People decisions
Without HQ.ai
Googling for an hour, then second-guessing the answer anyway.
With HQ.ai
The right answer in under a minute, in plain English.
Built for Australian small business
HR and hiring are complicated. HQ.ai makes it easy, quick and accurate.
HQ.ai handles the everyday HR work and hiring processes that cost you time and money. Ask a question, get a clear answer for your business, and get back to work - so the jobs that used to take hours now take minutes. No HR background needed, and a real advisor is there for the hard calls. From $59/month. Cancel any time.
Three minutes to set up. Answers from day one.
HQ PeopleLive
Can I let someone go during probation?
Yes, with notice - usually one week if they have been with you under a year. Your award may add to that - we will flag it.
Answered in seconds
HQ Recruit
Sarah K.4.2 / 5
Experience
Communication
Role fit
Answers, not templates
Ask in plain English, get advice for your business
Hiring end to end
Score CVs, pre-screen and shortlist in one place
A real advisor
A person picks up the hard 20 per cent
The problem
As your business gets busier, HR and hiring doesn't get easier.
You didn't start a business to become an HR or Recruitment Manager. Here is the old way, next to the HQ.ai way.
Hiring
Without HQ.ai
80 CVs, six interviews, and a hire you picked on gut feel.
With HQ.ai
Every CV scored in minutes. Quick interviews. A clear shortlist.
The cost
Without HQ.ai
A retainer you pay every month and use twice a year.
With HQ.ai
From $59 a month. No lock-in. Cancel any time.
The difference
- Half a day
- 3 minutes
- to sort a typical HR question
- $850/mo
- from $59
- for everyday HR help
- 80 CVs by hand
- minutes
- to score a stack of applicants
Estimates based on our own modelling against typical Australian retainer prices.
Who it's for
Built for your industry, not a corporate HR team.
No matter the industry or the types of everyday people challenges you face, HQ.ai has the answers.
Pubs and hospitality
Casuals, split shifts and the right penalty rates - answered without a phone call.
Cafes and restaurants
Rosters, junior pay and quick casual hiring - answered between services.
Trades and construction
Apprentice pay, notice periods and warnings - answered between jobs.
What this looks like for real
Pat ran an HR team of one. Now he has HQ.ai.
“I cancelled our $850 a month outsourced HR retainer in the second week. The HQ People Advisor answered my questions in minutes - the same questions I was put on a 20 minute hold for by my previous provider. And when we had two roles to fill, HQ Recruit did the sorting for us.”
Pat M., owner-operator, 38-person hospitality group, NSW.
- Saved ~10 hours a week on HR admin
- Cancelled the $850/mo retainer in week two
- Filled two roles in three days with HQ Recruit
Composite case based on early access customer interviews; details anonymised. Real-name testimonials shipping at v2.
The retainer trap
Don't lock into a multi-year contract for support you're not ready to use.
The same everyday HR and hiring support, minus the lock-in contract with exit penalties, and the wait. A fraction of the price. Cancel any time.
| HQ.ai | Traditional HR & recruitment retainer | DIY | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average monthly cost | From $59 | ~$850/mo | $0 (with risk) |
| Contract length | Cancel anytime | Multi-year lock-in (typical) | n/a |
| Pricing | Published, transparent | Quote on a sales call | n/a |
| Done in minutesAnswers you can act on, not a list of links to read. | Yes | Sometimes | No |
| Covers hiring too | Yes - full recruit suite | Usually extra | No |
Worth knowing: in 2020 the Federal Court ordered a $3 million penalty against a major Australian workplace-advice firm for unfair contract terms and misleading conduct. Always read the contract before you sign a multi-year retainer.
Sources: retainer pricing per public SmartCompany reporting; Federal Court penalty per the ACCC public record (accc.gov.au). Comparison is to a typical HR retainer, not any specific provider.
Plans
Pick what you need: HR, hiring, or both.
HR only with HQ People, hiring only with HQ Recruit, or both with HQ Business - the best-value way to get the lot. Unlimited logins on every plan, with no lock-in.
HR only
HQ People
The AI HR advisor for your everyday HR questions, plus the everyday HR jobs handled - no hiring tools.
$59/mo
$179/mo for a team up to 150 people
For a team up to 25 people, 400 AI actions a month.
- AI HR assistant for everyday questions
- Answers grounded in Australian workplace rules
- Set up around your industry and your award
- Unlimited logins
Hiring only
HQ Recruit
Post roles, screen and shortlist - hiring on its own, no HR subscription needed.
$65/mo
Hiring on its own, billed monthly. Go Pro for unlimited roles at $120/mo.
- CV scoring with evidence
- Video + phone interviews
- Campaign Coach job ads
- Pay only when you hire
HR + hiring
Best value
HQ Business
HR and hiring in one plan - the best-value way to get both.
$269/mo
For a team up to 150 people. Everything in HQ People and HQ Recruit, together.
- Everything in HQ People
- Everything in HQ Recruit
- Unlimited recruit roles (Business)
- Founder-led onboarding (Business)
Three minutes from here: create your account, answer a few questions about your business, start your plan. Unlimited logins on every plan - you are never charged per person.
Questions
The stuff you're wondering.
Will it actually save me time?
Yes. That's the whole point. A job that used to eat half a day - Googling, calling an advisor, waiting for a callback - takes three minutes here. We track it for every customer in their first month.
Why pay when I can just Google it?
Google gives you 47 American answers and a few Fair Work pages buried on page two. We give you the right answer for your business in 30 seconds, and show you where it comes from. Your time is worth more than $59 a month.
Can I trust the AI on real decisions?
Every answer is in plain English with the working shown, so you can sanity-check it yourself. And when it gets tricky, the same real advisor steps in - you never repeat yourself.
What does it cost?
Pick what you need. HQ People (HR help) is from $59 a month. HQ Recruit (hiring) is a $40 add-on. Or take the HQ Business bundle - $89 a month for a small team, $269 for a bigger one. Every plan has unlimited logins. Cancel any time.
Do you offer a dedicated advisor?
Yes. HR365 gives you a dedicated Humanistiqs HR advisor on call; Recruit365 is the recruitment equivalent. HR365 starts at $799 a month and includes 3 advisor hours, with extra time at $250 an hour. We only take on 10 in 2026. See our outsourced HR & recruitment page for more.
How long does setup take?
Three minutes. Sign up, tell us your industry, and we pick the right award for you and remember it. Nothing to install. The chat just works.
Where is my data stored?
In Sydney, on Australian servers. We follow the Australian Privacy Principles 1-13. We never sell it.
Why trust an Aussie startup over the big HR platforms?
Because we are built to help you make decisions - not to run payroll or sell you a panic-button contract. Different problem, different tool. And the same real advisor is there when the AI hits its limit, not a new person every call.
Three minutes. Better decisions today.
You'll have your first HR question answered and your team set up before the kettle boils.
Built for Australian workplaces. Hosted in Sydney. Made in Australia.