Your first hire changes the business more than any other. It is the moment you stop doing everything yourself. Take it step by step, and check the legal basics before you make an offer.
Is it time?
- You regularly turn down work, or deliver late.
- The same tasks keep you from the work that grows the business.
- You could pay a salary for several months, even in a slow period.
- You know exactly what the person would do each week.
If you cannot say what they would do on a Tuesday, it is not time yet.
Decide what to hire for
Look at your week. Which tasks take the most time and need you the least? Those are usually your first hire's job: admin, customer service, bookkeeping, delivery of a core service.
Hire someone to do what you should not be doing, not to do what you are best at.
Try a freelancer first
If you are not sure, hire a freelancer or part-timer for a few months. You will learn how much work there really is, and how to hand it over. Many first employees started as freelancers.
Check the legal basics
Employing someone comes with legal duties, and they differ a lot by country. Common ones:
- Registering as an employer.
- Setting up payroll and paying employment taxes.
- A written contract or statement of terms.
- Checking the person's right to work.
- Insurance that covers employees.
- Rules on minimum pay, working hours and holidays.
Check your government's guidance for new employers, and consider an hour with an accountant or employment advisor before you make an offer.
Write the job description
Say what the job is for, what they will do each week and what you need from them. Be honest about what it is like to work in a small business. There is a full guide to writing a job description.
Find and choose
- Ask your network first. Many first hires come from someone you know.
- Post where your candidates look: local job boards, industry groups, LinkedIn.
- Use a small paid test. A short, paid task close to the real work tells you more than an interview.
- Look for comfort with change. In a small business, the job will grow and shift.
Plan their first weeks
A good first hire can still fail with a bad start. Prepare their tools, write down how the main tasks are done and plan their first month. There is an onboarding checklist you can follow.
Then talk often. Weekly check-ins at first, honest feedback both ways. See how to give feedback to an employee and how to delegate tasks.