2025 Startup Checklist: HR and Talent Management 

Building the right startup team is key to success. We sat down with Maci Mattson, HR and administration manager at Blumberg Capital, to get her advice for startup founders and HR leaders as 2024 wraps up. Maci partners with Blumberg Capital portfolio companies to provide HR and talent support throughout their startup journey.

In the fast-paced world of early-stage startups, where agility and resourcefulness are the norm, year-end checklists for HR and talent management may seem like an unnecessary formality. However, they are far from it. A well-thought-out checklist can be the secret weapon that keeps your startup on track, compliant, and ready to scale. 

A year-end HR checklist for early-stage founders and teams should include:

Compliance and Legal

• Review Employment Laws and Updates: Ensure compliance with any new labor laws, tax regulations, and employee benefit rules. Make sure policies and employee handbooks are up to date to reflect legal changes. This is especially important for employers with employees in multiple states/locations.
• Finalize Employee Tax Forms: Verify that W-2s (US) or equivalent forms are prepared for employees.
• Confirm Payroll Deadlines: Double-check payroll and tax deposit schedules. Oftentimes, the pay day will fall on a holiday. Double check with your payroll system to see if the dates need to be adjusted. 
• Audit Employee Files: Confirm all employee documents (I-9s, employee offer letters, contracts, etc.) are complete and up to date in the employee’s file.

Benefits and Compensation

• Review Benefits Renewals: Confirm health insurance, retirement plans, and other benefits are up to date.
• Conduct Compensation Reviews: Evaluate salary adjustments and bonuses, ensuring alignment with the budget.
• Distribute Year-End Bonus Payments: Ensure bonuses are calculated, budgeted for, approved, and distributed appropriately.

Recruiting

• Assess Hiring Metrics: Review time-to-hire, cost-per-hire, and success rates of recruiting channels.
• Plan for Key Hires: Identify critical roles for next year and set hiring priorities.
• Streamline Processes: Update job descriptions, interview guides, and applicant tracking workflows.
• Engage with Candidates: Stay in touch with high-potential candidates who were not hired. Warm pipelines keep top talent engaged! 

HR Planning

• Establish and Conduct Performance Reviews: Ensure employees receive timely feedback and development plans.
• Set HR Goals: Establish key objectives for the next year in alignment with organizational strategy.
• Plan HR and Hiring Budgets: Balance growth plans with financial constraints.
• Assess HR Tech Needs: Consider adopting tools for payroll, performance reviews, or recruiting as your team grows.

Employee Engagement and Culture

• Conduct Employee Surveys: Gather feedback on engagement, culture, and satisfaction. Use Google Forms as an easy way to create these surveys!
• Recognize Employee/Team Contributions: Celebrate employees’ contributions with awards or recognition programs. (they can be as simple and low cost as team shout outs or handwritten notes!)
• Align on Culture Goals: Reflect on whether your team culture supports your company mission and values.

Administrative Tasks

• Update Employee Directory: Ensure contact information and organizational charts are current.
• Archive Old Documents: Safely store past-year documents and declutter outdated records.
• Update Org Chart: Reflect team changes and forecast headcount for next year.
• Ensure Compliance with Equity Plans: Verify cap table and employee equity agreements are current.
• Review Vendor Relationships: Reassess contracts with recruiters, payroll providers, and benefits vendors.

For early-stage startups, year-end HR and talent checklists are more than a formality—they are a strategic tool to build a strong, compliant, and resilient organization. They help startups align their team and processes with their business goals while setting the stage for sustainable growth. By dedicating time to HR and talent checklists now, startups can avoid costly missteps and position themselves for success in the fast-paced startup world. After all, in a startup, your people are your greatest asset—and managing them effectively is your greatest opportunity.