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3 min read

5 Small Business HR Solutions You Can Integrate Today

Published on
June 9, 2022
Small business owner alongside Motivosity HR software dashboard showing employee pulse survey results, eNPS company score, survey participation rates, and engagement benchmarks by department

TL;DR

For small business owners wearing every hat at once, HR is often the area that gets squeezed hardest — and the one with the most to lose when it breaks down. The right HR software doesn't just reduce admin busywork; it helps small businesses attract, engage, and retain the people they've worked hard to hire. This guide breaks down the types of HR solutions available, what to look for, and why the best platforms do more than just manage headcount.

Key Takeaways:

  • Nearly 3 in 5 businesses already use HR software — and 44% of talent managers say it directly increases productivity while 35% credit it with reducing unnecessary costs.
  • Small business HR software falls into three categories: administrative tools, talent tools, and combination tools. Most growing businesses need at least a combination of the first two.
  • The best HR platforms for small businesses aren't just operationally efficient — they connect employees, enable recognition, and give leaders real-time visibility into how their people are doing.
  • Picking the wrong platform is a costly mistake. Price, ratings, and measurable goal alignment should all factor into the decision before committing.
  • Motivosity is built for exactly this: a people-first HR platform that helps small businesses connect with employees, recognize hard work, support managers, and measure engagement — all in one place.

If you’re a small business owner, you have a lot more on your plate than just taxes and marketing. From managing PTO to hiring and onboarding talent, most of your job is focused on human resources. No easy task!

The umbrella of HR includes dozens of subcategories, all of which will get more complicated as the company gets bigger. You might be able to manage a crew of 10 by yourself, but what happens when your business swells to 20, 50, or even 100 employees? Scary stuff.

HR is too big for one person – especially if that one person is also working as the CEO, CFO, and COO. Your best option is to work hand-in-hand with technology, particularly a software solution that automates busywork for you.

Let’s explore the most effective types of small business HR solutions, including the types, benefits, and methods of picking the perfect one for your company.

Benefits of using software for HR

HR software productivity statistics quote card — 44% of talent managers report that HR software increases workforce productivity for small and medium businesses

HR software is a lot more than just a statement. Designed to work with any tech and every industry, the right platform could automate unnecessary tasks and give you time for other things (like taking a real lunch break for once).

Don’t believe us? Believe the numbers!

  • More than 58% of businesses use software to manage their human resources. That’s nearly 3 in 5!
  • About 44% of talent managers say that HR software increases their productivity at work. 35% say it can help to reduce unnecessary costs.
  • AI solutions dramatically improve the employee experience — as noted by 57% of HR experts!

You have everything to gain and nothing to lose from plugging into HR software. And if you take some time to explore your needs, you might find a cost-effective solution that fits the bill perfectly.

Types of small business HR solutions

Remember how we said that HR is an umbrella term? The same is true of HR software. There are hundreds of platforms built for every arm of the HR process, from talent management to recognition to compliance documentation. Feel overwhelmed yet?

 Infographic listing three major HR technology categories — administrative HR tools, talent HR tools, and combination HR tools for small business workforce management

Thankfully, the vast majority of small business HR platforms can be broken down into three categories:

1. Administrative HR Tools

These provide management resources that run daily operations for your business, including payroll, compliance, and benefits management.

2. Talent HR Tools

Hiring, firing, and retaining employees is the primary function of these tools.

3. Combination HR Tools

Keep an eye on your workforce using tools that assist with financial and talent management services.

You may not need a full service HR solution for your small business, but you might need a little support in one of these categories. We’d suggest thinking it over with trusted members of the team, including other managers or c-suite execs.

5 small business HR solutions

Let’s not beat around the bush! Here are five of the highest rated small business HR solutions online.

  1. Motivosity — We don’t mean to brag, but we’ve been consistently rated as one of the best small business HR solutions on G2 and beyond. Manage your workforce and your bottom line from one simple dashboard.
  2. Rippling — As a combination HR platform, Rippling is easy to use and simple to set up. However, it might be a little expensive for larger SMBs.
  3. Paychex — Cloud based software for employee payroll can be accessed from almost anywhere. Remember that this platform only supports financials, and not people management.
  4. Leapsome — With built-in feedback and survey systems, Leapsome is best for measuring employee engagement and performing eNPS checks. It does not handle the financial side of HR.
  5. Monday.com — This platform is great for integrating other tools in your current workflow. Keep in mind that there is no financial software included.

There are lots of other HR solutions on the market. If none of these have what you’re looking for, feel free to explore some alternatives!

Picking an HR platform for small business

Not all HR platforms are equal. When it comes to quality, cost, or functionality, you’ll want to carefully weigh pros and cons before moving forward.

Here are some initial questions to ask:

  • What's the damage in terms of price? Is this affordable for the long term? Make sure the benefits outweigh the cost.
  • What do their ratings look like? You might not want to invest thousands of dollars in a platform with mediocre reviews.
  • Will the platform help you meet objective goals? After one year of using the platform, will you see positive changes?
HR software selection best practice quote card — choosing the right employee engagement platform requires evaluating fit, features, and ROI for small business needs

Remember: you’re more than welcome to ‘break up’ with an HR platform if it doesn’t meet your needs. Just be willing to make those tough calls (or have someone on staff who can do it for you)!

Why Motivosity has the best HR solutions for small business

HR solutions are a major investment, and we know you don’t take that lightly. That’s why the team behind Motivosity has been hard at work developing some of the best HR solutions for small business – no matter what they need!

We offer four customizable platforms that address just about everything in HR:

  • Connect with employees, managers, and teams
  • Recognize the hard work of your employees
  • Lead managers and supervisors with confidence
  • Listen to feedback and measure successful results

See why Motivosity has received 2,000+ five-star reviews from businesses all over the world. Book a free demo to see what we have to offer!

Article written by
Erika Rahman
Marketing Manager
Erika Rahman is a Marketing Manager at Motivosity. She studied marketing and business management at Utah Valley University. Erika has a broad background—from optometry to trade school administration—giving her a love and understanding for people across industries. She grew up in Northern California and Colorado, and currently calls the Utah slopes home.
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