How to Hire Your First Employee Without Losing Sleep Over It

You are too busy to do everything yourself.

But hiring someone feels scary. What if there is not enough work? What if they are not good? What if it costs more than you make?

These are real fears. But staying solo when you are overwhelmed costs you more than hiring does.

A study by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business found that the number one barrier to growth for small trades businesses is labour. Not money. Not customers. People.

You already have the customers. You just need the help.

When you are ready to hire

You are ready when you are turning down work. Not when you are a little busy. When you are actually saying no to jobs because you do not have the bandwidth.

That is the sign. Not a feeling. Actual turned down revenue.

How to find good people

The best hires come from people you already know. Ask your suppliers. Ask other trades. Ask your existing customers if they know anyone looking for work.

Job boards work but they take longer and the quality is more unpredictable.

What to pay

Look up the going rate in your area for the trade and experience level you need. Pay at the market rate or slightly above. Underpaying saves you $2 an hour and costs you $20 an hour in turnover, training, and missed jobs.

What to watch out for

Hire slow. The temptation when you are busy is to hire the first person who shows up. Take your time. One bad hire on a small crew damages everything from morale to customer relationships.

The simple version

Hire when you are turning down work. Pay fairly. Take your time finding the right person. One good hire who sticks around is worth ten bad ones you cycle through. Your business cannot grow past you unless you build a team.