If you’re running a small business, you will discover that, at some point, you’re simply not able to take on all of the work that’s on your plate alone. You may look to the prospect of hiring new members to the team but, if you haven’t done it before, it can be pretty daunting. Here, we’re going to look at a few questions you should answer to ensure that you’re ready.
Do you really need to hire someone?
The first thing you need to consider is whether or not you really need to welcome new members to the team. Consider the labor that you need to have done for you and whether or not there is enough to fill a full-time position. In many cases, as with marketing, accounting, and the like, the needs of a small business could just as easily be taken care of by an outsourced service provider. Outsourcing can be a lot cheaper than hiring, initially.
Are you ready to manage them alone?
If you’re looking at hiring your first few employees, then you may not have managers to relay your wishes and help run the day-to-day operations of the team. Moving from being a sole business owner and operator to a leadership position can be tough. By taking the time to hire a people director, you can not only make hiring the right people easier, but you can learn about how to operate as the head of a team, as well. You might also want to look at business leadership courses that can help you learn about managing motivation and dealing with difficult employee situations.
Where are they going to work?
You need to consider the workspace, if you have one, and how it may need to change to accommodate your new employees. If you’re working from home, you can run your business remotely, but you need to address the challenges of communication and accountability that come with that. Otherwise, are you willing and able to move your operations into an office and make sure that your team members have the space and equipment that they need to do their job effectively?
Are you ready to handle the responsibilities of being an employer?
Managing your team and directing them to work is only one of your responsibilities. There are other things that you need to take care of, such as ensuring that your payroll is operational and working, that you have considered the necessity of an HR process in your business, and that any work place you may or may not provide is safe and healthy for your team to work in. You need to take a closer look at employment law in your area to ensure that you’re not missing any other duties you have to fulfil, too.
Hiring new team members is a big decision, so it’s one you should ensure that you’re ready to make. With the tips above, you can be a little more sure of whether or not it’s time to expand.