As someone who currently has a team of 15+ employees, my only regret was not making that first hire sooner in my business. As a handmade business owner, you might have trouble giving up control as you started this business on your own, as a solopreneuer, and accepting that you need to hire help isn’t easy. But, it is essential if you want to continue to grow and scale your business.
There is only so much one person can do, no matter how quickly you work or how awesome you are!
When is it time to hire?
One of the biggest questions I hear people ask is “how do I know it’s time to hire someone?” and honestly, if you are asking that question - the time is probably now.
If you are feeling overwhelmed, letting things fall between the cracks and missing out on opportunities because you are just too busy, it’s time to hire help.
It is a big step for any business owner to make that leap from solopreneur to CEO and lead a team, but most people agree that their only regret is not doing it sooner. The sooner you outsource or hire a team member, the sooner you can focus on what you love to do and have more time for a better work-life balance.
Independent Contractors vs. Employees
Legally speaking, there are huge differences between hiring an independent contractor and an employee. If you hire an independent contractor, they are assisting you with certain tasks and are running their own business. They dictate when they work, and how.
However, when you hire a employee, you set the terms, policies and procedures, and their workload. You do have more responsibilities when it comes to legal regulations, payroll, paying taxes, and handling employee issues that might pop up.
The employee route isn’t as scary as it might seem right off the bat, but it’s important to do things right from the start and the best advice I can give is to research your state and country laws and legal obligations to start the employer process.
How to Find the Right Team Member
Finding the right team member makes all the difference. If you want long term employees that are loyal to your business and create a work environment filled with positivity, you want to start by finding the right people.
Ask yourself some important questions and dig deep about what you want this role and working relationship to look like:
- What skills and qualities does your perfect team member have?
- How much training will they need and how much are you willing to provide?
- How many hours will you want them to work per week?
- What is a competitive hourly starting wage for the role and responsibilities?
Building a Team and Stepping into a Role of CEO
When you begin hiring employees and building a team, you’ll find that you need to step into a leadership role as CEO. You need to start thinking about struggles and issues you might not have thought about previously.
You’ll need to start having some hard conversations as things might pop up with employees. This is just another step in building and scaling a successful brand and business. Set your policies, be firm, but always focus on creating a positive working environment.
You’ve got this, CEO!
