21 Business Ideas For Human Resources [2024]
Interested in starting a business as a human resources in 2024?
If managed well, building a business as a human resources could be more lucrative than employment. So, which are the best business ideas for human resources?
We put together 21 of some of the best human resources business ideas you can start in today.
For each business idea, we'll show you real-world examples of other human resources businesses to help you see what it takes.
Here's the full list:
1. Start a recruiting agency ($109K/month)
Starting a recruiting agency could be an excellent way for you to supplement your income and leverage your existing skills in human resources. With the global online recruitment market projected to reach $43 billion by 2027, there is significant potential for growth and profitability in this field. Your expertise in talent acquisition, employee relations, and organizational development would give you a competitive edge in identifying and placing the right candidates for your clients.
Moreover, the success of a recruiting agency heavily depends on client satisfaction and the tangible results achieved for them. By focusing on delivering exceptional service and building strong relationships with your clients, you could differentiate your agency and foster long-term partnerships. This side business has the potential not only to diversify your income but also to evolve into a thriving enterprise, offering you both professional and financial rewards.
How much you can make: $100 — $320,000/month
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
DistantJob is a unique recruitment agency that specializes in finding full-time remote employees, and with $3 million in annual revenue, they offer small to medium-sized tech companies an edge over big competitors who are not willing to hire remotely.
2. Start a hr solution business ($284K/month)
Starting an HR solutions business would make perfect sense if you're currently in human resources, as it allows you to leverage your existing expertise and knowledge. With companies continuously seeking to optimize their HR processes, you could offer functional tools that automate essential yet tedious HR tasks, such as recruitment, employee onboarding, payroll, and performance management. Your deep understanding of HR needs can help businesses streamline operations, making managing employees throughout their careers more efficient.
Additionally, the versatility of an HR solutions business means you could tailor your services based on your specific interests and areas of strength. Whether you specialize in compliance, training and development, or benefits administration, there's ample opportunity to carve out a niche and provide significant value. By turning your HR experience into a solution-oriented business, you not only supplement your income but could also transform it into a fully-fledged entrepreneurial venture.
How much you can make: $3,375 — $1,020,000/month
How long does it take to build: 80 days (?)
VC-turned-entrepreneur Phil Strazzulla, who previously built a successful b2b SaaS business, shares how he bootstrapped an online review site for HR software into a viable business with over $1k monthly revenues in just 3 months through organic search traffic growth and selling high intent leads.
3. Become a business coach ($55K/month)
As a human resources professional, you could leverage your extensive experience in employee development, conflict resolution, and organizational behavior to become a successful business coach. By transitioning into this role, you could help aspiring entrepreneurs navigate challenges in hiring, team management, and leadership, all while earning a supplementary income. This allows you to utilize your unique skill set in a new and impactful way.
Furthermore, with the growing number of small-business owners struggling to get started, your expertise in stress management and leadership could be invaluable. As a business coach, you could guide these entrepreneurs in identifying new opportunities and maximizing their existing resources. This new venture not only provides financial benefits but also positions you as a key player in helping other businesses thrive.
How much you can make: $3,500 — $400,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,749 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Entrepreneur Kamil Sattar has developed multiple six-figure drop shipping businesses, and his company, e-commerce mentoring, specializes in helping others create their own successful companies, with favorite platforms including using Shopify and apps such as Loox reviews and SMSBump.
4. Become a corporate trainer ($9.79K/month)
If you're looking to supplement your income or start a side business, becoming a corporate trainer could be an excellent avenue for you. By leveraging your expertise in human resources, you could design and deliver customized training programs that enhance employee performance and skillsets within various companies. This not only allows you to share your knowledge but also positions you as a trusted advisor in professional development.
Corporate training involves much more than just teaching—it requires thorough research, strategic planning, and excellent communication skills. You'll need to stay abreast of industry trends and continuously adapt your programs to ensure they remain relevant and engaging. For those who are passionate about education and keen on understanding business dynamics, this could be a fulfilling and impactful career path.
How much you can make: $1,500 — $20,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,250 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
A 22-year-old entrepreneur from Vienna built a $10k/month personal growth business by executing ideas quickly and targeting needs, as well as delivering quality services and personal connections to his customers.
5. Start a freelance writing business ($62.6K/month)
Starting a freelance writing business could be a practical and lucrative side venture for someone in human resources. With your expertise in employee relations, recruitment, and organizational policies, you could write informative articles, blogs, and guides that cater to businesses, HR professionals, and job seekers. Your deep understanding of HR topics means you can produce content that is not only relevant but also valuable to your target audience.
Moreover, freelance writing offers the flexibility to work from home and set your own schedule, allowing you to balance it alongside your existing HR role. Strong writing skills, the ability to meet deadlines, and effective communication abilities are already part of your professional toolkit, making this transition smoother. By staying updated with current writing tools and trends, you could turn your HR experience into a profitable freelance writing business.
How much you can make: $700 — $500,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 56 days (?)
How David Tile turned a freelance writing gig into an $80k/month business, discussing lessons learned through managing growing demands and maintaining a remote team operation.
6. Become a wellness coach ($48.2K/month)
As a human resources professional, supplementing your income as a wellness coach could leverage your understanding of employee well-being and organizational health. You could offer specialized services such as stress management workshops, weight loss programs, or energy optimization consultations, which align with your experience in fostering a healthy workplace culture.
Given the growing popularity of health and wellness coaching, starting a side business in this field could present a promising opportunity. Whether you choose to become a corporate wellness coach, yoga teacher, or nutritional therapist, your HR background provides a solid foundation for understanding client needs and promoting holistic health practices.
The flexibility of wellness coaching allows you to tailor your services based on your career goals, budget, and available time. By integrating your HR expertise with wellness coaching, you could effectively enhance the overall well-being and productivity of your clients or company.
How much you can make: $100 — $300,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $800 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Chakra5 is a mobile wellness team that generates $6k per month doing yoga/meditation/pilates classes, vegan cooking classes and sound baths on demand, boasting a strong online presence to attract and retain customers while also using free tools to keep monthly business costs below $100.
7. Start a startup instructing business ($28.4K/month)
As a human resources professional, you could leverage your experience and expertise to start a startup instructing business, providing valuable guidance and support to new entrepreneurs. By offering advice on business planning, marketing strategies, and overall direction for success, you could significantly ease the startup process for individuals or small businesses.
With a focus on the areas you excel in, such as talent acquisition, regulatory compliance, or employee engagement, you could tailor your instructing services to meet the specific needs of your clients. Starting this venture on a budget is entirely feasible; begin by establishing an online presence through a simple website or social media profiles to attract potential clients.
Offering your services at an affordable rate and building your reputation through satisfied customers and word-of-mouth referrals could gradually transform your side hustle into a thriving business, supplementing your income and providing you with a rewarding entrepreneurial endeavor.
How much you can make: $1,000 — $100,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 75 days (?)
GrowthMentor, a platform connecting vetted growth mentors for one-on-one calls, founded by Fotis Panagiotakopoulos, has had over 2,500 mentorship calls booked to date and has seen success in using word of mouth, content marketing, and leveraging other people's networks as the primary drivers of customer acquisition.
8. Start a legal consulting business ($208K/month)
Starting a legal consulting business could be a strategic move for someone in human resources, leveraging your comprehensive understanding of employment laws, compliance, and organizational policies. By offering specialized HR legal consulting services, you could cater to small or large businesses, startups, and entrepreneurs who need expert guidance on employment practices, regulatory compliance, and dispute resolution.
A strong online presence showcasing your legal expertise and quality content could attract a steady stream of clients, tapping into the ongoing growth of the legal industry. This venture could supplement your income or evolve into a full-fledged business, allowing you to utilize your advocacy skills and HR experience in a legal advisory capacity, providing significant value to corporations, institutions, governments, or individuals seeking specialized counsel.
How much you can make: $15,000 — $750,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $3,750 (?)
How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)
This husband and wife duo started a wedding consultancy agency, 'Getting Married in Denmark', which has gone from doing 5-10 weddings a month to 80-100 weddings a month in just 4 years, massively growing their revenue.
9. Become a business law consultant ($518K/month)
As an HR professional, starting a business law consultancy could be a lucrative way to supplement your income or even establish a full-fledged business. You could leverage your experience in compliance and employee relations to offer specialized services such as contract reviews, compliance auditing, and legal risk assessments. This complements your existing HR knowledge, making you an invaluable resource for businesses looking to navigate the complex legal landscape.
Additionally, with the regulatory environment becoming increasingly intricate, there's a growing demand for expert legal advice. By stepping into this role, you could help companies avoid costly legal pitfalls and ensure they adhere to all relevant laws and regulations. It’s an excellent opportunity to build a reputation as a trusted advisor, providing crucial support to businesses aiming for long-term success.
How much you can make: $80,000 — $1,500,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)
Rankings.io is a hyper-focused SEO agency that helps elite personal injury law firms dominate first page rankings and was ranked #858 in the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing companies in America for 2018, with a current revenue just under $300,000 per month, with plans for a record-breaking year.
10. Start a coffee cart
As a human resources professional with an entrepreneurial mindset, starting a coffee cart could be an excellent way to supplement your income or even transition into a new business venture. Given the low startup costs—requiring just a professional coffee machine and coffee cups—you could easily set up your coffee cart in a high-traffic area for maximum profits.
Your knowledge in human resources could give you an advantage when managing customer interactions and providing stellar service. Additionally, the flexible hours of running a coffee cart could allow you to maintain your HR job while you gauge the potential profitability and scalability of this side business.
Choosing a strategic location and being available to meet customer demand, including during early morning rush hours or events, could optimize your success. The coffee cart could eventually become a full-time endeavor or a lucrative complementary income stream.
How much you can make: $15,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $5,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
This case study follows the co-founder of Camper Cafe, a mobile coffee van business which started as a hobby and now has 6 units that supply the UK's biggest sporting events, commercial and film shoots, generating around £150k from working only 70 days of the year.
11. Start a business coaching ($391K/month)
Starting a business coaching service could be a natural extension of your career in human resources. With your expertise in talent management, leadership development, and organizational behavior, you could guide entrepreneurs and business professionals through complex challenges and strategic planning. Your deep understanding of workplace dynamics and people skills would be invaluable in helping clients unlock their potential and achieve their business goals.
As a business coach, you could offer tailored advice and support in areas such as leadership development, productivity enhancement, and market strategies. By conducting one-on-one sessions, developing customized plans, and holding clients accountable, you would play a crucial role in their success. Given the growing demand for skilled business coaches, this side business promises both personal satisfaction and financial gains, while also expanding your professional network and skill set.
How much you can make: $3,500 — $4,166,667/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
MentorCruise is a career coaching marketplace generating $24k MRR and processing $1M annually for mentors, with most traffic and sales coming from SEO and organic sources, currently looking to expand to the B2B market.
12. Start a two sided marketplace ($20.3K/month)
As someone experienced in human resources, you could leverage your expertise to create a two-sided marketplace designed to connect job seekers with employers or even freelance HR professionals with small businesses in need of HR services. This platform could serve as a one-stop solution where companies can find qualified talent while job seekers gain access to numerous opportunities, thereby filling a critical gap in the employment market.
With your HR background, you could ensure a seamless user experience by integrating features like profile verification, skill assessments, and automated matching algorithms to pair candidates with appropriate job listings. This model benefits from scalable growth; as more users—both job seekers and employers—join the platform, its value multiplies, driving network effects and ultimately, higher revenue potential.
By addressing the specific pain points of both employers struggling to find qualified candidates and job seekers looking for the right opportunities, a two-sided marketplace is an innovative and profitable business venture that aligns with your HR experience.
How much you can make: $100 — $100,000/month
How long does it take to build: 150 days (?)
Muver is a mobile app for gig workers allowing them to multi-app seamlessly between Uber, Uber Eats, Doordash, Grubhub, Lyft, Instacart, and more within a single app with over $270k revenue in the past 12 months.
13. Become a social media consultant ($99.2K/month)
As a human resources professional, leveraging your expertise to become a social media consultant could be an excellent path for supplementing your income or starting a side business. Given your understanding of company culture, employee engagement, and internal communication, you are well-positioned to help organizations craft authentic and compelling social media content that resonates with their target audiences.
You could offer services to improve, optimize, and grow businesses' social media presence, ultimately linking them more effectively to their target customers. By honing your skills through courses in content marketing, public relations, and communication, you can offer valuable insights and strategies tailored to various niches. This business venture allows for work flexibility and the potential for higher earning, though it does require commitment to grow and sustain the business.
How much you can make: $100 — $550,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,250 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
MeetEdgar, a bootstrapped social media automation tool founded in 2014 by Laura Roeder, has grown to $4 million in annual recurring revenue and more than 5,000 customers, with a team size of two dozen, achieved through content marketing, social media marketing, and organic search.
14. Start a health blog ($52.8K/month)
As a human resources professional, launching a health blog could be a valuable side business that leverages your expertise in promoting employee wellness and work-life balance. By sharing insights on healthy living, proper dieting, and managing common health conditions, you could build a dedicated readership interested in comprehensive health solutions both within and beyond the workplace.
By using your HR experience to pinpoint common health issues employees face, you could offer targeted advice that resonates with a working audience. Monetization opportunities are abundant; you could earn additional income through affiliate marketing or by advertising health-focused products and services that align with your blog's message.
Starting a health blog involves selecting a niche, choosing a blogging platform and reliable hosting service, creating engaging content, and planning an editorial calendar. With dedication and strategic planning, a successful health blog could supplement your income and establish you as a thought leader in both the HR and wellness communities.
How much you can make: $1,000 — $250,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $3,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Bey Moss, an e-commerce platform selling sea moss-infused health and wellness products, made over $800,000 to-date with less than $10,000 overall in ads after validating the product idea through reviews and feedback and leveraging their social media following to build a Bey Moss community.
15. Become a sustainable environmental consultant ($47.2K/month)
As a human resources professional, venturing into sustainable environmental consulting could be a lucrative side business or full-time venture. By leveraging your existing expertise in guiding organizational culture and policy, you could help businesses adopt eco-friendly practices and comply with green regulations.
In this role, you could conduct environmental assessments, craft tailored sustainability strategies, and provide training on eco-friendly operations. The increasing corporate focus on sustainability offers a prime market for your services, allowing you to champion the planet while building a thriving business.
Such a career shift promises both financial rewards and the satisfaction of contributing to a greener future. Your strong relationship-building skills and dedication to ongoing learning make you well-suited for this impactful and rewarding field.
How much you can make: $6,500 — $100,000/month
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
Sustain Academy is an online sustainability academy that offers a 10-week LIVE online sustainability course followed by 1:1 mentorship, taught by the world’s best field experts; so far, more than 100 companies from over 10 different countries have trained their employees with them.
16. Start a digital services business ($299K/month)
As a human resources professional, you could leverage your expertise to start a digital services business, providing services like HR consulting, remote training programs, or digital recruitment strategies. By offering these specialized services online, you open the doors to clients worldwide, far beyond your local area, thereby boosting your income potential.
The low overhead of a digital services business makes it particularly attractive—you can work from anywhere with a reliable internet connection and the right tools. Platforms like Upwork and Fiverr provide easy access to a broad client base, enabling you to scale your operations as needed. You could even build a team of freelance HR consultants to handle larger, more complex projects, making your business both flexible and scalable.
How much you can make: $15,500 — $1,766,666/month
How much does it cost to start: $1,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 45 days (?)
A 25-year-old entrepreneur shares his journey of starting a property marketing agency, with a current monthly income of $18,000/month, and divulges the importance of having a niche and going all-in on client results and experience.
17. Start a drive-thru body piercing business
As a human resources professional, you could explore the entrepreneurial opportunity of starting a drive-thru body piercing business to supplement your income. Utilizing your organizational and management skills, you can streamline the operational aspects, ensuring efficient service delivery and customer satisfaction, which could set your business apart in a niche market. This could resemble a side business that thrives on the need for convenience and the growing popularity of body modifications.
Additionally, your expertise in compliance and regulations would be invaluable in maintaining a safe and sanitary environment, adhering to health regulations effortlessly. This business not only provides an additional revenue stream but also allows you to apply your HR skills creatively in an entirely new industry.
18. Develop a facebook app ($2.99K/month)
As a human resources professional, you could leverage your expertise to develop a Facebook app that enhances employee engagement and communication within organizations. Imagine creating a platform where employees can easily access HR resources, participate in professional development programs, or even engage in peer recognition initiatives—all within the familiar environment of Facebook.
By identifying gaps and opportunities within Facebook’s ecosystem, you could build features like advanced analytics for tracking employee engagement or tools for streamlining event management and company announcements. This venture not only supplements your income but also helps you carve a niche in the digital HR landscape.
The development process, though involving market research and testing, could result in an app that taps into Facebook’s vast user base. Successfully executed, this project would allow you to offer a service that resonates with millions, providing both value to organizations and a lucrative business opportunity.
How much you can make: $1,500 — $4,487/month
Page Flows is a library of inspiration videos for digital product designers and makes about $4,500 per month in revenue from a small, one-off price, with slow and steady growth and long-tail keyword SEO as key drivers of success.
19. Start an online courses business ($118K/month)
As a human resources professional, you could supplement your income by creating an online course that leverages your expertise in HR practices, employment law, recruitment strategies, or organizational development. By focusing on specific areas where you have considerable knowledge, such as talent acquisition or performance management, you could offer valuable insights and practical guidance to individuals or small businesses looking to improve their HR capabilities.
Moreover, creating engaging content with videos, interactive assignments, and practical tools could attract a broader audience, enhancing the popularity of your course. Using social media and email marketing to promote your course will help you reach more people and build your reputation as an expert in the field. As your online courses gain positive feedback and recommendations, you might find opportunities to expand your offerings or explore different HR-related topics, eventually growing your side business into a significant revenue stream.
How much you can make: $2,500 — $500,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $1,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Solopreneur Justin Welsh built a knowledge business through social media with over $2M in annual revenue and no full-time employees, offering flagship digital courses with a monthly revenue of $80K and $45K respectively, through LinkedIn and Twitter growth as well as organic and affiliate marketing.
20. Start an online retail store ($173K/month)
As a human resources professional, starting an online retail store could be a practical way to supplement your income or even launch a full-fledged business. Leveraging your organizational and people management skills, you could effectively manage inventory, coordinate with suppliers, and ensure exceptional customer service.
With straightforward requirements like a computer, domain, and web hosting service, you have the flexibility to start small and expand as demand grows. Whether you opt for a dropshipping model or decide to sell self-made products, conducting thorough product research will enable you to carve out a profitable niche in the market.
Adopting this side business allows you the freedom to operate outside traditional office hours, making it manageable alongside your current HR responsibilities.
How much you can make: $400 — $1,000,000/month
How long does it take to build: 120 days (?)
A high school student turned his love for LEGO into a $1.6k/month business, Summerfield's Toys, by reselling sets online through eBay, BrickLink, and Facebook Marketplace, in addition to buying and reselling brand new sets.
21. Start a gym equipment supplier ($675K/month)
For human resources professionals with an entrepreneurial mindset, starting a gym equipment supplier business could be a strategic move to supplement your income. Given your background in organizational management and employee wellness programs, you could leverage your skills to negotiate with manufacturers, manage supplier relationships, and ensure timely inventory deliveries.
Moreover, you already understand the importance of fostering a healthy work environment, which positions you well to market your equipment to corporate fitness centers, personal trainers, and even home gym enthusiasts. The steady demand in the fitness industry for updated equipment means that your business could benefit from recurring orders and long-term client relationships.
While initial capital and logistical challenges exist, the potential rewards include establishing a robust client base and contributing to the promotion of health and wellness, aligning perfectly with your values as an HR professional.
How much you can make: $150,000 — $1,200,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,025 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Gym and Fitness is one of the largest online retailers of home gym equipment in Australia and New Zealand, servicing 450 customers a week and generating $150k/month in revenue, and founder Dave Barnes shares tips for aspiring founders.
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Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
