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HR Services & Engagement Model

At Sprout and Vine HR, pricing is structured around risk exposure, organizational complexity, and governance responsibility—not time spent or generic service bundles.

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In California, HR decisions carry real legal and financial consequences.


Our pricing reflects the responsibility required to do this work correctly.

Why We Don't List 'Menu Pricing'

HR is not interchangeable labor.

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Two organizations with the same headcount can carry vastly different levels of:

  • Compliance exposure

  • Documentation risk

  • Leadership liability

  • Board or regulatory oversight

 

For that reason, our engagements are scoped based on readiness level, not checklists.

Level 1: The Root System

Where Every Strong Business Begins

Best for - California small businesses under 25 employees that are formalizing HR for the first time.

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This level focuses on:

  • Meeting California's mandatory employment documentation requirements

  • Protecting the business through compliant, enforceable policies

  • Setting clear expectations for employees before day one

  • Giving ownership a structured foundation to operate and hire from with confidence

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Deliverables include:

  • California-compliant Employee Handbook, customized for your industry and team

  • California-Required Core Policy Suite — covering all state-mandated policies, including anti-harassment, discrimination & retaliation, meal & rest breaks, paid sick leave, leave laws, and wage & hour compliance

  • Offer Letter Template with California at-will and compensation provisions

  • New Hire Onboarding Checklist covering state-mandated pamphlets, I-9, tax forms, and required postings

  • Policy Add-Ons - Starter Bundle

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Optional Policy Add-Ons
Additional policies are available to fit your business — select what's relevant to your team, industry, or operations. Add-ons are offered in bundled packages:

  • Starter Bundle — up to 3 additional policies

  • Enhanced Bundle — up to 6 additional policies

  • Full Suite — all available add-on policies

 

Examples include: Attendance, Benefits, Code of Conduct, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, Holidays, Introductory Period, Personal Appearance, Paid Time Off, Progressive Discipline, and Travel & Expense.

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Ongoing Support

Every Root System engagement includes an ongoing HR support plan — a required component of the partnership, not an add-on. California employment law changes constantly. Your support plan ensures your documentation stays current and that you have direct, priority access to expert guidance when you need it.

 

This is where the work begins.

Level 2: Foundational Readiness

Building From The Ground Up

Best for - Startups and family-owned businesses formalizing HR for the first time—or correcting gaps.

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This level focuses on:

  • Identifying immediate compliance risks

  • Establishing required documentation

  • Creating clarity around roles, expectations, and policies

  • Providing leadership with a clear HR roadmap

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Typical deliverables may include:

  • HR or volunteer readiness audit

  • Core policy or handbook development

  • Compliance gap analysis with prioritized recommendations

 

This level provides clarity, not ongoing management.

Level 3: Operational Control

Growing with Intention

Best for - Organizations that need HR handled correctly and consistently—but do not require a full-time internal HR role.

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This level focuses on:

  • Ongoing compliance oversight

  • Structured onboarding and offboarding

  • Policy and documentation maintenance

  • Leadership guidance on employee or volunteer issues

  • Reducing interruptions and decision fatigue

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Engagement Structure:

  • Monthly retainer

  • Defined scope and escalation boundaries

  • Proactive—not reactive—support

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This is Sprout and Vine HR’s most common engagement level.

Level 4: Governance & Risk Management

Executive-Level HR Partnership. Growing What You've Built

Best for - Nonprofits with boards, growth-stage companies, and organizations with heightened regulatory or reputational exposure.

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This level focuses on:

  • Fiduciary and governance support

  • Board- and leadership-level HR guidance

  • Audit and investigation readiness

  • Policy enforcement strategy

  • High-stakes decision support

 

Engagement Structure:

  • Qualification required

  • Custom scope aligned to governance needs

  • Strategic advisory + execution oversight

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This level is not transactional. It is protective.

What Our Pricing Includes

Every Sprout and Vine HR engagement includes:

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  • California-specific compliance considerations

  • Clear scope and deliverables

  • Defined boundaries to prevent scope creep

  • Practical implementation—not theory

What Our Pricing Excludes (Intentionally)

To protect both our clients and our work, we do not offer:

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  • Unstructured, on-call HR with no formal engagement

  • Budget-driven scope reductions

  • Generic documentation not built for California or your business

  • Undefined or open-ended engagements

 

These models increase risk—for everyone involved.

Image by Christin Hume

How To Get Started

Determine Your Readiness Level

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The fastest way to understand your needs—and investment—is through an initial assessment.

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Start with:

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We will confirm:

  • Your risk exposure

  • Your appropriate readiness level

  • Whether Sprout and Vine HR is the right fit

A Final Note On Value

HR is not an area where “good enough” holds up under scrutiny.

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Our clients invest in Sprout and Vine HR because they want:

  • Fewer surprises

  • Fewer interruptions

  • Clear documentation

  • Confident leadership decisions

 

If that aligns with how you run your organization, we’re ready to talk.

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Request an HR Readiness Audit
Schedule a Strategic Discovery Call

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