Is hiring your first employee a cost - or an investment in growth?

As a trade business owner, you’ve probably worn every hat in the business—quotes, jobs, admin, chasing payments, and everything in between. At some point, you start to feel the strain. You might wonder, “Should I hire someone to help out?” But then the next thought comes: “Can I actually afford it?”

Here’s the truth: Hiring your first employee doesn’t have to be a cost that drains your profits—it can be the key to unlocking your next stage of growth.

Let’s talk about how to make that decision from a business ROI perspective, not just a stress-driven one.

1. What's your time worth?

Start by looking at the value of your own time. If you’re spending hours each week on admin, follow-ups, or small jobs that could be delegated, that’s time you’re not spending quoting new jobs, building client relationships, or planning for growth.

Here’s a quick exercise:

• Estimate the number of hours per week you spend on low-value tasks.

• Multiply that by your hourly charge-out rate.

• That number? It’s the opportunity cost of not hiring help.

  
  

If hiring someone frees up even a portion of that time, you might actually increase your revenue potential by taking on more jobs, finishing faster, or securing more clients.

2. Can you service more jobs with an extra set of hands?

Let’s say you’re fully booked two weeks in advance. That sounds great—but it also means you’re turning away work or pushing back timelines. That can frustrate customers and cause them to look elsewhere.

Hiring even a part-time team member can help you:

• Say yes to more jobs (without burning out)

• Reduce turnaround times

• Take on larger or more complex projects

• Maintain quality as demand grows

  
  

You’re not just paying wages - you’re creating capacity for more income.

3. Are you too busy to grow?

Growth requires space - not just on your schedule, but in your brain. If you’re constantly working in the business, you don’t have time to work on the business.

Hiring can give you breathing room to:

• Improve your quoting process

• Streamline systems

• Think about marketing and branding

• Develop a solid business strategy

  
  

That might not bring instant dollars, but it’s how you build a sustainable, profitable business in the long run.

4. Test Before You Commit

Still not ready to dive into hiring a full-time employee? You don’t have to.

Start small:

• Hire a casual to support you during peak periods.

• Bring in a subcontractor for overflow work.

• Outsource admin tasks like invoicing or scheduling.

  
  

This allows you to test what kind of support you really need - without locking in long-term costs straight away.

Hiring your first employee can feel like a leap. But when approached strategically, it’s not just a wage to pay - it’s an investment in your business’s future capacity, revenue, and sanity.

So, ask yourself: What would it mean for your business if you had more time, less stress, and the ability to say yes to more work? The right hire at the right time could be the best business decision you ever make.

Thinking about scaling your trade business? We can help you forecast the numbers and plan your next move with confidence inside our Small Business Foundations Course.