I Thought I Couldn’t Afford to Hire an Assistant—Here’s How I Fixed It

For the longest time, I thought hiring help was a luxury my business couldn’t afford. I told myself, “It’s cheaper to do it all myself.”

So, I did.

My days were filled with:

• Ordering merchandise
• Paying invoices
• Answering every email and social media message
• Organizing brand ambassadors and social media takeovers

And the list went on.

I convinced myself I was saving money by keeping all the work on my plate. But the truth?

Doing everything myself was costing me WAY more.

The Hidden Cost of Doing It All Yourself

At first, it feels like you’re being smart—keeping expenses low, hustling harder, and “saving money” on payroll.

But every task I held onto came with a cost I couldn’t see at the time:

• Time: Hours wasted on tasks someone else could do meant I had no time left for growth-focused work.
• Energy: I was burned out and mentally exhausted, which made me less creative and effective.
• Missed Opportunities: Instead of pitching new partnerships, creating systems, or strategizing, I was stuck handling invoices and social media replies.

When I spent all day in my business, I had no time to work on my business.

And here’s the kicker: I wasn’t being the CEO—I was being the admin.

So, I Hired My First Assistant... and It Didn’t Work

Eventually, I hit my breaking point. I knew I couldn’t keep doing everything alone, so I hired my first assistant.

And guess what?

It didn’t work out.

She was talented, highly recommended, and expensive. My business couldn’t afford her, and she didn’t deliver the ROI I needed.

The hard lesson?

Hiring help isn’t about handing off tasks—it’s about creating measurable value.

What I Got Wrong

Looking back, here’s where I went wrong:

1. I hired out of desperation.
   I didn’t think strategically about what I really needed help with—I just wanted relief from the chaos.

2. I didn’t have a plan.
   I hired her to “help me create systems,” but I had no starting point. I couldn’t give her clear direction, so she couldn’t deliver.

3. I ignored ROI.
   Every hire should either save you time (so you can focus on revenue) or directly generate revenue. She did neither, and my business couldn’t justify the cost.

That hire stung, but it forced me to rethink everything.

How I Fixed It and Started Hiring Smarter

That failed hire taught me a lot about how to approach hiring strategically. Here’s exactly what I did differently:

1. I Got Crystal Clear on My Needs

I stopped hiring “just for help” and focused on hiring for impact. I wrote down everything I was doing daily and asked myself:

• What tasks are draining my time?
• What can someone else take over to free me up for growth-focused work?

I prioritized tasks that were repetitive and time-consuming but didn’t require me to do them.

2. I Created Simple Processes

I didn’t wait to build “perfect systems.” Instead, I:

• Recorded videos to show step-by-step how I did tasks.
• Created basic checklists so a new hire knew exactly what to do.

These processes were far from perfect, but they gave me a starting point. And they saved my next hire from feeling lost.

3. I Hired for ROI

This time, I asked myself:

• Will this role save me enough time to focus on growing revenue?
• Will this hire directly generate revenue for my business?

If the answer was no, I didn’t hire.

Every role I filled after that had a measurable impact—either in time saved or dollars earned.

4. How to Measure ROI on Your Hire

Hiring someone isn’t about just “getting help”—it’s about ensuring they add measurable value to your business. Here’s how you can determine if a hire is delivering ROI:

Track the Time You’re Saving

• Before hiring, calculate how much time you spend on the tasks you plan to delegate.
• After hiring, track how many hours you’ve freed up each week.
• Ask yourself: Are you using that time to focus on revenue-generating activities, growth strategies, or high-value work?

Example: If you reclaim 10 hours a week and use it to increase your revenue, the ROI is clear.

Assign Revenue-Linked Responsibilities

If the hire is responsible for specific outcomes—like managing sales, running ads, or booking appointments—tie their tasks to measurable results.

• Set clear KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) such as:
  • Number of leads generated
  • Sales closed
  • Social media engagement growth
• Track their performance against these metrics monthly.

Example: If your assistant helps you run a campaign that brings in $2,000, and they cost $500, they’ve more than earned their role in your company.

Consider Indirect ROI

Not all value shows up as direct dollars, but that doesn’t mean it’s not important. Look for:

• Improved customer satisfaction
• Increased team productivity
• Reduced stress and burnout (so you can perform at your best)

Sometimes, freeing up your mental space is the biggest ROI of all.

Pro Tip: Set a 30-, 60-, and 90-day check-in to review the hire’s impact. If they’re not delivering measurable ROI by then, it’s time to assess the role, expectations, or fit.

5. I Started Small and Tested the Role

I hired for specific tasks first—part-time or project-based—before committing to a full-time position.

This gave me the flexibility to:

• Refine the role and expectations.
• Test the hire’s ability to deliver results.

It was lower risk, but the payoff was huge.

How to Know If You’re Ready to Hire

If you’re drowning in tasks but telling yourself, “I can’t afford help,” here are three questions to ask yourself:

1. What tasks are stealing my time that someone else could do?
2. How much revenue am I losing by being stuck in $10/hour tasks?
3. What would freeing up 5-10 hours a week allow me to focus on?

Hiring help doesn’t have to break the bank—but it does need to create value.

How You Can Set Up Your First Hire for Success

Ready to hire smarter? Here’s a quick process to get started:

1. Document first. Create checklists, videos, or SOPs (even messy ones) for the tasks you want to delegate.
2. Start small. Hire a freelancer or part-timer to test the waters.
3. Measure the impact. Is this hire saving you time or helping you generate revenue? If not, refine the role until they do.

Final Thoughts: Stop Doing It All Yourself

I get it—letting go is hard. But the cost of doing everything alone is higher than you realize.

When you hire strategically, you’re not “spending money”—you’re investing in your business, your growth, and your time.

Start small, get clear, and hire for impact. I promise you: the right hire will pay for themselves over and over again.