Is It Time to Bring Someone In to Help Me Grow?

A Factsheet from

You’re maxed out but scared to hire. What if the risk doesn’t pay off?

You’re fully booked. Orders are coming in faster than you can keep up. You’re turning work away, losing evenings, missing weekends. Friends say, “Just hire someone.”

What if it costs more than it earns, they don’t do things your way, the admin is a nightmare?

These are valid concerns but growing alone only gets you so far. Bringing in help, if done right, can take your business from surviving to sustainable.

Start with the numbers
Do you have consistent income to cover another wage? Could a helper free you to take on more work or higher-value tasks? The figures tell the story.

Run the scenarios:

• If they handle X hours/week, could you serve Y more clients?
• Could you switch from £15/hr tasks to £50/hr ones?

✅ Try a simple calculator or ask your accountant to model this for you

Consider starting small
Hiring doesn’t mean full-time straight away. You could:

• Use a freelancer
• Bring in someone a few hours a week
• Offer a fixed-term project role

This gives you flexibility without long-term pressure.

Be clear on what you need
Write a list of tasks you want to delegate, not just general help.

Think:

• Admin and inbox management
• Social media scheduling
• Packing and shipping
• Accounts and invoicing

Clear expectations mean better results and less frustration for both of you.

Understand your responsibilities
Once you employ someone (even part-time), you take on legal obligations, including:

• Registering with HMRC
• Paying at least National Minimum Wage
• Providing a written statement of employment
• Paying employer’s National Insurance

✅ Learn more: Employing staff for the first time – GOV.UK

Trial periods and training help
Offer a 3-month trial to see how it works. Invest time upfront in training even if it feels like a time drain.

The right person will repay that tenfold.

Hire for attitude, train for skills
You want someone who cares, learns fast, and works with your values. Experience helps but chemistry and mindset matter more.

Let go to grow
No one will do it exactly like you. That’s OK. Delegate the “how” as well as the “what.” Focus on outcomes, not micro-managing.

Growth is uncomfortable but is burnout much worse.

Register at http://www.business111.com for more factsheets By Liz Barclay