In this episode, I reveal the key signs it's time to hire your first team member and how to make this transition successfully. Learn how to identify what tasks to delegate, who to hire first, and why having systems in place before bringing someone on is absolutely critical for success. This episode is perfect for designers who are feeling overwhelmed and considering growing their team.

Hope you enjoy the episode

Beth xx

Hiring your first team member is a huge milestone, but it can also bring up a lot of fear. Here are the tell-tale signs you're truly ready to make this move:

• You're constantly booked out and turning away work
• You're spending too much time on admin and logistics rather than design
• Your service quality is slipping because you're spread too thin
• You can financially sustain an extra set of hands

Hiring isn't just about getting help. It's about building capacity in your business. The right hire allows you to stay focused on what only you can do—the design thinking, the vision, the client relationships—while someone else supports the execution.

Before writing that job description, I recommend mapping out the tasks you do weekly:

• Highlight the ones only you can do
• Circle the ones someone else could do with training

This exercise becomes the foundation of your first job description and helps clarify exactly what kind of support you need.

There's no one-size-fits-all answer, but most designers fall into one of these three paths:

Studio Coordinator/Admin Assistant: Someone to handle inboxes, supplier quotes, follow-ups, and schedules. This hire often gives you the biggest time win right away.

Junior Designer/Design Assistant: Ideal if you need help with sourcing, documentation, or CAD work. Great if you're creatively stretched but still managing admin on your own.

Bookkeeper/Virtual Assistant: Sometimes you don't need someone full-time or in-person. Starting with part-time support can ease your workload while reducing risk.

Think about where your time is most drained and what tasks you procrastinate about the most. That clarity will show you where your first hire should be.

To make hiring smoother, follow these steps:

• Write a clear job description that outlines what success looks like
• Create a simple application process (CV and short video introduction)
• Interview for values, not just skills—the "vibe" needs to be right
• Set clear expectations from day one with a basic onboarding checklist

The vibe of the person needs to be right, especially if they're the first person you're bringing into your business.

This might be the most important point of all: Do not take on someone until you have good systems and processes in place.

Without clear systems:
• You'll spend all your time answering questions
• Your new hire will feel lost and frustrated
• You'll wonder why you bothered hiring at all

If you don't have systems and processes in place, you are setting yourself up to fail and you're setting up this new person to fail.

Hiring is more than a process—it's a mindset shift from doing everything yourself to being a leader. That means:

• Setting boundaries
• Creating systems
• Sometimes letting someone else make mistakes so they can learn

Your job is to grow the business, not just run it.

This episode is essential for interior designers approaching that growth threshold where doing everything yourself is no longer sustainable. Whether you're ready to hire now or planning for the future, these insights will help you make this transition successfully.

Want to work together? Here are the ways I can help you in your business.

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3. Start my course THE PROCESS so you know exactly what to do when in your interior design studio.

4. Have a look at THE RESOURCE STOCKROOM - this is where you will find our short courses and free resources to help you run a better interior design studio

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