Hiring my first employee….Any advice?

[Stephen Mann]

There is an in-between solution that I’ve used quite successfully. Temp agencies. Sometimes I need someone for a month or more, (project specific) and I don’t want to become an HR manager – too many headaches or legal traps for me. I use a local temp employment agency for my hires.

Here’s how it works –

I contract with a local temp agency to employ my personnel. I advertise and interview my potential hires, and when I find one that I want working for me, I send them to the temp agency to process them. The employee (legally speaking) works for the temp agency, and I don’t have to become an HR manager. I pay the temp agency and the temp agency pays the employee.

Yes, the per-hour rate is higher (it’s about a 50% premium), but it’s scalable (more hires or higher pay rates get a better premium rate), it’s predictable and it’s a hell of a lot cheaper than hiring an HR manager. Plus, I am generally free from tax, FICA and workman’s comp issues.

In this economy, the temp agencies will cut their premium to the bone to manage your staff for you.

Steve Mann
MannMade Digital Video
http://www.mmdv.com

[Zane Barker]

Another thing you may want to consider instead of hiring a hilltime position is hiring a couple of part time people.

Why part time?

Well you may be able to pay them a little less as they are not living solely from what you are paying them. (and from what it sounds like you are not going to be offering a livable wage)

Another reason to hire part timers is you don’t have to offer health insurance or any other benefits to them. Those are things you need to offer a full time employee if you don’t want them bad talking you all over town. And I don’t think you understand how much those things will actualy cost you.

Hindsight is always 1080p