What does HR cost in Canada?
Real 2026 ranges, by model — fractional HR at $3K–$8K/month, outsourced / embedded HR at $8K–$22K/month, and project HR at $150–$300/hour. Below: which model fits your headcount, and where to go next.
Ready to act? Outsourced HR · HR services overview
HR cost ranges, by model.
Canadian HR pricing splits cleanly into three models. The right one is a function of headcount and how much of the function you need run for you. Ranges below are what mid-market Canadian employers actually pay in 2026.
A senior HR leader for a few days a month — enough judgement on compliance, ER, and people decisions without a full-time hire. The right model when the founder or office manager is doing HR off the side of their desk.
A senior HR leader plus a delivery pod running the whole function end-to-end — compliance, employee relations, talent, and HRIS. Roughly 60% less than an equivalent in-house team, with no ramp time. Our most common engagement.
A defined deliverable on a clock — handbook rebuild, comp framework, policy repair, investigation support, or training — with no ongoing retainer. Used to fix one thing fast, or to test the relationship before a retainer.
— Fixed monthly retainer or fixed project fee, quoted after a short scoping call. No open hourly meter on retainers.
Headcount points to a model.
Found your model? Go deeper.
This page is the cost picture. The two pages below are where the actual services live — scope, method, what is included, and the proof.
Outsourced HR
The full function — compliance, ER, talent, and HRIS — run end-to-end by a senior leader and a delivery pod. Live in two weeks. Best for 50–500 employees.
See the outsourced HR service →HR services overview
The full HR practice for Ontario employers — workplace investigations, culture transformation, outsourced HR, and project work — with 24-hour triage on active issues.
See the HR services overview →Size the decision with two free tools.
HR Cost Calculator
The annualized cost of not having HR — turnover, compliance, productivity, and recruitment — so you can weigh it against the bands above.
Use the calculator →HR Compliance Scorecard
Score your posture across ESA, OHSA, AODA, pay equity, and human rights — exposure is the single biggest driver of where you land in each band.
Use the scorecard →Your size, your number.
Tell us your headcount and what you are weighing. We will map the right HR model and send a realistic cost range within one business day — no obligation, no sales sequence.
HR pricing, answered.
What does HR cost in Canada?
It depends on the model. Fractional HR (a senior leader a few days a month) runs $3,000–$8,000 per month. Outsourced / embedded HR — the full function run end-to-end — runs $8,000–$22,000 per month depending on headcount. Project HR is billed at $150–$300 per hour for scoped, time-bound work. Headcount, compliance exposure, and the depth of function set where you land in each band.
How much does outsourced HR cost per month?
Outsourced / embedded HR typically runs $8,000–$22,000 per month for companies of 50–500 employees — roughly 60% less than a full in-house team of equivalent seniority, with no recruiting cost and no ramp time. The full breakdown lives on our outsourced HR page.
Which HR model is right for my company size?
Under 50 employees, fractional HR usually fits. From 50–100 you transition from fractional to embedded as ER volume and compliance exposure climb. From 100–500, outsourced / embedded HR runs the full function. Project HR works at any size for a single scoped deliverable. We size the right model on a short call.
What drives the price within each range?
Headcount, the number of provinces you operate in, the depth of compliance work required (ESA, OHSA, AODA, pay equity, human rights), live employee-relations volume, and whether you need ongoing function or a one-time build. We quote a fixed monthly retainer or a fixed project fee after a short scoping call — not an open meter.
Get a tailored cost range.
Headcount and what you are weighing — that is all we need to map the right model and a realistic range. We reply within one business day.