Frequently Asked Questions

We act as your fractional HR Director, Operations Manager, and Strategic Advisor, all under one roof. We build the systems, processes, and people infrastructure that small and growing businesses need to scale without chaos. Think of us as your outsourced executive team for operations and people.

Integrated Consulting combines business operations and HR consulting into a single engagement with one point of contact and one strategic roadmap. Most problems in small businesses span both: a hiring issue is also a process issue, a compliance gap is also a leadership gap. Integrated lets us solve the whole problem instead of half of it.

Our HR compliance work is built on California law (CFRA, PDL, SB 553, PAGA, Cal/OSHA, CA Labor Code), so for that work, you need to be a CA employer. Our business operations, leadership development, and strategic consulting are not state-specific and are available to clients in any state, though our primary market is Southern California.

We serve organizations with 1 to 100 employees, with most clients in the 10 to 50 range. Small enough that executive-level hires are not yet justified, large enough that the lack of systems is creating real pain. We have also helped pre-launch founders build their first operational infrastructure.

We work across industries, with particular experience in professional services, retail, trades and manufacturing, and churches and faith-based organizations. Churches receive dedicated reduced-rate packages.

Book a free 30-minute Discovery Call. We will talk through your situation, identify your top risks and opportunities, and recommend the right service. If there is a fit, we send a fixed-fee agreement. No RFP process, no sales cycle. Every retainer engagement starts with our 360 Assessment, a comprehensive audit that produces a prioritized roadmap.

Yes, for all project work and retainers. The price we quote is the price you pay. Retainers are annual commitments at a fixed monthly fee, so you can budget with confidence. We do not do hourly billing that balloons.

HR platforms automate workflows. We provide judgment. Software will not tell you how to handle a difficult employee situation, whether your classification creates PAGA exposure, or how to restructure a team without triggering legal risk. We work alongside your tools. We do not replace them.

Yes, with dedicated packages at reduced pricing. Churches typically need employee handbooks, basic compliance (IIPP, harassment training, SB 553), codes of conduct, volunteer management structures, and leadership development. We have scoped these services specifically for ministry contexts.

We use AI tools for internal research, draft preparation, and administrative efficiency. Clients never interact directly with AI. Every deliverable is reviewed, edited, and approved by a human consultant before it reaches you. AI makes us more productive. It does not replace our judgment or your relationship with us.

Our comprehensive audit covering HR compliance, business operations, financial controls, and risk exposure. It is included in the first month of every retainer engagement and produces a risk-ranked findings report plus a Strategic Roadmap with quarterly milestones.

No. Payroll is a commodity and we do not compete with the providers who do it well. We work with whatever platform you use (Gusto, Rippling, ADP Run, Paychex Flex) and advise on policy and compliance.

No. We are consulting practitioners, not attorneys, and nothing we provide is legal advice. For litigation, agency charges, or formal legal matters, we refer to California management-side employment attorneys and support them with the operational side.

No. Under California Business & Professions Code sections 7520 through 7539, external workplace investigations must be conducted by a licensed private investigator or attorney. We provide advisory and documentation support for your HR lead, and refer to a licensed PI or employment attorney when a formal investigation is required.