Independent HR Tech Advisory · Mid-Market

I negotiate against vendors.
Not for them.

Houdersheldt Consulting is a fee-only advisory for HR leaders who are done with "free" guidance that's quietly funded by the vendor it ends up recommending. You pay me. The vendor doesn't.

Flagship Engagement

HR Tech Selection & Advisory

An 8-week, fixed-scope engagement that takes you from "we need new HR tech" to a signed contract you actually negotiated well.

8Weeks, Start to Signature
0%Vendor Commission, Ever
1Advisor at the Table — Yours
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The Problem With "Free"

If the advice is free, ask who's actually paying for it.

Most HR tech "advisors" are paid by the platforms they recommend — through referral fees or reseller partnerships. That arrangement doesn't make them dishonest. It makes their incentives different from yours.

Question
Free Advisory
Houdersheldt
Who pays the advisor?
The vendor, via commission
You, directly
Whose interest comes first?
Whoever pays the highest commission
Yours, by contract
Will they tell you to walk away from a bad-fit platform?
Rarely — that's lost revenue for them
Always, if the fit is wrong
Do they negotiate your contract terms?
Sometimes — and not always in your favor
Yes — pricing, terms, and SLAs, on your behalf
What happens after the contract is signed?
The relationship usually ends
Available for renewal & renegotiation cycles
How It Works

Eight weeks. Three phases. One negotiated outcome.

HR Tech Selection & Advisory is a fixed-scope engagement — not an open-ended retainer. You know what happens, in what order, and when it ends.

01 Weeks 1–2

Discovery & Requirements

We map what's actually broken, not just what's annoying.

  • Stakeholder interviews across HR, Finance & IT
  • Current-state systems & contract audit
  • Must-haves vs. nice-to-haves, ranked
  • Budget reality check before any vendor sees a thing
02 Weeks 3–6

Vendor Evaluation & Scoring

A structured process, so the best demo doesn't win — the best fit does.

  • Shortlist built from requirements, not sales decks
  • Weighted scorecard across cost, fit & risk
  • Structured demos & reference calls
  • A recommendation you can defend to your CFO
03 Weeks 7–8

Contract Negotiation

This is the part most advisors skip. It's the part I do myself.

  • Pricing & multi-year escalator negotiation
  • Implementation & SLA terms
  • Exit clauses & data-portability terms
  • I sit on calls with the vendor — not just you
Working Together

Three ways in, depending on where you are.

Every engagement is fee-only and scoped up front. No commissions, no revenue share, no surprise fees from a vendor on the back end.

Step 1

Diagnostic

A focused session to answer one question honestly: is now even the right time to switch systems?

Flat fee · one session
  • Current-state systems review
  • Go / no-go recommendation
  • Credited toward a full engagement
Start Here
Ongoing

Advisory Retainer

For HR leaders managing multiple systems, vendors, or an upcoming renewal cycle that needs a second set of eyes.

Monthly · cancel anytime
  • Renewal & renegotiation support
  • On-call vendor & contract review
  • Priority access between engagements
Ask About Retainer
Who This Is For

Built for HR leaders in the messy middle.

Mid-market companies don't get the white-glove treatment enterprise accounts get, or the simplicity small companies enjoy. You're big enough for real stakes and small enough that one bad contract really hurts.

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Why Houdersheldt

"I spent years inside enterprise HR tech, building the exact pricing and partnership programs I now help clients see through. I know where the margin sits — and what a vendor will concede if you just ask the right way."

Before going independent, I worked vendor-side in HR technology, partnering directly with CFOs, accountants, and HR consultants on the deals that got signed. That's the seat I sat in. Now I sit on the other side of the table — for you.

Houdersheldt Consulting exists because that seat shouldn't be for sale. No vendor pays me a dime, which means nothing I recommend is shaped by what pays best. Just what works best for your company.

— Brooks, Founder

Ready When You Are

Stop paying for advice that isn't really free.

Book a diagnostic session. We'll figure out together whether now's the right time — no commission riding on the answer.

Book a Diagnostic