When Should You Hire a Full-Time HR Professional?
It’s one of the most frequent questions I get from founders and operations leads:
“When should we hire our first full-time HR professional?”
And like many good business decisions, the answer is backed by data.
The Numbers: HR-to-Employee Ratios by Company Size
According to data published on Indeed:
Recommended Ratio: 1.4 HR professionals per 100 employees
Actual Average: 2.57 HR professionals per 100 employees
Small Organizations: 3.4 HR per 100 employees
Mid-Sized Organizations: 1.22 HR per 100 employees
Large Organizations: 1.03 HR per 100 employees
Translation? Small companies tend to overhire in HR, while larger firms lean leaner.
What We’re Seeing in the Real World
In my work, I’ve seen both ends of the spectrum:
Companies with bloated HR teams that lack clarity or direction.
Companies relying on a spouse-turned-office-manager to “do some HR stuff” when needed.
Neither extreme sets you up for long-term success.
Don’t Hire Before You’re Ready
Hiring an HR person too early can backfire. Here’s why:
You might underpay the role, increasing the risk of turnover.
Without clear direction, your new hire may flounder or underperform.
You’ll be creating false expectations about what HR can realistically solve at your current size.
My rule of thumb?
Don’t hire until you need to. Consider hybrid roles—like Office Manager or Billing Manager with HR responsibilities—until your team size and complexity justify a full-time HR role.
Do They Need HR Experience?
Not necessarily. Everyone starts somewhere. But if you hire someone with limited HR experience:
Provide structured mentorship
Consider paying for a mentor or advisor who can guide them legally and strategically
Set up clear performance expectations and define success for the role
Hiring Smart: What You Need in Place First
Before bringing on your first full-time HR hire, make sure you’ve:
Defined the job description
Identified what success looks like
Outlined what support and mentorship the role will receive
Understood how compliance and people operations will be handled in the short term
Need Help Deciding?
Every company is unique, and we can help you assess your structure and stage.
At Salt & Light Advisors, we’ll walk through your current needs and help you determine whether it’s time to hire internally—or if you’d benefit more from fractional HR support or project-based help.
