Is it time to hire for your creator business?

Hey passionate creator,

Ever since I started a YouTube channel, I've been met with some common advice: publish consistently, have a niche, and hire as soon as possible.

It seems that to be a successful creator and to build a scalable business, you have to build a team, right?

Well, I’ve hired editors for my YouTube channel on two occasions. They were talented, helped me produce videos more consistently, and eased my feelings of burnout. Yet, in both cases, I eventually realised it wasn't a good fit for me. I enjoy editing and every time I outsource it, I lose my creative spark and love for YouTube.

I’m not alone: Emma Chamberlain has 12 million subscribers on YouTube, but she edits her own videos for the same reason. Similarly, I've spoken to creators who have regrets over how quickly their team grew, resulting in a decline in profits, and creators who regretted hiring employees over contractors. Of course, there are also plenty of creators who wished they had hired sooner.

Clearly there's no one-size-fits-all approach to hiring. So how do you know what's right for you? Here are some things you might want to consider before growing a team.

📈 Your current workload and growth

Consider how long it takes you to produce content, whether you often feel burnt out, and whether your current workload is hindering you from working on new projects. If you're growing at a rate you're happy with and managing your current workflow, perhaps you don't need to hire. On the other hand, if you want to scale but already feel overwhelmed, maybe you could benefit from additional support.

☀️ Expertise and enjoyment

Are there any aspects of your current workflow that you don't enjoy or feel confident about? This might be a great starting point for hiring. But if there are parts of the creative process you love to do, even if most creators outsource them, it's okay to keep doing them. This is what I had to learn when I outsourced editing.

👯‍♂️ Collaboration or going solo

When it comes to whether you should hire someone for your team, something you might overlook is whether you actually want to work with other people. Do you prefer working solo and making all the decisions for your business? Or do you enjoy collective brainstorming, managing others, and working in a collaborative environment? Letting go of creative control and delegating is difficult for everyone at first, but some creators like Justin Welsh thrive as solopreneurs, whereas others like Ali Abdaal shine in a team.

💸 Finances

What’s the financial status of your creator business? In order to make a decision on hiring, it's important to have a clear understanding of your revenue streams and whether you can afford the costs associated with hiring, such as salaries or contractor fees. An important consideration here is also the trajectory of your business growth. While things might be rosy now, it’s always good to consider any potential risks that might affect your revenue and ability to hire.

By reflecting on these questions, you can gain clarity on whether it's the right time to hire for your business. Ultimately, there's no single rule on hiring, and for some creators, hiring might not be the right approach at all. Only you know what's right for you and your business.

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Stay passionate,

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