Episode 244 10 Things You Need Before You Hire

So you think you're ready to hire but are you? Do you have a manual? Do you have a handbook? Wait.... aren't those the same thing?  I'll be honest with you, hiring can be frustrating. Having these things in place will make the process much easier for you. BIGGEST TAKEAWAYS: Yes, there is a difference between a handbook and a manual. You need an avatar for your business. Empower your team with pet sitting software for communication and scheduling. Show Highlights 10 things you need. (1:15) Application anatomy and legal requirements (3:00) Streamlining to get your employees trained and certified! (18:00) Links Ready to get serious about your hiring process? Sign up with Jazz HR, click here. Free Facebook group, Jump Start Your Pet Business here. To sign up for Better Marketing With Bella Semester 2, click here. To email Bella, if there is anything you’d specifically like to hear about, email [email protected] Share The Show Did you enjoy the show? We would love it if you subscribed today and left us a 5-star review! Click this link – Bella In Your Business Click on the ‘Subscribe’ button below the artwork Go to the ‘Ratings and Reviews’ section Click on ‘Write a Review’ Transcript: This is episode 244 of Bella in Your Business. Hi there, I'm Bella Vasta from Jump Consulting. You might know me from CBS, NBC, Fox, Huffington Post, Entrepreneur, or maybe you've seen me speak on stage or read my book, The Four Dogs That Every Business Owner Needs. In any case, get ready because you're about to get your hashtag Bella Butt Kickin' in this next episode of Bella in Your Business. So what do you say? Let's get ready and jump. Welcome to another episode of Bella in Your Business. My name is Bella Vasta, and today we are going to continue on this hiring choo-choo train, choo-choo, and we are going to talk about the ten things that you need before you start hiring. Now, if you've already been hiring, that’s quite all right. This podcast is also for you. It does not mean that you cannot brush up on your skills, or maybe you feel like you're epically failing, or there's just something missing, but you're not quite sure what it is. Today I’m going to give you ten different things that I believe you need to do, but you’re going to have to really think about if it’s going to work for you or if this is something you can actually implement. Some of them are completely free and the only currency is your brainpower, and others will have a little bit of a cost associated. But as my mastermind members know, many of them understand exactly how much it costs to hire someone between all of the expenses involved. What I'd like for you to consider is the investment. You might spend two, three, maybe four hundred dollars for every new hire that you get. However, they can bring in ten, fifteen, even twenty thousand dollars in revenue. That’s a pretty good ROI if I say so myself. So guys, in no particular order, I am going to run down a list. Here it is: handbook, manual, application, avatar, pet sitting software, payroll company, workman’s compensation, training program, workflow training, and training template videos. The first one is a handbook, and it should not be confused with a manual. They are two separate documents. The employee handbook includes how to do specific tasks like scooping litter, cleaning bowls, walking multiple dogs, or locking up a house. It is specific to your company and explains how to do your job—your secret sauce. The employee manual, on the other hand, is more administrative. It includes things like jury duty, holidays, EEOC policies, and equal opportunity employment language. It’s where you include legal jargon and general policies that most companies have. Next is the application. Legally, you need one. It should include previous employment, availability, background check consent, and space for a signature verifying accuracy. You must also store it securely for at least 18 months. Be aware of privacy and security requirements, since applications contain sensitive personal information. The next thing you need is an avatar. How do you know if you’re sitting in front of the perfect applicant if you don’t know who that person is? You need to define your hiring avatar—just like you’d define your ideal client. Maybe it’s a stay-at-home mom with kids in school who loves nurturing and wants to feel appreciated. Or maybe it’s someone looking for a purpose beyond home life. Knowing your avatar lets you target your hiring ads effectively. Generic ads don’t work anymore. We’re in a volatile hiring market. Write specific ads to attract the right people. The fifth item is pet sitting software. Do not, I repeat, do not give instructions by email, text, or handwritten notes. That’s outdated and creates confusion. A good scheduling software empowers your employees and helps them feel confident and organized. For example, in my company, after consultations, staff had to write down each step in the client’s profile so anyone covering could follow along easily. This ensures consistency, efficiency, and clear communication. Next is a payroll company. Don’t do payroll manually or through QuickBooks yourself. If you make a mistake or miss a tax filing, it can cost you dearly. Payroll companies handle this and assume the liability. You can even get competitive quotes between companies to find the best price. Workman’s compensation is next. It protects your employees if they get hurt on the job—anything from a dog bite to a broken ankle. If you’re new, you might start with your state’s fund until you qualify for a private carrier. Established businesses should review their policies and classification codes regularly, often with an insurance broker. Expect yearly audits, which are normal. You can pay-as-you-go or pay a lump sum upfront and reconcile at year-end. The next essential piece is video training. Whether it’s short clips explaining specific tasks or an organized online course, visual learning makes onboarding faster and more effective. My favorite program is Pet Care Team Training, which offers engaging, customizable videos. Each lesson is three to seven minutes long with built-in check-ins, visuals, and interactive cues. It keeps trainees engaged and excited to work. You can even add Pet First Aid and CPR certification to make your team more prepared and marketable. Then there’s workflow for training. You need to know exactly how you’ll move candidates through your hiring process. Each interview phase should test specific qualities like empathy, reliability, or attention to detail. The process should feel fast, professional, and well-organized. Using a tool like JazzHR can help you move candidates through multiple stages efficiently, giving them a positive impression of your company from the start. Finally, you need a training template. Outline what each day of training includes and what the employee should master by the end of it. Instead of simply shadowing, give structure—Day 1 covers these tasks, Day 2 builds on that, and so on. This sets clear expectations, gives new hires confidence, and keeps training consistent. These ten components—handbook, manual, application, avatar, pet sitting software, payroll company, workman’s compensation, training program, workflow, and training template—are what separate successful businesses from struggling ones. Skipping them causes frustration, confusion, and turnover. If you implement these, you’ll establish trust, respect, and excitement with new hires. Hiring doesn’t have to be miserable. Build a process that makes people want to work with you. If you need support, resources, or community, join the Mastermind. It’s $147 a month or discounted annually. We share strategies, tools, and real-life systems that work. Visit jumpconsulting.net/mastermind to learn more. I want to remind you that when life gets you down, always keep jumping. Don’t be a stranger—send feedback or let me know what topics you’d like covered next. This podcast isn’t for me—it’s for you. Thanks for listening, and I’ll see you next Thursday. So what did you think? Did you love this episode? I sure hope you did because I put a lot of love into this for you. The best way you can show me that is by going to iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, or wherever you listen to your podcast and leaving a review. I just might read it on the next episode. I also want to remind you that when life gets you down, remember to always keep jumping. Thanks for listening.