Office address: 100 University Avenue, Toronto, ON M5J 1V6
Website: www.castle-hr.com
Year established: 2019
Company type: human resources services
Employees: 18+
Expertise: fractional HR, technology, healthcare, finance, non-profit, manufacturing, retail, professional services, HR support, employee policies, outsourced HR, employee handbooks, employee policybooks, SaaS HR, turnover reduction, performance reviews, values, surveys, modern HR, advice, employee engagement, compensation reviews
Parent company: N/A
Key people: Tom Nickalls (CEO), Robyn Leduc (head of HR), Warren Ip (head of customer success), MaryLisa Forsyth (senior HR business partner), Lindsay Schultz (senior HR BP), Anna Boshoer (senior HR BP), Mike Daser (senior HR BP)
Financing status: N/A
Castle HR, a Toronto-based fractional HR firm, provides modern HR strategies to help startups and small-to-medium businesses (SMBs) scale efficiently. With a team of 18 employees, the company serves over 200 companies across North America, generating over $6 million in revenue in 2024. Its seasoned professionals implement proven strategies to create high-performing teams, improve retention, and foster business growth.
Castle HR was founded in 2019 by Tom Nickalls, driven by his passion to address HR challenges faced by startups and small businesses. After being let go from his tech career, Nickalls realized many companies lacked HR expertise, inspiring him to create a solution. Extensive research led to the development of the company’s Modern HR services, built to fill the gaps in the market.
By 2021, the company reached $650,000 in annual recurring revenue (ARR) and continued to grow, surpassing $1.6 million in 2022. The firm has since helped hundreds of businesses scale through innovative HR strategies. In 2024, it achieved $6 million in ARR, solidifying its place as a trusted partner for HR leadership.
Castle HR offers a range of services designed to enhance company culture and performance:
Castle HR offers subscription-based HR services, providing access to top Canadian HR professionals with over a decade of experience. Clients benefit from the company’s Modern HR Roadmap and data-backed Impact Scorecard, ensuring measurable results. Its consultations are free, and services can be cancelled at any time.
It fosters a remote-first work environment, allowing employees to enjoy flexibility and a strong work-life balance. The team collaborates effectively across different time zones, embracing technology to achieve shared goals. The company values inclusivity, diversity, and autonomy, promoting a supportive culture where employees thrive in their roles by providing:
Castle HR selects team members based on their expertise, alignment with company culture, and passion for helping businesses reach their goals.
The company specializes in fractional HR for small to mid-sized businesses in Canada and the USA, helping them scale efficiently. Their philosophy is rooted in five core principles for success:
Its team members describe the company as a supportive and collaborative environment, where continuous learning and growth are highly valued. Employees appreciate the fast-paced work environment and the wealth of knowledge shared among experienced coworkers. The staff enjoys working together, learning from one another, and always having access to helpful resources.
Tom Nickalls is the founder and CEO of Castle HR where he leads sales and develops innovative Modern HR strategies. Previously, he was an inside sales manager at Peninsula Canada, a business development director at Unhaggle, and a co-founder at Mobile Capital Network. With over 20 years of experience, Nickalls has founded two companies, generated over $50 million in sales, and built a thriving sales team.
Its team of key people is composed of experienced professionals dedicated to reaching client success, including:
Castle HR’s strong focus on customer satisfaction, reflected in its impressive NPS score of 83, has been a key driver of client growth. By maintaining high-quality services and leveraging customer loyalty, the company plans to continue building the business through client referrals. As the team grows and more businesses benefit from their expertise, Castle HR expects to keep expanding and helping even more companies succeed.
The company recently revamped its quarterly planning process, breaking it into shorter, more focused sessions to improve decision-making. This change led to better team collaboration and clearer goals, resulting in more effective outcomes. The organization continues to achieve strong results in its operations by consistently refining its approach and prioritizing client satisfaction.
