Hiring your first employee is an exciting milestone. It indicates your business is growing, and you’re ready to bring on someone who can bring new skills and expertise to your work. To set yourself up for the best possible partnership, the team at Greater North County Chamber of Commerce, a local small business organization based in Florissant, MO, share a few key tips to keep in mind before you shake hands with your first official hire.

3 Hiring Tips for Small Businesses

1. Get Your Finances in Order

When you hire an employee, you won’t just pay their salary. You will also need to account for associated expenses like Social Security, Medicare, and federal unemployment taxes. These fees tend to vary by state, and depending on your business income, you might decide to work with your employee on a freelance, contract, or part-time basis for the time being.

2. Check Legal Requirements

Like state taxes, legal requirements vary by jurisdiction. Reach out to your local small business organization to double-check your obligations as an employer. Before you even post your job listing, you should have a grasp on your local employment laws, contracts, minimum hour and wage requirements, and overtime stipulations.

3. Craft Your Job Listing

Once you have all of your paperwork in place, you’re ready to post your job listing. This is a time-consuming process, so dedicate an appropriate amount of effort. In the listing, make sure you clearly state what experience and skills you’re looking for. It’s a good idea to reach out to your network for candidate recommendations, and consider scoping out the crowd at your local small business organization’s networking events. As a small business, you’ll likely need someone with a can-do attitude who can perform many tasks, and getting personal recommendations can make it easier to find someone who will help you hit your goals.

To scale your business, you need dependable employees you can trust. When in doubt, reach out to the team at your local small business organization for hiring resources. Businesses within a 20-mile radius of Florissant, MO, are eligible for top-tier networking opportunities at the Greater North County Chamber of Commerce, which includes over 400 businesses and individuals working to improve the local economy. To learn more about their resources, call (314) 831-3500, or visit them online to view their calendar of upcoming events.