Hourly for hands-on work
You pay for the hours we actually spend on your HR, payroll and hiring. Nothing is padded into a retainer.
Pricing
Pay for HR in the months you need it.
$0 in the months you don't.
Hands-on HR, payroll and hiring work is billed by the hour. No retainer, no monthly minimum, and no per-employee fee that keeps running when nothing is happening.
- No retainer
- No monthly minimum
- Rate in writing first
How billing works
Simple on purpose.
No monthly minimum
If you do not need us in a given month, no hours are billed. Busy during open enrollment, quiet in August? Your bill follows your year.
Optional tools, flat and small
Want employees to submit HR questions by ticket or text? Those tools carry a flat monthly fee under $150. Skip them and the fee is $0.
Everything in writing first
A simple service agreement spells out the scope, the team and the hourly rate before any work starts. No surprise invoices.
Optional tools like the employee HR help desk and text-to-ticket line are a flat monthly fee under $150, only if you choose them.
What a year can look like
Your HR bill follows your year.
Most businesses do not need the same amount of HR help every month. Open enrollment, a hiring push or a tough termination take real hours. Plenty of months take none.
6hJan
2hFeb
$0Mar
4hApr
9hMay
3hJun
$0Jul
$0Aug
5hSep
12hOct
6hNov
$0Dec
Example for a 40-person employer: busy for spring hiring and October open enrollment.Four months with no hourly bill.
Run your numbers
What does fixed-fee HR cost you when nothing is happening?
PEOs, retainer firms and full-time hires all charge the same in a quiet month as a busy one. Move the sliders to see what that adds up to.
Estimates use typical market costs for New England, not quotes. Your situation will differ. Sources: BLS wage and benefit data (2025 to 2026) and published PEO and HR retainer pricing ranges.
PEOAbout $125 per employee per month$37,500 a year
$12,500spent in quiet months
HR retainer firmAbout $1,500 a month at your size$18,000 a year
$6,000spent in quiet months
Full-time HR generalistMassachusetts average salary plus benefits$136,286 a year
$45,429spent in quiet months
King & Co.Hourly for the work you need, the rest of the yearOptional tools under $150 a month
$0in hours during quiet months
Compare
How we stack up.
| Question | King & Co. | Typical HR retainer firm | PEO |
|---|---|---|---|
| How you pay | Hourly, for work actually done | Fixed monthly retainer, often with an hours cap | Per employee per month, or a percent of payroll |
| What a quiet month costs | $0 in hours. Optional tools under $150 | The full retainer | The full per-employee fee |
| Commitment | Simple service agreement, no monthly minimum | Six to twelve month terms are common | Annual agreements, plus a benefits transition to leave |
| Who employs your staff | You do | You do | The PEO becomes co-employer |
| Payroll system and benefit plans | Keep yours, or we help you switch | Usually yours | Usually moved onto the PEO's platform and plans |
Billing questions
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.
Why don't you publish your hourly rate?
Rates depend on the work. Payroll cleanup, a multi-state handbook and a workplace investigation are different jobs. On the free 15-minute call we give you a clear estimate for your situation, and the rate goes in writing before anything starts.
How is this different from a PEO?
A PEO becomes the co-employer of your staff and usually moves you onto its payroll platform and benefit plans, billed per employee every month. We work alongside your team, in your systems, and bill only for the hours we spend.
Can we start small?
Yes. Many clients start with one project, like a handbook update or a payroll audit, and add ongoing support later. Others hand us the whole department on day one.
Free 15-minute call
Find out what your HR should actually cost.
Book a free 15-minute call and leave with a clear estimate.