Finally Hired a Solid Crew of 3 After Years of Solo Grinding in General Services

Started my general services outfit back in 2015, doing everything from basic repairs to full remodels, and for the longest time it was just me bustin' ass with my DeWalt tools and a beat-up F-150. Been in the Chicago area my whole career, so winters mean we're always chasing indoor jobs like drywall patches and flooring installs to stay busy. Last month I pulled the trigger and hired two helpers, one with carpentry experience and another good with electrical basics, after interviewing a dozen flakes from Craigslist. Trained em up on the Milwaukee M18 saws and Ridgid levels we use for precise cuts on cabinet installs. It's a game-changer, just wrapped a kitchen reno in half the time, and I'm already booking more bids. Proud as hell, feels like the business is finally scaling without me burning out. Saw a post on r/Contractor about team building that pushed me to do it, and someone in Handyman Nation FB group shared their onboarding checklist which I stole. YMMV but if you're solo, get that first hire in sooner.

those solo days SUCK, good on you for pulling the trigger before you end up in the ER.

congrats man, scaling up is the dream.

hiring solid? in this market? lmao must be nice.

proud of ya, chicago winters make good crews gold.

fuck the flakes, but yeah general work needs reliable hands or you're screwed.

use a 30-day trial period with clear expectations on tools and punctuality.

solid advice, i add a skills test with basic DeWalt drill work for generals.

frustrated af, my last hire stole my Ridgid kit and vanished.

sharktanks full of BS hires, stick to referrals from other trades.

those craigslist clowns are the worst, always drama.

same here, can't find anyone who knows pex from copper without handholding.

feels good to have backup finally.

haha my first hire was my cousin, turned out great but family drama almost killed it.

controversial take: pay em less at first and see if they earn the raise.

chicago crews are tough, respect.

those winters build character, good hire.

warning: always run background checks, had a thief last year.

yeah man, scaling feels amazing after the grind.

pe vultures gonna try buying you out now lol.

ask around in local trade groups for leads on helpers.

commiserate, solo life was lonely af.

use jobber for tracking their hours, keeps everyone accountable.

totally get the burnout, glad you leveled up.

those DeWalt tools pay off with a team.

feels relatable, just hired my first last week.

yep, chicago hustle makes it worth it.

background checks saved my ass twice.

haha, my crew calls me the drill sergeant now.

proud moment, keep pushing.

referrals from r/smallbusiness helped me find mine.

hate the interview process, so many liars.

solid move, teams change everything.

feels good, man.

congrats on the kitchen reno speed-up.

those FB groups are gold for tips.

humor: my helper asked if pex floats, i laughed for days.

yeah, solo sucks long term.

frustrated with the turnover rate here too.

pe firms ruining the game for independents.

start with part-time to test waters.

those vultures prey on tired solos.

ugh, last guy couldn't swing a hammer right.

hiring headaches are universal.

pe rollups killing small ops.

frustrated, yeah, but worth it for the wins.

my helper bailed mid-job, pissed.

can't stand the applicant pool.

feels the same, finally got reliable ones.

yep, burnout city without help.

haha, chicago winters test everyone.

proud of your progress, inspiring.

what's your onboarding process look like?

hate when they ghost after training.

yeah, the grind wears you down.

totally feel that solo struggle.

hit 4 guys last year, life changer.

lmao my first hire broke more than he fixed.

funny story, guy showed up with wrong boots.

haha, general work attracts characters.

feels good to relate.

use contracts from day one.

damn pe offers tempting but nah.

hired a dud last month, fired quick.

frustrated with the quality out there.

turnover is killer.

pe bs pushing everyone to hire fast.

same, can't keep good ones.

lol, my crew's a circus sometimes.

yeah, the solo life was rough.

frustrated af with applicants.

haha, finally free from solo hell.

use that Handyman Nation checklist, works wonders.

feels the pride, man.