How do I know when it's time to hire my first employee?
Tech Help Canada Answer
Answered by Gabriel Nwatarali on July 21, 2026.
When the cost of not hiring is higher than the cost of hiring.
If you’re turning down work, missing deadlines, or your customer experience is slipping because you can’t keep up, you’re already past the point.
Check whether your cash flow can support the full cost of the role, including salary, employer costs, equipment, and training, while the new hire gets up to speed. Revenue alone does not tell you whether a hire is affordable. Avoid hiring out of desperation.
If you don’t have a clear role with defined tasks, you’ll end up managing someone who doesn’t know what to do — and that costs you more time, not less. The best first hire fills a gap you’ve already identified, not one you’re figuring out on the fly.
