Hiring operator for more passive operations replacing owner. Need advice.

[rdelight]

Hi. I'm running small vehicle wrap shop and we have 2 installers, 1 remote designer, and me answering calls, scheduling, printing, laminating, cutting, and so on, overall everything related to the business and I do have an accounting firm taking care of the accounting.

Our current sales per year are 600k and profit after all salaries roughly about 200k.

What would you guys recommend in term of my next hire. I need someone to take over and ensure the business is running smoothly.

Do I need one employee that does it all or I should maybe hire sales person and someone that would run machines and so on. How do you pay to ensure they are doing it responsibly?

My main goal is to be able to spend a little more time off the office with my family, go on vacations for longer and live a little bit.

Thank you.

 

[Zoogee World]

Just my 2 cents, but you probably want to hire 2 people, 1 Production Manager, that could oversee the production staff and help you with sales and then 1 production person who would run the machines and do the pre-installation portions. If your installers are able to, you could have them help with the pre-installation parts as well to help that production person and make things run smoother.

 

[myront]

I'd start with a Production Manager who would be willing to "do it all" if they were to get bogged down then hire an additional person to do production.
Pretty much what I do. lol
Lead Designer, Production Manager, Production , print & plot helper, etc

 

[Boudica]

+3 for a Production Manager.

 

[Texas_Signmaker]

±4. And watch your employee to revenue ratio...

 

[Rhyno]

I’d say your next hire should be an operations manager—someone who can handle the day-to-day stuff and make sure things run smoothly without needing you constantly. I’ve been in a similar spot before, and hiring someone to take over scheduling, managing installers, and dealing with the inevitable hiccups was a game-changer. It let me focus on growing the business and actually take time off. If production is where you’re bottlenecked, you might also want a machine operator, but for stepping back, a manager is key. Pay them a solid base with some kind of performance bonus so they stay motivated and invested.