Hire your first employee when your own time limits sales or quality, the work is steady and recurring, and revenue covers the role's full cost. Start with the role that frees your time for what only you can do, such as selling and managing key customer relationships.
Step by step
- 1
Watch for the signs
Orders you turn down or deliver late, quality slipping, and time lost on tasks that do not need your expertise.
- 2
Decide what you will hand over
Write down the tasks you will pass to the employee, and what they must achieve in their first six months.
- 3
Calculate the full cost
Salary, the employer's social insurance share where it applies, tools and training time, and compare it with the revenue or time you will gain.
- 4
Consider the alternatives
If the work is irregular or temporary, a freelancer, a part-time hire or an outside provider may be enough until the volume is steady.
- 5
Set up the legal basics
A written employment contract, social insurance registration where the law in your country requires it, and a clear job description.
- 6
Choose carefully and support the start
Your first employee shapes the culture for everyone who follows, so choose through practical tasks and set aside time to train them in the first weeks.
Putting off hiring until the owner is overwhelmed leads to a rushed choice of the nearest candidate. Start searching early, before you reach the limit of your capacity.
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