When to Hire Help in Your Business: Signs You’re Ready to Build a Team

Running a business can be incredibly rewarding—but also incredibly overwhelming, especially when you’re the one wearing all the hats. From client work and admin to marketing and inbox management, it’s easy to feel like there’s just never enough time.

So how do you know when it’s time to stop doing it all yourself and start building a team?

Let’s explore what to look for, and how to make strategic, values-aligned decisions when you're ready to grow.

The First Sign: You're Drowning in Tasks

For many founders, the moment of truth starts in their inbox. When emails start going unread, client messages slip through the cracks, and collaboration opportunities get missed, it’s a red flag.

This was the case for Ruthie Sterrett, founder of The Consistency Corner. As a mom and business owner, her schedule was already full—but when her inbox reached thousands of unread messages, she knew something had to change.

That’s when the thought first crossed her mind: “I need help.”

You Don’t Need a Unicorn—You Need the Right People

As Ruthie explored outsourcing, she realized something important: expecting one person to be a jack-of-all-trades (admin, podcast production, content creation) was unrealistic.

Instead, she broke the roles into three distinct needs and set out to find individuals who had experience, interest, or a willingness to learn each. This allowed her to build a team where each person could operate in their zone of genius—just like she wanted her clients to do, too.

Use Tools and Frameworks That Work for You

Hiring doesn’t have to be complicated—but it should be intentional.

Ruthie used ChatGPT to craft an application that captured more than just skills. She asked about:

• Experience with key tasks
  
  
• Personality types (including Enneagram and Human Design)
  
  
• Core values and alignment with her brand mission
  
  

This ensured that not only were the candidates qualified—they were a values fit for her agency's mission of supporting moms and building a sustainable workplace culture.

Where to Find the Right People

Two of Ruthie’s go-to resources for finding trained, service-minded professionals were:

• Sarah Wiles’ Start and Grow Co., which offers matchmaking for trained VAs
  
  
• Michaela Quinn’s Job Board, a great place to post opportunities for freelancers
  
  

Using these platforms helped Ruthie access a pool of pre-vetted, mission-driven candidates, saving time and filtering for quality upfront.

The Strategic Balance: Expertise vs. Training Potential

As you begin to grow your team, one key question to consider is:

Do I want to invest in experience, or am I open to training someone?

Hiring someone with deep experience can save you time, but may require a higher budget. On the flip side, hiring someone eager to learn may take more training—but can result in a loyal, aligned team member who grows with your brand.

For Ruthie, the answer was a combination—finding people who matched her mission and then being open to mentoring them through the onboarding process.

Hiring Isn’t Just a Task—It’s a Mindset Shift

Building a team is more than just checking off a to-do list. It’s about shifting from solopreneur to CEO.

That means being willing to delegate, trusting others to take ownership, and focusing your energy on the visionary work that only you can do. If your growth is stalling because you're stretched too thin, hiring may be the next right step—not just for your business, but for your peace of mind.

Final Thoughts: What Got You Here Won’t Get You There

If you're finding yourself overwhelmed, behind on admin, or missing opportunities to grow—it's time to take a step back and ask:

What’s the cost of doing it all alone?

Building a team doesn’t mean losing control. When done with clarity and care, it means gaining support, momentum, and breathing room.

You were never meant to do it all yourself.