Many businesses end up with “accidental HR,” where untrained staff like founders or office managers take on tasks like compliance, onboarding, and payroll. While well intentioned, this approach often leaves businesses exposed to legal and operational risks, inefficiencies, and missed opportunities for employee engagement. That’s where HR Essentials by Exceptional HR Solutions steps in.
HR Essentials is not just a service, it’s a foundation. Designed specifically for small to mid-sized businesses, this package offers comprehensive, reliable, and proactive HR support.
We deliver proactive, professional support that scales with your needs, without the overhead of hiring in-house. Whether you’re working with a PEO, considering one, or managing HR independently, we’re built to fit where you need us most – as a partner in your existing setup or a flexible alternative when the time is right.
From onboarding and offboarding processes to state and federal compliance, document management, risk mitigation, and even light payroll services, HR Essentials helps ensure your HR operations are not only functional but also legally sound and scalable.
This service is ideal for businesses that recognize they need HR, but aren’t ready or don’t require a full-time HR department. With HR Essentials, you shift from guesswork to guidance, from liability to compliance, and from reactive to ready. It’s the first step in transforming HR from a burden into a business enabler.
Many small and mid-sized businesses turn to PEOs (Professional Employer Organizations) as a one-stop solution for handling HR tasks. While PEOs can offer convenience, they often come with trade-offs – such as co-employment agreements, bundled software, and pricing models that scale with payroll rather than actual business needs.
HR Essentials by Exceptional HR Solutions is the smarter, leaner path.
It gives you foundational HR support, onboarding, offboarding, compliance guidance, policy creation, payroll coordination, and direct employee relations assistance, without the rigid contracts or legal entanglements of a PEO. You keep full control of your employees, your tools, and your growth journey.
HR Essentials provides dedicated HR support without tying it to payroll services or requiring co-employment – giving you the freedom to structure support your way. HR Essentials offers flat-rate pricing that remains predictable month after month. It’s modular and scalable, meaning you only pay for what you need and can grow into Fractional HR or full-scale HR Projects when your business is ready.
Comprehensive, reliable, and proactive HR support designed specifically for small to mid-sized businesses.
Create and maintain compliant policies, reduce risk exposure, and stay ahead of evolving employment laws.
Seamless onboarding and structured offboarding experiences, complete with documentation and compliance support.
Managed through your existing platform or a recommended best-fit tool, we handle coordination, deadlines, and compliance.
Direct support for employee issues, including documentation and guidance to ensure a fair and professional work environment.
Get matched with a dedicated HR professional who knows your business and acts as an extension of your team.
We partner with you to support talent mapping, core competency frameworks, and culture design within your existing EOS model.
The perfect balance of expertise, flexibility, and value for growing businesses.
See how our flexible approach compares to traditional PEO services.
| Feature | HR Essentials | PEO |
|---|---|---|
| Compliance Support |  Included |
Included |
| Payroll Support | You choose platform |
 Bundled with their tools |
| Employer Status | You remain employer |
Shared co-employment |
| Cost Model | Flat monthly fee |
% of total payroll |
| Customization | Modular, need-based |
Rigid, bundled services |
| Contracts | Flexible terms |
Long-term, binding |
| Risk | You own decisions |
Shared legal responsibility |
Real feedback from businesses just like yours.
“We highly recommend Exceptional HR Solutions to anyone who is looking for a reliable and professional vendor that can provide human resources consulting services. They have exceeded our expectations and delivered a high-quality service and expertise. They are also very friendly, helpful, and easy to work with. They are not just vendors, but a real partner that we trust and value!”
Tracy Reep
Chief Executive Officer
Everything you need to know about our HR Essentials package.
Yes-especially for companies under 50 employees. We manage everything foundational while staying flexible to your growth.
Yes, HR Essentials isn’t just a superior alternative to a PEO; it’s a smarter, more focused choice for many small businesses.
It delivers core HR support like compliance, onboarding, and payroll coordination—without the risks of co-employment. You retain full control, avoid bundled costs, and benefit from expert-led, flat-rate service. For lean, practical HR without the complexity of a PEO, HR Essentials is the clear choice.
Yes. We’re completely platform-agnostic. We support what works best for you.
You can seamlessly move into our Fractional HR or HR Projects model with no need to change providers.
Yes – for many small and growing businesses, HR Essentials offers a flexible, right-sized solution that can serve as an alternative to a PEO depending on your needs. If you’re exploring whether to partner with a PEO, build an in-house HR team, or something in between, HR Essentials delivers essential support like compliance, onboarding, and payroll coordination – all without co-employment arrangements or bundled commitments. You stay in control and gain access to expert HR guidance at a predictable flat rate.
Let’s Find Out Together.
Our assessment is more than a checklist. it’s a deep dive into your organization’s needs, challenges, and growth trajectory. We’ll help you determine whether HR Essentials, Fractional HR, or a custom à la carte solution best aligns with your business goals.
Starting at just $495
If you decide to move forward with a long-term engagement, we’ll credit the full cost of the assessment toward your first month’s invoice.
✨ Clarity first. Commitment second. That's how we work.
Book Your Professional Assessment Today
Take this Quick Assessment to see how you stack up (Less than 5 min)