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Pricing

Senior HR Expertise at a Fraction of the In-House Cost

Pricing Transparency That Closes Deals

Four employer tiers structured to match where your business is today, paired with the in-house cost each one replaces. Dispute resolution is offered at every level, billed separately to preserve neutrality.

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60%+
Average Savings
4
Service Tiers
25+
Years Experience
100%
Senior HR Support
Service Tiers

Right-Sized HR Support

Each tier is paired with the in-house cost it replaces, so you can see the savings at a glance. Move between tiers as your business changes. No long-term contracts.

On Call

$ 500 / mo

Starting price · typical range varies

Peace of mind for owners who want a senior HR resource on speed dial.

For: Sole operators or small teams who need HR access without ongoing infrastructure work

  • Senior HR available by email or text for quick questions
  • One small project per year (policy update, JD refresh, handbook spot-check)
  • Monthly 30-minute check-in
  • Preferred client rates on larger projects
  • Dispute resolution at preferred client rates (billed separately)
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Foundation

$ 1,250 / mo

Starting price

Right-sized HR for small businesses building infrastructure for the first time.

For: 5–25 employees, no formal HR function in place

  • The Foundation: HR audit and 12-month roadmap
  • The Shield: Employee handbook and California-compliant core policies
  • On-call HR guidance up to 4 hours per month
  • Annual compliance review
  • Dispute resolution at preferred client rates (billed separately)
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Most Popular

Partner

$ 2,500 / mo

Starting price

Embedded fractional HR for scaling startups that need senior expertise without a full-time hire.

For: 10–75 employees, growing faster than your people infrastructure

  • Everything in Foundation
  • Ground Work: ongoing fractional HR partnership
  • The Framework: performance management system and review cadence
  • Right Fit: hiring process design, JDs, offer letters
  • Quarterly people strategy reviews with leadership
  • Priority response on employee relations
  • Dispute resolution and guided conversations at deeper preferred rates (billed separately)
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Embedded

$ 4,500 / mo

Starting price · custom scoped

Senior HR backbone for established companies with junior HR teams or complex employee relations needs.

For: 50–150 employees with internal HR who need experienced backup

  • Everything in Partner
  • Senior-level oversight and coaching for your junior HR team
  • Workplace concern reviews (harassment, retaliation, misconduct)
  • On-site presence available for sensitive situations
  • 24-hour response on active workplace conflicts
  • Dispute resolution and guided conversations at the deepest preferred rates (billed separately)
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Total Cost Comparison

Side-by-Side Annual Cost

Annual cost of working with Neutral Ground Partners versus building the equivalent capability in-house. In-house figures use conservative San Diego market base salaries multiplied by 1.3× for fully loaded employer cost.

Tier Your Cost In-House Equivalent In-House Cost You Save
On Call$6,000 / yrPart-time HR support (~10 hrs/wk)~$20,000 / yr~$14,000 (70%)
Foundation$15,000 / yrFull-time HR Coordinator~$85,000 / yr~$70,000 (82%)
Partner$30,000 / yrFull-time HR Manager~$145,000 / yr~$115,000 (79%)
EmbeddedFrom $54,000 / yrFull-time HR Director~$200,000 / yr~$146,000 (73%)

If you are based in Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, or another higher-cost California market, in-house labor costs typically run 10 to 20 percent above these figures. The savings shown here are the floor.

A Note on Dispute Resolution

Always a Separate Engagement
and Why

Dispute resolution is always billed in addition to your monthly retainer. Active clients receive significantly reduced rates, but never zero. Charging for this work, even modestly, is what allows Neutral Ground Partners to remain a credible neutral when everyone involved in a workplace conflict shows up at the table. Free dispute work would compromise the neutrality both audiences rely on, and we will not do that to your people or your business.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Pricing Questions

In-house figures use 2026 San Diego base salary medians from ZipRecruiter, Built In, Salary.com, Glassdoor, and PayScale, multiplied by 1.3× to account for payroll taxes, healthcare benefits, retirement contributions, paid time off, and basic equipment and overhead. The 1.3× multiplier is conservative. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports benefits average roughly 30 percent of total compensation in the West region, and standard fully loaded multipliers in California typically run 1.25× to 1.4×. Clients in Los Angeles, the Bay Area, or Orange County typically see in-house labor costs 10 to 20 percent above the San Diego figures shown.

No long-term contracts. All recurring tiers are month-to-month with 30 days notice to cancel. We do not believe in tying clients into agreements they have outgrown. If we are not the right fit, we want you to be free to find what is.

Yes. Tiers are designed to flex with your company. Most clients enter at On Call or Foundation and move up as their team grows or as new HR challenges surface. Downgrades are equally available. We will recommend the move proactively when we see the signal in your business.

Project-based engagements are available alongside the recurring tiers. Common projects include single workplace concern reviews, one-time handbook builds, compliance audits, single guided conversations, executive transitions, and separation planning. Pricing varies by scope. If you might need help again, the On Call tier often costs less per year than two project engagements would.

Charging for this work, even modestly, is what allows Neutral Ground Partners to remain a credible neutral when everyone involved in a workplace conflict shows up at the table. Free dispute work would compromise the neutrality both audiences rely on. Active clients receive significantly reduced rates, and the savings deepen at higher tiers, but the engagement is always billed separately.

A PEO handles payroll, benefits administration, and basic HR compliance. Neutral Ground Partners handles the strategic, complex, and human work a PEO does not touch: a workplace concern, a difficult separation, a culture problem, performance management coaching, senior HR judgment in moments that matter. Many of our clients use both. Your PEO runs your payroll. We help you handle the things your PEO will not.

A free 30-minute discovery call usually happens within one week of your first contact. Agreements are signed within 48 hours and active engagement begins within five business days. If you are in a situation that cannot wait, mention it on the first call and we will adjust the timeline accordingly.

Methodology

How We Calculated These Numbers

In-house cost figures use 2026 San Diego base salary medians sourced from ZipRecruiter, Built In, Salary.com, Glassdoor, and PayScale, then multiplied by 1.3× to account for fully loaded employer cost. The 1.3× multiplier is conservative. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports benefits average roughly 30 percent of total compensation in the West region, and standard fully loaded multipliers range from 1.25× to 1.4× in California. Executive roles often run higher (1.5× or more) once bonus and equity are included. Salaries verified March 2026.

Salaries are anchored to San Diego market rates because San Diego is the most conservative point in our service area. Clients in Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, Orange County, and other higher-cost California markets typically face in-house labor costs 10 to 20 percent above the figures shown. Neutral Ground Partners annual costs assume a 12-month engagement at the starting tier price; custom scopes at Embedded typically run higher than the floor.

Take the Next Step

Find the Right Tier in 30 Minutes

Tell us where your business is today. We will recommend the tier that fits, walk through what is included, and answer every question on the call.

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Because all progress begins on Neutral Ground.