Last Updated on March 15, 2024 by Treana Wunsch
Are you thinking of hiring help for your small business? It can be an overwhelming decision to make, but knowing what to do before you hire help, makes is easier.
Before bringing on a new employee, or any type of external help, there are certain things that you should have in place. In this article, we’ll cover all the important things you need to consider before taking on extra help for your small business.
Mission Statement
I believe that before anyone is hired to help out with a small business, there must be a clear mission statement in place. This will provide guidance on what the business stands for as well as how the company should be operated. The mission statement should include values that align with the goals of the company and set expectations for employees.
Additionally, it should reflect both short-term and long-term objectives that are achievable and meaningful. Finally, it should be specific enough so that everyone involved in running the business can understand and follow it easily.
Having an organized mission statement can also help potential employees get a better idea of what they would be entering into when joining your team. It provides insight into the culture of your small business – whether you prioritize customer service or innovation – which can give them an understanding of what their work experience might look like if they decide to join.
With this knowledge, potential hires can make more informed decisions about whether or not working at your business is right for them before committing to anything long-term.
Vision Statement
A vision statement is an important part of any small business. It should be created before hiring additional help, as it will provide clarity and direction to employees.
The vision statement should reflect the core values, mission and goals of the business. It should also act as a guide for decision-making, provide motivation for employees, and give customers an insight into the company’s purpose.
The best vision statements are concise yet powerful – they should inspire action and create excitement about what the organization can achieve in the future. They should also be realistic enough that everyone involved in the business can easily understand them and strive towards them together.
A good way to craft a successful vision statement is by asking questions that define what success looks like for your particular business – such as:
“What do we want our customers to say about us?” or “What kind of impact do we want to have on our community?”
This type of questioning will help narrow down your focus while creating inspiring goals that everyone can work towards together.
Automate
Automation should be an integral part of any small business. By automating processes, businesses can save time and money while improving efficiency. Before hiring help for your small business, there are a few key things that you should automate first.
One of the most important aspects to automate is customer support. Automated customer service solutions like chatbots can provide customers with quick and efficient responses to their queries. Additionally, automated customer service tools can reduce response times drastically, allowing businesses to better serve their customers without having to hire additional staff members.
It’s also important to automate mundane or repetitive tasks such as filing paperwork or scheduling meetings so that employees don’t have to waste valuable time on these tasks. Automation tools like Zapier or IFTTT allow businesses to connect various software programs so common tasks can be done in one click instead of having someone manually do them each time they arise. Having automation in place makes it easier for employees to focus on more meaningful work and increases productivity overall throughout the company.
For a list of my favourite automation tools click here.
Workflows and Processes
Workflows and processes are essential in any small business. Before hiring help, it is important to have clear expectations and comprehensive workflows in place so employees can hit the ground running. These should include organizational tools like task templates, reporting systems and a document repository for easy access to necessary information. It’s also important to establish a timeline for project completion, as well as an approval process so that all stakeholders can sign off on work before it is finalized.
Additionally, adding an automated system for tracking progress helps ensure that everyone is kept up-to-date on the status of each task or project. Finally, having a central communication hub where feedback can be shared quickly keeps teams on track and projects running smoothly.
Instruction Manuals
Having the right instruction manuals in place before you hire help for your business is essential. It should include detailed information about all of your products, services, and processes. This will help new employees quickly understand what’s expected of them and how they can best contribute to the company’s success.
Instruction manuals should also include proper safety guidelines, as well as any rules or regulations that must be followed while performing their work. Additionally, it should provide step-by-step instructions on how to use any tools or equipment related to their job duties. By having a comprehensive instruction manual on hand before hiring an employee, you can ensure that they have all the necessary information needed to carry out their role efficiently and successfully.
Employee handbook
An employee handbook is an essential document for any small business. It outlines the company policies and procedures, as well as the rights and responsibilities of both employer and employees. A comprehensive handbook should include information on attendance, safety protocols, workplace expectations, benefits, harassment policies and grievance procedures.
Having a clearly written employee handbook can help to ensure that your staff are aware of their rights as well as their obligations to the business. This in turn can reduce misunderstandings between employers and employees and increase workplace productivity.
In addition to providing clear guidance for employees on expected behaviours, an employee handbook can also serve as a legal document outlining the terms of employment for all personnel at your small business.
Determine the tasks you need the most help with
Before hiring help for your small business, it’s important to determine which tasks you need the most help with. One way to do this is by creating a list of all the tasks that you need assistance with.
Once you have a comprehensive list, rate each task’s importance on a scale of one to five; with one being the least critical and five being the most essential. This will allow you to prioritize and focus on what needs attention first.
Additionally, it’s helpful to break down each task into smaller components so you can more easily identify which parts are manageable for yourself and others. Consider areas such as administrative duties, customer service, marketing efforts and financial management when making your list. Taking these steps will ensure that you make an informed decision about what kind of help is necessary for your business needs.
Create Clear Job Descriptions
Creating clear job descriptions for new hires is essential when you’re a small business. Not only does this give you and the candidate a better understanding of what the role entails and expectations, but it also helps protect you from legal issues.
Job descriptions should include an overview of the job title, duties, qualifications, desired skills and experience, compensation structure (if applicable), and reporting structure. Be sure to use plain language that accurately describes the role in detail so that potential candidates can understand what they would be doing if hired.
Additionally, make sure to update job descriptions with changing responsibilities or roles as needed in order to keep them accurate and up-to-date. Lastly, while creating job descriptions may take some time upfront on your part as a business owner or manager, it will save you time in the long run by giving potential applicants more information about what is expected of them before applying for a position.
Establish a Budget
Creating a budget is one of the most important steps to take before hiring help for your small business. A budget will tell you how much money is available for wages and other expenses, such as supplies or equipment. The best way to create a budget is to list all planned expenses, then compare that total with the amount of revenue generated by your business.
This will give you an idea of how much can be allocated toward wages and other expenses. When creating a budget, it’s important to account for unexpected costs like repairs or taxes so you don’t get caught off guard down the line.
Additionally, make sure you have enough reserve funds to cover unanticipated needs in case something comes up. Having an accurate budget in place helps prepare your business for success when moving forward with hiring help. Not having proper cash flow is the number one reason businesses fail. Read more about Cash Flow here.
Establish a Timeline
It is important to establish a timeline for when you plan to hire help for your small business. First, you need to decide how much help you will need and the type of roles that will be open for hire. This could include administrative staff, salespeople, graphic designers or customer service personnel. Once these roles have been determined it is time to decide on a timeline of when you want them filled.
When setting the timeline consider factors such as the current workload versus future forecasted workload and budget constraints in order to make sure that hiring goals are achievable within your planned timeframe. Additionally, if there are any delays or changes needed in order to meet this timeline they should be taken into account while also leaving time for any unexpected developments that may arise during the process of recruitment and onboarding.
Curate a New Employee Package
When hiring a new employee, it is important to create an attractive job package that will make their employment worth their while. This includes developing a competitive salary, offering benefits such as health insurance and paid vacation time, and creating opportunities for professional development.
Additionally, curating an employee package involves making sure the office environment is comfortable and inviting. Providing access to amenities like coffee or snack machines, or even something as simple as a cozy breakroom with comfortable furniture can boost morale and help employees feel valued. Of course, if the employees are working remotely this won’t be necessary.
Finally, implementing programs such as flexible work hours or telecommuting can be beneficial for both the employer and the employee. Doing so allows employers to attract top talent from around the world while also giving employees more freedom in their day-to-day lives. By taking these steps when creating a new employee package, small business owners can set themselves up for success in attracting quality talent that will help grow their business.
Decide on a Recruiting Strategy
Once you’ve decided what type of help you need, it’s time to decide on your recruiting strategy. It’s important to think through all the ways in which you can find potential employees or contractors, such as using referrals from existing staff or customers, using online job boards like Indeed or LinkedIn, attending career fairs and networking events, and even cold-calling prospective applicants.
Consider what methods could work best for the type of position you’re looking to fill. For example, if the role requires a specific skill set or industry experience then attending career fairs may be more beneficial than simply posting a job ad online.
Furthermore, taking advantage of referral networks can help ensure that candidates are well suited for the role as they come recommended by someone who is familiar with their skillset and capabilities.
Additionally, consider whether offering an incentive for successful referrals could further boost your recruitment efforts. When selecting your recruitment strategy it is important to consider factors such as cost-effectiveness and speed – do some research into each option before deciding which one is right for you!
That's All Folks...
If you are thinking about hiring help for your small business, make sure to take the necessary steps to prepare for success. Create a company profile that outlines your mission and vision, decide on the roles and responsibilities of the employees, establish a budget and timeline and create clear job descriptions.
In my next article, I’ll teach you how to set up an onboarding process for new employees so keep an eye out for that!
In my article, How to Hire Your First Employee, I go into employment law and describe what needs to be done during the hiring process.
Thanks so much for reading! Let me know if I missed anything by commenting below!
