Making your first hire? Managing a growing team? I help neighborhood businesses handle hiring, compliance, and people challenges—without the big agency price tag.
Let's TalkMaking Your First Hire
Setting up to hire your first employee (or first five)? I'll help you create job descriptions, set up a simple interview process, write offer letters, and get onboarding right—so you can grow with confidence.
What you get: Job description templates, interview guides, offer letters, onboarding checklist, I-9 and tax form guidance.
The Basics You Can't Skip
Employee handbooks, required workplace policies, labor law essentials. I make sure you're covered on the legal stuff without drowning you in jargon or $10k legal fees.
What you get: Customized employee handbook, required NYC/NY workplace posters, anti-harassment policies, paid sick leave compliance, documentation best practices.
Your Part-Time HR Person
Dealing with a tough employee situation? Not sure how to handle a termination? Need advice on benefits or payroll vendors? I'm here for the questions that come up when you're running a business.
What you get: Monthly office hours, guidance on employee issues, termination planning, vendor recommendations, someone to call when things get complicated.
I partner with small business owners in Brooklyn who are building something that matters—whether you're a team of 1 or 25.
Making your first hire or building a small team (1-5 people). You need to get the basics right without spending a fortune.
You have 5-25 employees and things are working—but you're realizing you need actual HR systems and policies to protect yourself and your team.
You know you need HR support, but hiring a full-time HR person doesn't make sense yet. You need someone you can call when issues come up.
No surprise invoices. No enterprise contracts. Just straightforward support for small businesses.
One-Time Help
Job description, interview process, offer letter, onboarding plan
Customized handbook with all required NYC/NY policies
Documentation review, termination script, legal compliance check
Job descriptions, policy reviews, compliance audits, etc.
Ongoing Support
2 hours per month of support
Email, phone, or video calls
Use it for employee questions, policy reviews, hiring guidance
Roll over unused hours (up to 4 hours total)
Cancel anytime, no long-term contract
Pay As You Go
No commitment required
Use me when you need me
Minimum 1-hour increments
Perfect for one-off questions
I'm Sophie Malik, and I spent 15+ years building HR systems for companies going through hypergrowth—from 20-person startups to teams of 1,000+, through acquisitions and even IPOs.
I've seen what good HR infrastructure can do. And I've seen what happens when growing teams don't have it.
Now I'm focused on making that expertise accessible to the businesses that need it most: small businesses in Brooklyn who can't afford a $120k HR hire but still deserve solid people practices.
I work with neighborhood cafes, bookstores, professional services, local shops—the businesses that make our communities what they are. You shouldn't have to choose between doing right by your employees and being able to afford rent.
I also work as a career coach, helping people navigate career transitions and job searches. This work keeps me grounded in what people actually need—which makes me better at building systems that support them.
As the daughter of immigrants who's worked across the US, UK, and EU, I understand what it takes to build something from scratch—and I'm here to help you do it right, without the corporate overhead.
Based in Ditmas Park, working with small businesses across Brooklyn.
I believe the businesses that make our neighborhoods vibrant—the cafes where we get coffee, the bookstores where we browse, the shops we pop into on weekends—deserve the same quality HR support that venture-backed startups get.
If you're running a business in Brooklyn and trying to do right by your employees without breaking the bank, I'm here to help.
Currently working with businesses in:
Sometimes both! I handle the day-to-day HR stuff—hiring, policies, employee issues. But if you're facing a lawsuit or complex legal question, you need an employment lawyer. I can help you know when to call one (and recommend good ones).
Yes! Even small teams need basics like:
Getting this right from the start saves you from expensive problems later.
Most HR consultants target companies with 50+ employees who can afford $5-10k/month retainers. I specifically work with small businesses (1-25 people) who need solid HR practices but can't justify a full-time hire. I keep things simple, affordable, and jargon-free.
My focus is Brooklyn small businesses, but I occasionally work with clients elsewhere in NYC. Email me and let's talk.
Email me! If it's truly quick (5 minutes), I'll answer for free. If it needs more time, we can schedule a paid consultation or set up monthly office hours.
Running a small business in Brooklyn and need HR support?
Let's have a conversation about what you're building and how I can help.
First consultation is free
30 minutes to talk through your situation and see if we're a fit.
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