This document summarizes the process of hiring WebDevStudios' first employee and growing the agency from a freelancer to a team. It outlines lessons learned around minimizing overhead, finding employees through local communities and social networks, and things to consider when hiring like legal fees, benefits, and desirable employee traits like a willingness to learn. The summary concludes with final thoughts on balancing work and life.

1. Hiring Employee Number One
From Freelancer to Agency

2. Only those who dare to fail greatly
can ever achieve greatly.
Robert Kennedy

3. 2008

4. Be prepared to
make sacrifices

10. ME

11. ME
DOGS

13. Work with people you like

14. No road is long
with good
company
- Turkish Proverb

17. Starting
WebDevStudios

20. Minimize Overhead

22. 2009

24. Not
Funny
Bro!
@sco5basgaard

26. 2010

27. 100% WordPress

28. 100% WourdPresse

29. • Interns
• Local Community
– Meetups, WordCamps, Events
• Social Networks
– Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn
• Look Outside the Box
– Justin (House Painter -> Lead Developer)
– Jaimie (Hot Topic Manager -> Project Manager)
How to Hire

30. Chris Cochran was WebDevStudios
first intern and first hire

31. Matt Mullenweg was our third hire

32. Brian Williams was our fourth….

33. • Business Insurance
• Payroll Taxes
– Withholding
– Unemployment Taxes
– Varies by State
• *Disclaimer: UK/Europe is probably different
Lessons Learned in Hiring

34. • Legal / Lawyer Fees
– Employee Handbook
– Contracts
• Benefits
• HR
Lessons Learned in Hiring

35. Things to Look For in Employees
• Attitude is as important as skill level
• Always eager to learn more
• Can admit what they don’t know
• Enjoys knowledge sharing
• Able to work from home

36. Final Thoughts
• Listen to your Gut
• Take Risks
• Stay Focused
• Balance Work and Life
• If you aren’t happy, make a change

37. And finally, never forget to….

38. Treat Yo Self!

39. Brad Williams
CEO / Co-Founder @ WebDevStudios