If you’re a startup entrepreneur, at some point you may want to hire an employee to help out. Hiring an employee is a critical step in building your business (should that be the direction you’re heading in). However, it’s important to really plan for your new hire and to take your time in the process. This can help to alleviate stress and help with your company’s cash flow.
Logan Chierotti is an entrepreneur and startup expert who has experience in brand management, SEO and business development. The following are some questions to think about for solo entrepreneurs who are thinking about hiring their first employee.
Ask yourself: Can I still do this myself?
It’s important to determine up front whether you’re capable of doing everything yourself—the sales, the marketing, the customer service, etc. Going it alone can be very stressful and time consuming, but can definitely help to keep the overhead at its lowest during the early stages of your startup. When you reach the point where you can’t do it all, it is probably time to hire someone.
Ask yourself: Do I know what I want out of this employee?
Remember that hiring is like making a purchase—something you do to fill a specific need in your life. Ideally, you would hire someone who has different strengths than you and who would have specific tasks and goals to complete from Day One. If you hire someone simply to ‘help out around the office’ you won’t be getting the most out of this person. Creating specific job descriptions and training manuals will greatly help you to stay organized and make the most out of your new hire.
Are you thinking about hiring an employee? If yes, have you asked yourself the above questions? If you have multiple employees in your firm, what was your criteria for hiring your first employee(s)?
For more information on this topic, please visit: http://www.inc.com/logan-chierotti/are-you-ready-to-make-your-first-hire.html
Thanks for reading, and until next time… stay WISE!
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