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Kayley HartThe Small Team Builder

Your First Hire

First Hire Readiness Assessment

A short assessment across demand, definition, money, management capacity and systems. Produces a readiness score, the gaps that matter most and a printable action plan.

Takes about 4 minutes. Your answers stay in your browser, and no email address is required to see your result.

0 of 13 questions answered

Next: question 1 of 13. Answer every question before the tool calculates an overall planning result.

Recurring demand

Weighted at 30% of the overall score. 0 of 3 answered.

The extra work has been there consistently for the last three months.

You expect the same volume of work in three months' time.

You are turning away or delaying paid work because of capacity.

Role definition

Weighted at 20% of the overall score. 0 of 3 answered.

You can name the recurring problem this role exists to solve.

You can describe what a good week in this role looks like.

You know which decisions the person may make without you.

Financial headroom

Weighted at 25% of the overall score. 0 of 3 answered.

You have modelled the full first-year cost, not just the salary.

You could cover the role for six months if revenue dipped.

You know the gross profit the role must generate to pay for itself.

Management capacity

Weighted at 15% of the overall score. 0 of 2 answered.

You have protected time each week to onboard and supervise someone.

You are willing to review work rather than redo it.

Systems readiness

Weighted at 10% of the overall score. 0 of 2 answered.

The core tasks are written down well enough for someone else to follow.

You can give access to the tools they need without handing over everything.

Finish all questions to see your result

Interim answers remain visible in the form, but the tool does not calculate or present an authoritative total until all 13 questions are answered.

Assumptions and limitations
  • Question count is generated from the assessment data.
  • Weightings: recurring demand 30%, role definition 20%, financial headroom 25%, management capacity 15%, systems readiness 10%.
  • Each dimension scores 0–100 and the overall score is the weighted mean. Bands: below 45 not yet, 45–69 close with named gaps, and 70 or above ready to proceed carefully.
  • This is Kayley’s planning model for decision support, not legal, employment or financial advice.
  • Answers stay in your browser and are never transmitted.

Methodology and calculation

This tool is designed with transparency in mind. The results are calculated based on the following logic:

  • Your answers are scored across five weighted dimensions: recurring demand (30%), role definition (20%), financial headroom (25%), management capacity (15%) and systems readiness (10%).
  • Weightings reflect the two most common causes of a failed first hire in small businesses: hiring against a temporary spike, and hiring into an undefined role.
  • Each dimension scores 0–100. The overall score is the weighted mean. Bands: below 45 'not yet', 45–69 'close, with named gaps', 70 and above 'ready to proceed carefully'.
  • The tool never tells you to hire. It shows you which conditions are not currently met.

Limitations and scope

  • It cannot see your pipeline, your market or your cash position.
  • It is not an employment-law or affordability assessment. Use the Employee Affordability Calculator for cost modelling.
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