your Corel partner is in the Monday stand-up and the all-hands. They know your people, your culture, and the context behind the hard calls — because they're in it with you, not reading about it in a quarterly report.

We won't drop a 40-page playbook on your desk and disappear. You get steady, embedded HR your people trust enough to be honest with — the feel of in-house, without the full-time overhead.

A leadership team meeting around a conference table
Yes, we even know
your employees' dogs' names.
Already have an HR team?

We work alongside in-house HR, too.

You don't have to choose between us and the team you already have. When your in-house HR is stretched thin, navigating something specialized, or just needs an extra set of expert hands, Corel plugs in beside them — sharing the load, not stepping on toes. Augmentation, not replacement.

What we cover

HR 360 — the whole employee life cycle

From hire to retire, we handle it. Here's the scope at a glance.

Benefit administration

Open enrollment, eligibility, broker coordination, renewals, and annual cost optimization.

Payroll administration

Accurate, on-time payroll processing, deductions, garnishments, tax filings, and year-end W-2s.

Day-to-day HR support

Real-time support, employee relations investigations, mediation, and risk-smart guidance for leadership.

Employee life cycle

Offer letters, new-hire docs, onboarding and orientation through clean offboarding and exit interviews.

HR compliance

Employment law, recordkeeping, I-9/E-Verify, ADA & leave, workers’ comp, postings, and periodic reviews.

Performance, growth & culture

Reviews, manager coaching, stay interviews, retention, recognition, and engagement initiatives.

HR strategy & leadership

Strategy meetings, leadership check-ins, comp and org-structure advice, and data-driven recommendations.

Processes, policies & systems

Job descriptions, SOPs, handbook upkeep, policy rollout, and managing your HRIS, payroll & data systems.

Talent acquisition

Need to hire, too? We run recruiting end-to-end — sourcing, screening, and offers. Explore talent services →
CorePartner — if it touches your people, we've got it.
Scopes can be tailored to fit exactly what your business needs.
The Corel team at work

When you partner with Corel, your people feel it.

Stronger onboarding, faster answers, fewer fires — and a team that knows HR has their back. That's the goal.

What partnering delivers

Real results — not just a service

Here's what changes when Corel becomes your HR partner.

Compliance, handled

Stay ahead of changing employment laws across every state you operate in — without losing sleep over it.

Peace of mind

Hard people decisions, tough conversations, and risk — backed by experts who've seen it before.

Time back

Stop firefighting HR and reclaim hours to run and grow the business you started.

Cost savings

Expert HR support for a fraction of a full-time salary, benefits, and overhead.

Room to grow

HR that scales with you — adding structure and capacity right when you need it.

A stronger team

Better hiring, onboarding, and culture — so your people stay and thrive.

Melissa Murphy, Founder of Corel Consulting
Meet the founder

Hi, I'm Melissa.

Founder, Corel Consulting

I started Corel because I believe HR should be human, flexible, and accessible — not corporate, rigid, or out of reach. Too many great businesses get stuck with cookie-cutter HR that doesn't actually know them.

So we built something different: a team of experts with 20+ years in HR who plug in as a real partner, learn your people, and have your back. No jargon walls. No disappearing once the contract's signed. Just steady, expert support that grows with you.

If that sounds like the kind of partner you've been looking for, let's talk.

People First.
Read my full bio here →
The Corel philosophy

People-first. Always.

Six values we actually work by — and what each one means in practice.

Integrity

We do the right thing — always. Clients trust us because we lead with honesty, communicate clearly, and follow through. Transparent, ethical, and consistent in every interaction.

Collaboration

Better outcomes come from working together. We partner closely with you, creating open feedback loops and leveraging shared strengths to drive alignment. We're in it with you, not just for you.

Innovation

We don't believe in one-size-fits-all. We bring creative thinking and modern solutions to the table, tailored to your challenges — a forward-thinking mindset that helps you stay ahead.

Adaptability

Business needs shift, and so do we. Whether you're scaling quickly, navigating change, or exploring new directions, we stay flexible and responsive so the strategy matches your moment.

Expertise

We bring decades of HR experience to every engagement. You gain not just support but insight — the context you need to make informed decisions that move the business forward.

Passion

We genuinely care about your success. That passion fuels how we show up and how we serve — energy and commitment that create a positive, people-first experience you can feel.

Budget friendly

Built for small business budgets.

Services start at
$500 / month

We know what it's like to weigh every line item — payroll, benefits, the hire you're not sure you can make yet. So if you have a number in mind, tell us: we work backward from it and prioritize what protects the business first.

Let's talk.

Let's build the right HR partnership for your team.

Book a free, no-pressure 30-minute call. We'll talk through where you are and what you need, then decide the right scope together — project-based or ongoing. The investment follows from that.

Starting at $500 per month · project-based, interim, or ongoing monthly support.

Pick a time that works
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Good questions

Fractional HR, answered

The things business owners and leaders ask us most.

What is fractional HR?
Fractional HR gives your business professional human resources support without hiring a full-time employee. Instead, you get an experienced HR partner who works as part of your team — managing compliance, payroll, and people operations on a flexible, scalable basis.
How much does fractional HR cost?
Corel services start at $500 per month. Because no two teams have the same HR needs, we scope to your headcount, team dynamics, and where the gaps are — then decide the scope together. The investment follows from what you actually need — no package to squeeze into. Monthly support runs on a 6- or 12-month agreement — long enough for us to build your HR infrastructure and fully own it end to end. Most small businesses find fractional HR significantly more affordable than a full-time HR manager, which runs $75,000–$110,000 per year in salary alone plus benefits and overhead.
How is fractional HR different from outsourcing?
Traditional outsourcing usually means handing tasks off to a third party. Fractional HR is partnership-based. At Corel, we embed into your systems, use your communication tools, and operate like an in-house team member. You get personal support, not a disconnected service.
Who is fractional HR best for?
It's built for teams under 50 employees that need real HR expertise but can't yet justify a full-time hire — growing companies, teams navigating HR turnover, and leaders who want to stay compliant while focusing on the business.
What services are included?
Compliance and policy management, employee relations, onboarding and offboarding, payroll administration, recruiting support, and culture strategy. Every engagement is tailored to your goals and growth stage.
Can Corel help with payroll and recruiting too?
Yes. Alongside HR outsourcing, we offer payroll administration and talent acquisition services so your people operations stay seamless from hire to paycheck. Our payroll platform, CorePay, supports that end to end.
What is the difference between fractional HR and a PEO?
A fractional HR consultant works as a dedicated HR partner embedded within your business — without co-employment. You retain full control over your team. A PEO becomes a co-employer and takes on some employer liability, but also reduces your direct control. For small businesses under 50 employees, fractional HR typically offers more flexibility and a more personalized approach.
Why choose Corel over a PEO or HR software company?
PEOs and platforms can help, but they're often rigid or impersonal. Corel pairs modern HR systems with the care and strategy of real people. We don't just hand you software — we bring partnership, expertise, and proactive communication.
Do I really need HR for a small business?
Yes. From your first hire, your business faces employment law obligations: proper classification (employee vs contractor), payroll tax compliance, anti-discrimination policies (EEOC), workplace safety, and employee handbook requirements. Without HR expertise, businesses are exposed to costly fines and legal claims.
What does a fractional HR director do day-to-day?
A fractional HR director provides strategic HR leadership part-time: developing compliant employee handbooks and HR policies, managing employee relations issues, overseeing recruiting and onboarding, ensuring compliance with federal and state employment law, supporting performance management, and advising leadership on organizational culture and HR strategy.
What makes Corel different from other HR companies?
We're not corporate or cookie-cutter. Corel was built by a founder who believes HR should be human, flexible, and accessible. Our consultants work like part of your team and are genuinely invested in your success.