The whole category in one page.
THE QUESTION FIRST
Do you want to manage people?
Growing changes what you do: from doing the work to managing others doing it. Many owners dislike that and discover it too late.
A business that supports you well at a size you can manage alone is a legitimate outcome.
TRY THESE BEFORE HIRING
Raise prices. Stop doing unprofitable work. Automate administration.
All increase profit without adding complexity.
THE TEST OF READINESS
Can you pay them through a bad month?
Hiring on projected revenue that has not arrived is how businesses fail.
DOCUMENT BEFORE YOU DELEGATE
You cannot hand over what is not written down.
If you cannot describe the role, you are not ready to fill it.
WHAT IT ACTUALLY COSTS
The wage, plus obligations, equipment, your training time, and your management time indefinitely.
Budget more than you expect for the first months.
WHAT TO HAND OVER FIRST
The work that takes most time and least judgement.
Not customer relationships or pricing.
WHAT MATTERS MOST ONCE THEY ARE THERE
Paying on time, every time. Clear standards with examples. Prompt, specific feedback.
THE HONEST MEASURE
Profit, not revenue. And whether your own hours actually fell.
