Choosing Who to Hire to Support You in Your Business

Finding someone trustworthy and well equipped to partner with in your business can feel like searching for the secret eighth wonder of the world. Where do you start? What are you looking for? And how do you know who to choose?

My grandmother is what we like to call “small town famous.” She taught first grade at one of the only elementary schools in the county for twenty-seven years and was an active member of one of the oldest and biggest churches in town since childhood; as such, there are few people in our rural Georgia city who don’t recognize her. This also means she has the latest gossip on most people in town. Nana, as we lovingly call her, has a knack for knowing people’s business before they do. Whenever a member of her community faces a problem she’s quick to bake a casserole or a pound cake for emotional support, and happy to share any advice she has (or the contact information of a neighbor who might have the skills to fix that leaky roof.)

This habit is heartfelt and kind, but can also be a little troublesome. Simply put, not even Nana is equipped to solve every problem a person faces. There are times when a professional is needed, even if your neighbor’s husband’s friend has roofing experience.

The same goes for running a small business! Once you know your business has what my grandma would call a “good problem” – increased sales, heavier workload, a need for more marketing, optimization of your systems, or any of the other symptoms of growth – relying solely on yourself and the advice of a few people you know likely won’t be enough. Instead, it’s time to start the search for businesses and/or potential team members who specialize in providing solutions to the problems you’re facing.

Narrowing Your Search for Help

It’s important to ensure anyone you might work with is qualified and capable of doing the work you need done. Don’t fall for fancy ads and convincing marketing claims – look critically at what each option offers and their proven results to ensure it will benefit you to take advantage of their services. If you’re not sure how to decide which businesses to rule out and which to explore, here are my first three steps:

1. To start, looking through a business’s website, social media, and client reviews can give you a clearer picture of if they can help your business with the problem you’re seeking to remedy, as well as their proven track record (or lack thereof). Don’t be afraid to reach out to a former client who is listed on their website to ask for candid thoughts on their experience with that business.
2. If you’re feeling unsure about the specifics of a business’s offers don’t be afraid to contact them directly to ask questions, such as “What level of customization do you allow for each package?” or “Would I be working directly with the business owner or an employee of the team?”
3. Check the vibe. You’ll probably be working with these people for a couple of weeks minimum, possibly months – make sure they’d be someone you’d want to collaborate with and interact with on a regular basis.

If you know you need a service-provider that provides a very specific, customized solution, working with someone who only offers templated options probably isn’t a good idea. Likewise, if you’re a highly creative entrepreneur who loves to use imaginative language, working with a business that tends to speak primarily in professional jargon and avoids colorful graphics will probably leave you frustrated or feeling unheard & misunderstood.

We’ve had clients come to us from past experiences with service providers, agencies, and consultants that left them feeling unsatisfied and like they didn’t get the results out of their investment they had hoped for. Many times, that poor experience stemmed from choosing to hire a business that wasn’t the right fit for their needs, budget, and personality. And sometimes that lackluster experience was because the business had great marketing without quality service to back it up – this is why doing research into proven results and past client experiences can be invaluable to the hiring process.

Making a Decision About Who to Hire

Once you’ve narrowed your search to businesses that will provide beneficial solutions for your needs, the next thing you should look at is affordability. Ask yourself, what can my business afford to pay for these services? And what’s the estimated return on investment (ROI) for investing in this? (Hint: Your ROI can be more than strictly financial.) If you don’t feel comfortable or can’t afford paying more than a certain amount for what you’re purchasing, any businesses that list a higher price won’t be a good option at this time.

And now that you’ve narrowed your search using the absolute deal-breakers, it’s time to trust yourself. Who feels like the best fit? As silly as it may sound, go with your gut. If something seems off, or you just really clicked with one business, take that into account when you make a decision. You’re a successful entrepreneur for a reason – you know a good investment when you see it.

If you’re in need of more organization and clarity in your business, consider partnering with Upwell. We offer a business audit so you can work with us in a low-stakes environment to learn more about what your business needs and strategize how to BUILDwell so you can continue to GROWwell.