Hiring your first Tech/Lead

[2Broke2Sleep]

I'm putting together a budget/target for hiring my first lead guy to run service and some construction. I'm curious what your checklist would be before a shop is ready to handle the new hire. I'm thinking: Van, gas card, HD card, stocked van, storage unit with stock (since I don't have a brick n mortar yet), 2+ weeks of work lined up(if possible), some power tools, a few typically used ladders, tablet and phone for pics and software (I don't print work orders), company t-shirts, written test and hands on test at 1st interview, operating manual review at 2nd interview, what else am I missing?

 

[2Broke2Sleep]

Drug test, background check

 

[letgomywago]

You need someone to work beside you for a few months before you send them out in your name when it comes to service. They are very expensive because you need someone who could run their own show but doesn't and won't.

 

[rambojoe]

Make sure they aren't posting here with scary questions...

 

[2Broke2Sleep]

Another one: payroll for myself and employee for 1-2 months. That will keep me from having to take a loan while I wait for payments from contract work.

 

[2Broke2Sleep]

You need someone to work beside you for a few months before you send them out in your name when it comes to service. They are very expensive because you need someone who could run their own show but doesn't and won't.

How does that play out income wise? Seems too expensive to pull off. When I worked at a shop as an employee I was sent off quickly on my own after an interview.

 

[AC\DC]

Another one: payroll for myself and employee for 1-2 months. That will keep me from having to take a loan while I wait for payments from contract work.

Two months does not seem enough. get your self six months.
You never know what might come up. Better safe than taking a loan out and going further in the hole

 

[AC\DC]

I get a store front first and an office lady. Take the small stuff off your plate make you more organized and does not cost as much as a j-man

 

[letgomywago]

How does that play out income wise? Seems too expensive to pull off. When I worked at a shop as an employee I was sent off quickly on my own after an interview.

You need to do flat rate on service calls. Jman needs to be charged out as one. How much did you make before going on your own? Now you should make more as a licence holder pay yourself for your labor + money for being owner + profit for keeping the business growing. The jman will need only the labor part and in my state add a third to make up their costs before van and inventory. Plan on a new van every 10 years and medium insurance incase you get a good good guy but below average driver.

to get a good guy already with training you'll need to offer something to set you apart benefits wise otherwise plan on 4 years with an apprentice if you can even find a good one.