I’m answering your questions about team building as a small, online business owner and about my team specifically! I’m talking about how I do team and systems in my business. If you love learning through hearing what other people do, you’ll love this episode. And, I’ve got plenty of tidbits throughout that you can apply to your business right now. Working with a team and not doing it all alone is a huge part of how I’ve built my business. This is how I’m able to work fewer hours and still grow, and is a way I keep business fun and enjoyable.
LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE NOW:
Subscribe & download the episode to your device: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | iHeartRadio
Search for episode 161!
Tune in to hear the answers to these questions:
- How many members do you have in your team?
- Are your teammates full-time or part-time employees or independent contractors?
- What is the first thing you outsourced/hired out for? What did it look like for you when you first started outsourcing?
- Have you ever made a wrong hire? Have you made any terrible hires?
- Does your team design your templates?
- How often do you talk to the people on your team? What does communication look like on the day-to-day?
- Was it hard for you to give up the reins in your business to other people, especially fully over maternity leave?
Preview of the episode content:
I’m answering 2 of the 7 questions here! Listen to the full episode to hear the rest of my answers to your questions about team building as a small, online business owner.
Are your teammates full-time, part-time employees, or independent contractors?
All of my team members are part-time and in a contractor position. I am the only technical “employee” of my company. Do what makes sense for your business and stay within the IRS rules around this topic.
There will be some pieces of training in my course on building a team on this topic as well because it can be confusing. I also encourage you to talk to your accountant about this for your business to make sure you are doing it the right way and doing what makes the most sense for your business.
Most listeners of this podcast and most small online businesses will probably be starting with a part-time independent contractor when you hire. Sometimes the legal aspects of hiring often scare people away from making hires they need! Don't let that part scare you. It is not as scary as it seems.
What is the first thing you outsourced or hired out for?
Before I had a team member I really stuck with, I went through quite a few people doing different things. I first hired an hourly contractor hourly when I had been in business for about 1 ½ years.
The first jobs I outsourced were design help with my clients! This actually was a mistake. Tune in to the full episode to hear why!
When I started this podcast was really when I made the first hire that I would say was “the right move” for me.
I hired someone in a virtual assistant role to help with emails, editing blog posts for the podcast, and setting up the show notes in WordPress. I ended up eventually letting her go, but that was a smart hire and a good step for me at the time!
Around that same time, I hired my podcast editor, Natalie, who I still work with 3+ years later! Also, a lot of this felt messy. I honestly did not want to “be a boss”. I value independent work and did not love the idea of having a team for the longest time in my business!
I’ve learned a lot since the beginning of my team-building journey and if I could do first hires over again, I would. I’m hoping this new course will help you all who take it learn how to do it in a way that ultimately gives you more time back! Be sure to listen to the full episode to hear my answers to the other questions you guys sent in about team building as a small, online business owner!
