Hiring Your First Team Member (As A Creative Agency)

A behind-the-scenes look at how I stopped doing it all myself.

Last week I told you about the nightmare — hiring (and firing) two full-time employees in 60 days. This week, I want to share what I’ve learned (and what’s worked) since.

Building a team is one of the scariest, most financially intimidating, and high-stakes parts of growing a design business. But it’s also the thing that unlocks your next level.

Let’s get into it.

Why Building a Team Matters
(even if you never want to build a team)

Design is a manpower-heavy business model. It requires a person — with ideas, taste, and creative energy — every single time you deliver. That’s a lot.

At some point, growth will outpace what one person can handle. And when that happens, you really only have two choices…

(1) Say no to opportunities (which you absolutely can do, but it’s nice to have the option to say “yes” if you want to).

(2) Create the capability to handle more with a lean, effective team.

A team isn’t about ego. It’s about capacity, sustainability, and protecting your best creative energy for the work only you can do.

🔓 Become a paid subscriber to unlock…

• How to make hiring feel less risky with trial periods and baby steps

• My exact “first hire” recommendations, including traits to look for and real pay examples

• The lean, project-based team structure I use to avoid payroll eating my profits

• A behind-the-scenes look at the ByAriel team today — and why it works