Kari Gras founded TogetHR Consulting to simplify HR for small businesses

Please share a brief introduction and tell us something about  your business, TogetHR Consulting:

My name is Kari Gras, and I founded TogetHR Consulting in September 2013. It began because I found myself suddenly unemployed - that's the nice HR way of saying I got fired.

I began my career in HR through the back door of learning payroll first, then benefit administration, and then as a Generalist in HR. I have earned my PHR and SHRM-CP. Now, I have a team of 5 other amazing and talented people who continue to deliver our services to clients we enjoy working with.

About me personally, I love yoga, sweaty HIIT workouts, all animals and creatures. For 3 months this winter (December through February), I'm living on our 45' Catamaran sailboat in the Caribbean islands, with my husband, while learning to wing foil. We also live in Florida for the rest of the winter months and live in Montana during the summer months.

I'm a breast cancer survivor and believe in natural remedies and health. I live a sober lifestyle and still know how to have fun!

Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

Definitely not! I always thought I would work outdoors in nature, with animals rather than people. I did for a short while until I found a career at a ski resort in Montana. Life is interesting with its twists and turns.

Take us back to when you launched? What was your marketing strategy?

Networking and started a lunch-n-learn program teaching HR topics for $25/person.

What is one thing you wish you had known when you started your Entreprenista journey?

How to best utilize all the resources and not feel overwhelmed.

When hiring, what is your go-to interview question?

Tell me about a time you had to be especially bold and honest in a work situation, despite the risks?

Another hiring tip: Be sure to always call references and inquire about their recent jobs as well. If they aren't listed as a reference, be sure to ask why and dig into the details.

What did you do before starting your own business?

My degree was in Outdoor Recreation with a minor in business and biology. After college, I moved to Vail, CO, and worked there for 2 years before moving to Big Sky, MT to work at the prestigious Yellowstone Club (if you're in the ski world, you know about this place). I became their Children's Director and had a team of 30 people reporting to me - ran the children's ski school, day care, night programs, and summer camps.

Then, I realized I no longer wanted to work 70+ hours each week on a salary ... I wanted my life back!

What's one app on your phone that you cannot live without?

YouTube! I use it every morning for my workouts and sometimes for meditation music.

Who are TogetHR Consulting customers?

We are focused on partnering and collaborating with business leaders to create a compliant and efficient HR structure who have between 5 and 50 employees.

We welcome clients to come as they are, while delivering our proven process to simplify your HR & payroll operations. Ultimately, taking clients from frustration to freedom.

What's your top productivity tip?

Time blocking tasks on my calendar - this provides time management and allows me to fully focus on the task at hand.

What's your favorite business tool?

Wave for my financials. It's a FREE bookkeeper software that allows me to send my invoices via email, and I can choose to accept credit cards (paying the fees), ACH, or other electronic means.

What's your approach to work-life balance?

Wake up and take care of me 1st - spiritual readings, workout, and meditation. If I don't care for myself, everything else falls apart. NEVER work more than 40 hours a week.

What advice do you have for aspiring Entreprenistas?

Networking is the key to my success! I didn't start paying for any marketing efforts until 2023 - 10 years after I started the business. Up to that point, almost all of my new clients came from referrals. Today, referrals make up about 80% of our business.

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