Senior HR talent is expensive
Greater Boston has some of the highest HR salaries in the country. Most companies under 150 people need that expertise a few hours a week, not 40.
HR & payroll in Boston, MA
Fractional HR for Boston-area companies that are not ready for a full department.
Boston startups, professional firms, clinics and restaurant groups use us for senior HR expertise without a six-figure hire. Billed hourly, with on-site support when you need it.
- $0 in months you don't need us
- On site in Boston
- Any payroll system
Greater Boston
What we see from Boston employers.
Pay transparency is now the law
Massachusetts requires pay ranges in job postings for employers with 25 or more employees. That means real salary ranges, consistent titles and a defensible pay structure.
Remote and hybrid teams cross state lines
Boston employers often have people living in New Hampshire, Rhode Island and beyond. Withholding, paid leave and handbook rules change with every state you add.
What you get
An HR team that knows your name.
We work on site in Greater Boston for trainings, investigations, all-hands meetings and leadership sessions, scheduled ahead. Everything else happens by phone, text, email and video.
- A dedicated HR specialist who learns your business, with a backup team for coverage
- Owners and managers can call or text nights and weekends
- Employees reach us by email, ticket, text, video call or on site
- We work in the tools you already use: ADP, Paychex, Gusto, Paylocity, Rippling, QuickBooks, BambooHR, Slack and Teams
- A quarterly leadership review with clear, prioritized recommendations
- Kickoff within days, sooner when something is urgent
- Recruiting billed by the hour instead of a 20 to 25 percent placement fee
- You keep your company, your payroll provider and your benefit plans
Massachusetts rules we keep you on top of
- Paid Family and Medical Leave0.88% of wages in 2026. Employers with 25 or more covered workers pay part of it; smaller employers can withhold the employee share only. The split between family and medical shifts on January 1, 2027.
- Pay ranges in job postingsEmployers with 25 or more employees must list a pay range in postings and give it to employees on request. Employers with 100 or more also file EEO data with the state.
- Earned sick timeOne hour for every 30 worked, up to 40 hours a year. Paid at 11 or more employees, unpaid below that.
- Final pay and the Wage ActA fired employee is owed final wages, including accrued vacation, on their last day. Late wages carry mandatory triple damages.
How billing works
Pay for the months you need us. $0 for the ones you don't.
No retainer and no monthly minimum. Hands-on work is billed by the hour, and a quiet month has no hourly bill at all.
- Hourly for hands-on work
- No monthly minimum
- Optional tools, flat and small
- Everything in writing first
Where we help
What Boston clients hand us most.
Fractional HR management
An experienced HR team on call, without a full-time salary.
Learn more about Fractional HR managementHR compliance & handbooks
Policies, handbooks and audits that reduce risk.
Learn more about HR compliance & handbooksEmployee relations & conflict resolution
Neutral help with workplace issues before they escalate.
Learn more about Employee relations & conflict resolutionIndustries we support in Boston
Also serving
Cambridge, Somerville, Quincy, Newton, Waltham, Brookline, Medford, Framingham, Woburn, Braintree and the rest of Greater Boston.
How it works
Start with a 15-minute call.
Free 15-minute call
Tell us what is going on. You will get honest feedback on what to fix first, even if you never hire us.
A clear scope
We put the plan, the team and the hourly rate in writing before any work starts.
Ongoing support
Your HR and payroll team takes it from there. Scale hours up or down whenever you need.
What clients say
“King & Co. Consulting stands out as a practical, results-driven firm that focuses on real-world execution, not just theory. Their team brings a strong mix of operational experience and strategic insight, which makes collaboration both productive and grounded.”
HR in Boston: common questions
Can a firm based in Western Mass support a Boston company?
Yes. Most HR work happens by phone, text, email and video, and we come on site in Greater Boston when a meeting, training or investigation works better in person. Massachusetts law is the same in Ludlow and Boston.
Can you help us set pay ranges for job postings?
Yes. We build salary ranges and job titles that comply with the Massachusetts pay transparency law and that you can defend if a current employee asks why they are paid differently.
Do we really pay nothing in a month we do not need you?
For hours, yes. Hands-on work is billed hourly with no monthly minimum, so a month with no HR, payroll or hiring requests has no hourly bill. The only recurring charge is for optional tools you choose, like the employee help desk or text-to-ticket line, which is a flat fee under $150 a month.
Is there a contract?
Yes, a simple service agreement. It puts the scope, your team and the hourly rate in writing so both sides know what to expect. It does not lock you into a monthly minimum or a retainer.
Free 15-minute call
Tell us what is going on at your Boston business.
Book a quick call, or call or text us directly.