Hiring
Hiring questions, answered.
Firing, hiring, raises, and the people questions every owner loses sleep over.
Should I fire my employee?
If you have already had the direct conversation and nothing changed, yes. If you have not, have it this week and decide after.
How do I fire an employee respectfully?
Short meeting. Plain words. Same-day exit. Treat them the way you would want a friend treated.
When should I hire my first employee?
When you are visibly turning away work you would have taken last year, not when you are tired.
How much should I pay my first employee?
Slightly above local market for the role, so you can be picky and they stay.
Should I give my employee a raise?
If they are worth more than you are paying them, yes, before they ask. If they are not, don't, even if they ask.
Should I hire a family member?
Only if you would hire them as a stranger, and only with a job description and a boss who isn't you.
Where do I find good employees?
Through your existing team and your existing customers. Job boards are last resort, not first stop.
What should I ask in a job interview?
Behavioral questions about actual past work. Skip the brainteasers and the gotchas.
How do I know I made a bad hire?
First 30 days. Late, defensive, or quietly resenting feedback. Trust those signals.
Should I hire a salesperson?
Only after you have a written sales process that you have run yourself. Otherwise you're hiring someone to fix what you don't understand.
Should I pay my team commissions?
Only when the behavior you're paying for is the behavior you actually want, and you can measure it cleanly.
Should I pay someone 1099 or W2?
If you control how, when, and where they work, they are W2 no matter what you call them.
What do I tell the team after firing someone?
One sentence, no story. 'X is no longer with us. Here is how we will cover the work.' Then move on.
How do I train someone to sell my service?
Ride-alongs first, scripts second, role-play third. Don't put them in front of a customer in week one.
Should I hire help or raise prices instead?
Raise prices first. If you're still drowning at the new price, then hire.
How do I handle an employee asking for a raise?
Don't decide in the meeting. Thank them, ask what they're basing it on, and give a real answer within a week.
What do I do when an employee quits?
Thank them, ask what would have made them stay, and decide in 24 hours whether to counteroffer. Most counteroffers fail.
Should I run a background check before hiring?
Yes for anyone with a key, a code, a customer's home, or your cash. No surprises later are worth a $40 check today.
How do I onboard a new hire so they actually stick?
Day one is about belonging. First 30 days are about clear wins. Don't throw them in the deep end and call it training.
How do I handle two employees who can't get along?
Get them in the same room, name the impact on the team, and tell them to fix it. If they can't, the one who's harder to replace stays.
What do I do about a no-call no-show?
First time, talk to them when they're back. Second time, they're done. Don't drift.
When should I hire a second in command?
When you have something the business needs to grow into and you can't get there because you're stuck running it day to day.