HOW TO HIRE · BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL

How to hire an HR consultant in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.

A hr consultant in Ireland costs €70–€150 per hour, typically around €100. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.

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  • One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews

THE 60-SECOND VERSION

Hiring an HR consultant in five steps

  1. Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers HR consultant work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — recruitment and Selection — an HR consultant can streamline the recruitment process by developing job descriptions, screening candidates, and conducting interviews.
  2. How does their experience change the price?Certification costs the provider money, and it shows in the rate. — ask before the quote rather than after.
  3. How does complexity of the project change the price?The more decisions involved, the longer the job runs. — ask before the quote rather than after.
  4. How does specific services required change the price?Quality costs more at the start and less over time. — ask before the quote rather than after.
  5. What is not included?Compliance and Regulations — HR consultants provide guidance on compliance with employment laws and regulations, helping businesses avoid legal pitfalls — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a HR consultant job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.

BEFORE YOU BOOK

Check before you book

No register applies

NO REGISTER APPLIES to chefs, stylists, organisers, errand runners or concierges. You are buying somebody's time, taste and access to your home, so the checks are about trust and what is written down rather than about law.

Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.

What to check instead

Whether they are a trader — a business name and an invoice, not a favour with money attached; Public liability insurance, and who the insurer is; For anyone in your home unaccompanied, references you actually telephone; For food, whether they hold food-safety training and where the food is prepared; Exactly what the hours cover and what counts as extra; Keys and access in writing: who holds what, and how it comes back.

Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.

Insurance

Expect public liability; for food work, ask about product liability too. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.

Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.

Trader or private seller

Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.

Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.

VAT

VAT at 13.5%, the reduced rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.

Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →

“Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?”

A good answer: No register covers HR consultant work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — recruitment and Selection — an HR consultant can streamline the recruitment process by developing job descriptions, screening candidates, and conducting interviews.

“How does their experience change the price?”

A good answer: Certification costs the provider money, and it shows in the rate. — ask before the quote rather than after.

“How does complexity of the project change the price?”

A good answer: The more decisions involved, the longer the job runs. — ask before the quote rather than after.

“How does specific services required change the price?”

A good answer: Quality costs more at the start and less over time. — ask before the quote rather than after.

“What is not included?”

A good answer: Compliance and Regulations — HR consultants provide guidance on compliance with employment laws and regulations, helping businesses avoid legal pitfalls — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a HR consultant job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.

“Who insures you, and what is the policy number?”

A good answer: Expect public liability; for food work, ask about product liability too — performance Management Consultant — assists in developing systems to evaluate employee performance and implement feedback mechanisms for continuous improvement.

“What do I get in writing, and when?”

A good answer: A written scope and a price before the HR consultant starts, and an itemised invoice after — HR Policy Advisor — works with businesses to create or update HR policies and employee handbooks that reflect current laws and best practices.

Getting the quote right

  • Their experience — certification costs the provider money, and it shows in the rate.
  • Complexity of the project — the more decisions involved, the longer the job runs.
  • Specific services required — quality costs more at the start and less over time.
  • Scope of work — it is one of the first things you will be asked about.
  • In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
  • What is NOT included, named
  • Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
  • The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register

Walk away if

  • They will not talk about it: their experience — certification costs the provider money, and it shows in the rate
  • They will not talk about it: complexity of the project — the more decisions involved, the longer the job runs
  • They will not talk about it: specific services required — quality costs more at the start and less over time
  • A price for the HR consultant before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
  • Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
  • No written quote, or one that moves once the HR consultant has begun
LOW
€70
TYPICAL
€100
HIGH
€150

What an HR consultant costs: €70–€150 per hour

Most HR consultants quote the job rather than the hour; the hourly rate is what the small jobs are priced from. Recruitment consultant and Compliance specialist each carry their own band. HR Consultant price guide →

Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.

KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE

HR consultants near you, with the badges that matter shown

ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.

Or post the job free and let them come to you, or book by the hour.

  1. Look firstTheir experience — certification costs the provider money, and it shows in the rate — that is what the HR consultant is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
  2. Agree what is being doneComplexity of the project — the more decisions involved, the longer the job runs — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
  3. The work itselfSpecific services required — quality costs more at the start and less over time — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
  4. Check it togetherScope of work — it is one of the first things you will be asked about — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the HR consultant is still there.
  5. What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, size of the company — size decides whether this is a morning or a full day.

Compliance and Regulations
HR consultants provide guidance on compliance with employment laws and regulations, helping businesses avoid legal pitfalls.
Recruitment and Selection
An HR consultant can streamline the recruitment process by developing job descriptions, screening candidates, and conducting interviews.
Recruitment Consultant
Assists businesses in finding and hiring the right talent by developing job descriptions, conducting interviews, and managing the selection process.
Employee Relations Consultant
Offers strategies for managing workplace conflicts, improving employee engagement, and fostering a positive work environment.
Training and Development Consultant
Designs and implements training programs to enhance employee skills and career development within the organisation.
HR Policy Advisor
Works with businesses to create or update HR policies and employee handbooks that reflect current laws and best practices.

AFTER

When the job is done

Keep the invoice and the paperworkAn itemised invoice with the trader's name, the work and the total — recruitment and Selection — an HR consultant can streamline the recruitment process by developing job descriptions, screening candidates, and conducting interviews, because it is what a buyer's solicitor, an insurer or a lender asks for long after the HR consultant has gone.
Test what was doneCompliance and Regulations — HR consultants provide guidance on compliance with employment laws and regulations, helping businesses avoid legal pitfalls — and something that does not work on the day is theirs to put right there and then.
Ask what the guarantee isOn the workmanship and on the parts, and for how long each one runs — they are usually different. performance Management Consultant — assists in developing systems to evaluate employee performance and implement feedback mechanisms for continuous improvement — under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 what was agreed is what can be relied on.
Leave the reviewOnly a booked job can be reviewed on Locufy, which is why the score on a HR consultant's card means something — HR Policy Advisor — works with businesses to create or update HR policies and employee handbooks that reflect current laws and best practices.

STEP 1Say it in writing, firstSay what is wrong and what you want done. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 the work must be carried out with reasonable skill and care, and defective work put right.
STEP 2Use the make-it-right step on LocufyUnder four stars you are asked whether to send it to the provider first; we follow it through. Then review.
STEP 3Escalate to the body that regulates itThere is no register, so the route is the consumer body and, if needed, the courts.
STEP 4Small claimsSmall claims covers €2,000, once you have asked in writing and given them a chance to put it right.

Hiring an HR consultant: questions people ask

The cost of hiring an HR consultant can vary based on their experience, the complexity of the project, and the specific services required. More specialised consultants or those with a strong reputation may charge higher rates.

The duration of an HR consulting engagement can vary significantly depending on the scope of work. Simple tasks may take a few hours, while comprehensive projects like policy development could span several weeks.

While a general HR consultant can handle many tasks, specific situations such as compliance or legal issues may require a qualified specialist with relevant certifications. It's essential to assess the complexity of your needs when choosing a consultant.

Same-day HR consulting availability depends on the consultant's schedule and the nature of your request. For urgent issues, it's advisable to contact consultants directly to discuss your needs and their availability.

Yes, many HR consultants offer package deals for multiple related services, which can be more cost-effective. Discussing your needs upfront can help tailor a solution that covers various aspects of HR management.

HR consultants generally do not engage in tasks that require legal representation or specialised medical advice. Their role is to provide guidance and support within the HR domain, not to replace legal or medical professionals.

MORE GUIDES

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How to hire: AccountantHow to hire: BookkeeperHow to hire: Payroll ServiceHow to hire: Tax AdvisorHow to hire: VAT ReturnsHow to hire: Self-Assessment HelpHow to hire: AuditorHow to hire: Financial AdvisorAll 701 hiring guides →

HR consultants near you

HR consultants in DublinHR consultants in CorkHR consultants in GalwayHR consultants in LimerickAll hr consultants on Locufy →

Sources — checked October 2026

  1. CCPC — your rights when you buy a service
  2. Consumer Rights Act 2022
  3. Courts Service — small claims
  4. Revenue — CLEANING - CONTRACT (Non-residential immovable goods) — Reduced rate
  5. Revenue — current VAT rates (effective 1 January 2026)
  6. Revenue — VAT thresholds: €42,500 for a person supplying services only