When to add a lead, a foreman, or a second crew
Most shops add a manager too late and a second crew too early. The order matters.
Lead before manager, manager before crew
A working lead (still on the tools, but accountable for the crew) is almost always the right next role. A full manager who doesn't touch the work is a later, bigger bet.
Promote the right behavior, not the longest tenure
Your best technician is often your worst manager. Look for the person other crew members already ask questions. That's your lead.
A second crew needs a self-sufficient first crew
If crew one still needs you for daily decisions, crew two will just double the chaos. Stabilize before you split.
Take your version of this question further
This is one operator-tested angle on the question. Your shop, your size, your trade, and your team change the answer. Ask your specific version inside Ask a Shop Owner to get a response grounded in how owners like you actually handled it.