KLConsulting
Toronto-Based · Serving Canada & Australia

Senior HR Expertise for Small and Growing Businesses

Kate Lawlor Consulting provides fractional HR and project-based HR consulting to businesses with 1 to 50 employees, building the policies, processes and people practices needed to scale with confidence.

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Kate Lawlor, HR consultant

Kate LawlorPrincipal HR Consultant

10+ yearsHR Experience
2 countriesCanada and Australia
1–50Employee Businesses
TorontoBased in Canada
Engagement Models

Two Ways to Engage

Engage Kate Lawlor Consulting for a defined HR project, or retain ongoing fractional HR support. Many clients begin with a project and move to a retainer as the business grows.

Project-based HR

A Defined Outcome, Delivered to Scope

For businesses that need a specific HR deliverable built properly. Scope, timeline and deliverables are agreed in writing before work begins, and every output is handed over ready to implement.

Common engagements
  • HR Audit and Prioritised Action Plan
  • Employee Handbook and HR Policy Suite
  • Recruitment Framework, Including Interview Guides and Scorecards
  • Structured Onboarding Program for New Employees
  • Performance Review Process and Manager Guidance

PricingFixed-Fee Proposal

Discuss a Project
Fractional HR

An Embedded HR Partner, Without a Full-Time Hire

A retained number of hours each month with a consistent HR professional who understands your business, your people and your priorities.

Scope of support
  • Advice for Founders, Owners and People Managers
  • Employee Relations and Difficult Conversations
  • Ongoing Policy and Documentation Maintenance
  • Recruitment, Onboarding and Performance Cycles
  • Scheduled Check-Ins and HR Reporting

PricingMonthly Retainer, Adjustable as You Grow

Enquire About Fractional HR
Who We Work With

Built for the 1 to 50 Employee Stage

This is the stage where informal people practices stop working and the cost of getting HR wrong increases. Support is tailored to the size, sector and growth plans of each business.

1–10 Employees

Building the Foundations

Employment agreements, core policies and a compliant hiring process for your first employees.

10–30 Employees

Formalising as You Scale

A handbook, consistent onboarding and a performance process that works across a growing team.

30–50 Employees

Developing Your Managers

Equipping new people leaders to manage performance, give feedback and handle employee issues.

Industry Experience
  • SportClubs, associations and sporting organisations
  • Not-for-ProfitCommunity organisations and charities
  • SaaS and TechnologyStart-ups and scaling software businesses
  • HealthHealth services and allied health practices
Services

HR Services for Small Businesses

Each service is available as a standalone project or as part of a fractional HR retainer. All documentation is written in plain English and aligned to employment requirements in Canada or Australia.

HR Foundations and Compliance

Clear, current documentation that sets expectations and reduces risk.

  • Employee Handbooks
  • HR Policies and Procedures
  • Employment Agreements
  • Position Descriptions

Recruitment and Onboarding

A consistent, fair process from job advertisement to the end of a new employee's first three months.

  • Recruitment Workflows
  • Interview Guides and Scorecards
  • Job Advertisement Templates
  • Onboarding Programs

Performance and Leadership

A review process that is simple to run, and managers who are equipped to run it.

  • Performance Review Frameworks
  • Manager Training Guides
  • Coaching Frameworks

HR Systems

Selecting and implementing technology that reduces administration as you grow.

  • HRIS Selection and Setup
  • Applicant Tracking Systems
  • HR Process Automation

Culture and Values

Embedding your mission and values in everyday people practices.

  • Values-Aligned HR Documentation
  • Internal Culture Initiatives
Get Started

Ready to Put the Right HR Foundations in Place?

Book a complimentary consultation to discuss your business, your team and where HR support would make the biggest difference.

Book a Consultation
Process

How Engagements Work

A clear, structured process, so you know what will be delivered, when, and at what cost before any work begins.

01

Initial Consultation

A complimentary conversation to understand your business, your team and your HR priorities.

02

Proposal

A written proposal setting out the recommended scope, timeline and fee.

03

Delivery

Work is completed to the agreed scope, with regular progress updates.

04

Handover and Review

Deliverables are handed over with implementation guidance and a follow-up review.

Not Sure Where to Start?

Begin with an HR Audit

A review of your current HR documentation and practices, delivered as a written report with prioritised recommendations across four phases. Each phase can be delivered as a project or through a fractional retainer.

Request an HR Audit
Months 0–3

Immediate

Address urgent gaps that create compliance risk or confusion for employees.

Months 3–6

Short Term

Update policies, the employee handbook and core manager processes.

Months 6–12

Medium Term

Strengthen performance reviews, manager capability, recruitment and onboarding.

12 months +

Long Term

Implement HR systems, embed culture and keep practices current as you grow.

About

Kate Lawlor

Kate Lawlor is an HR consultant with more than ten years of experience across Australia and Canada, specialising in small businesses that are beginning to scale. She has worked across sport, not-for-profit, SaaS and technology, and health.

Her clients typically have between 1 and 50 employees and are actively hiring. This is the point where HR gaps become visible: policies written for five people no longer work for twenty, and founders can no longer manage every people matter themselves. Kate's focus is on putting practical, proportionate HR in place that supports the business as it grows.

Kate is based in Toronto and works with clients across Canada and Australia.

  • Plain EnglishDocumentation your team will read and use
  • ResponsiveReplies within one business day
  • ConsistentA single point of contact throughout
Work with Kate
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

For anything not covered here, get in touch and you will receive a response within one business day.

What is fractional HR?

Fractional HR provides access to an experienced HR professional for a set number of hours each month, rather than employing a full-time HR manager. It suits small businesses that need regular HR expertise but do not yet have the workload or budget for an in-house role.

When does a small business need HR support?

As soon as you employ people, you need compliant employment agreements, clear policies and a fair approach to hiring and managing staff. Putting these in place early is far simpler than resolving issues later, particularly once a business grows beyond 10 to 15 employees.

What is the difference between an HR consultant and outsourced HR?

An HR consultant typically delivers a defined project, such as an employee handbook or recruitment process. Outsourced or fractional HR provides ongoing support. Kate Lawlor Consulting offers both, and many clients use a combination.

Do you work with businesses in both Canada and Australia?

Yes. Kate Lawlor Consulting is based in Toronto and works with clients in both countries. Policies and documentation are prepared in line with the employment requirements of the jurisdiction in which your business operates.

How is HR consulting priced?

Projects are priced on a fixed-fee basis, confirmed in a written proposal before work begins. Fractional HR is billed as a monthly retainer based on an agreed number of hours. Contact Kate Lawlor Consulting for a tailored quote.

Contact

Book a Consultation

Initial consultations are complimentary and carry no obligation. Share a brief overview of your business and the support you are looking for, and a time will be arranged to discuss your needs.

Phone
437-662-2127
View Profile

Response time: within one business day

Helpful to include: number of employees, industry and your main HR priority