HR Consultancy

Some random ideas.  My suggestion is not to think about being a HR person selling some service but rather think of yourself as a business which happens to work in the HR market.   Finance, marketing, IT including security are all equally important as your HR advice/products.   
 
One of the biggest problems facing any small business is cash flow, never underestimate this.  
 
Also be careful with your research, there may be a large market for HR services with SMEs but there is a smaller market for those who can afford you and an even smaller market for those that will pay or even pay on time. 
 
Get an accountant, this will save you a vast amount of time and money. 
 
I think the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) have said about 40% of small businesses face cyber attacks each year so spending some time hardening your security is worth the effort.  If you are using Microsoft products, they have a useful Microsoft Secure Score page that gives you options and suggestions for improving the security of your systems.  NCSC also provide a useful checklist for small businesses.  AI is really useful in translating the IT language into simple English if you are a non technical person like me.

Such wise words of advice Steven  it's so important to think about the business being a business and the product and services being the HR/ people offer. The sooner you get to that view, the easier it becomes to think about all the things involved in running a micro business. 

Craig, I would recommend the CIPD branch too and also get networked with other HR communities, there are so many now it's so much easier to join one that matches your needs and decide whether to go for another paid for one or join the free ones and which ones offer the most bang for your bucks. 

You'll also need to consider where your clients will go to find folks like you and that might be more local business events, as well as access you directly or via recommendations and your extended network (people who've worked with you and can vouch for your credentials). 

I've worked independently for many years - not in the SME space specifically- and would say building the network is critical, running a micro business utilises a lot of skills I didn't know I had and so I've developed the ones I'm good at or want to learn and then outsourced things like my accounts - although get accountancy software with your business bank account would be one recommendation. That will save you money. I set up before that was a thing. 

Good luck. 

Such wise words of advice Steven  it's so important to think about the business being a business and the product and services being the HR/ people offer. The sooner you get to that view, the easier it becomes to think about all the things involved in running a micro business. 

Craig, I would recommend the CIPD branch too and also get networked with other HR communities, there are so many now it's so much easier to join one that matches your needs and decide whether to go for another paid for one or join the free ones and which ones offer the most bang for your bucks. 

You'll also need to consider where your clients will go to find folks like you and that might be more local business events, as well as access you directly or via recommendations and your extended network (people who've worked with you and can vouch for your credentials). 

I've worked independently for many years - not in the SME space specifically- and would say building the network is critical, running a micro business utilises a lot of skills I didn't know I had and so I've developed the ones I'm good at or want to learn and then outsourced things like my accounts - although get accountancy software with your business bank account would be one recommendation. That will save you money. I set up before that was a thing. 

Good luck.