How to Know When It’s Time to Hire Your First Employee (and How to Do It the Right Way)
If you’ve built your cleaning business from the ground up, you already know what it feels like to wear all the hats. The cleaner, the scheduler, the marketer, the bookkeeper, and everything in between.
But eventually, you’ll hit a point where your business can’t grow any further unless you bring in help.
That’s one of the biggest — and most exciting — milestones you’ll reach as a cleaning business owner.
So how do you know when it’s time to hire your first employee? And once you are ready, how do you do it correctly, without feeling overwhelmed?
Let’s break it down.
1. Signs You’re Ready to Hire
Hiring too soon can create unnecessary stress. But waiting too long can cause burnout and missed opportunities. Here are a few clear signs that you’re ready to bring someone on board:
You’re turning down jobs because your schedule is full.
You’re working long hours and your personal life is suffering.
You have consistent income and repeat clients coming in every month.
You’ve built cleaning systems and checklists that are easy to teach.
You’re ready to step into a leadership role and focus on growth instead of just day-to-day work.
If a few of these sound familiar… congratulations! That’s a sign your business is ready to scale.
2. Get Legally and Financially Set Up
Before you start the hiring process, make sure your business foundation is solid.
You’ll need to:
Register for an EIN (Employer Identification Number) if you don’t already have one.
Set up workers’ compensation insurance (required in most states).
Understand your local and state employment laws.
Create a plan for payroll taxes and withholdings.
Even though this part feels technical, it’s crucial to protect both you and your future employee.
3. Write a Clear Job Description
Before hiring, think about exactly what you want this person to do.
Do you want someone to take over cleaning jobs so you can focus on marketing and admin tasks? Or do you want a part-time helper for certain days of the week?
Create a simple job description that includes:
Hours and pay rate
Type of cleaning (residential, Airbnb, move-out, etc.)
Expectations and responsibilities
Any experience or training required
Being clear upfront saves time and attracts the right people.
4. Set Up Your Systems Before You Hire
When you hire someone, you’re not just adding an extra pair of hands…you’re creating the foundation for how your business will run long-term.
That’s where having the right systems matters.
At Avai Property Solutions, one of the biggest tools that helped us grow our team was Jobber, our all-in-one CRM for scheduling, job management, and client communication.
With Jobber, we can:
✅ Schedule and assign jobs to employees
✅ Track hours and payments
✅ Send automatic appointment reminders
✅ Keep everything organized in one place
It made onboarding new team members seamless and freed up hours of our week.
If you’re thinking about hiring, now’s the time to get your systems in place.
👉 [Try Jobber Free for 14 Days + Get 20% Off Any Plan]
5. Create a Simple Training Process
Once you find the right person, set them up for success.
Training doesn’t need to be complicated , it just needs to be consistent.
Start by:
Creating checklists for each type of clean
Showing your standards in person during the first few jobs
Teaching your systems (like how to use Jobber for job updates or time tracking)
Giving feedback early and often
Remember: you’re not just training them how to clean , you’re teaching them how to represent your brand.
6. Start Small and Grow Steadily
Your first employee doesn’t have to be full-time right away.
You can start part-time, get a feel for what it’s like to manage someone, and then expand as your bookings grow.
Hiring your first employee is a learning experience, but it’s also one of the most rewarding steps in growing a real business that gives you freedom and flexibility.
Bringing on your first team member is a big deal and doing it right will set the tone for the rest of your business growth.
It’s not just about hiring someone to help clean; it’s about building a foundation for your future. With the right systems, training, and mindset, you’ll go from running a solo operation to leading a growing team.
Written by:
The Avai Property Solutions Team
Helping cleaning business owners grow with confidence 🧽