Hiring your first employee by replacing yourself

If you have ambitions to grow a company and hire people, you can get your first employee by replacing yourself on your own project.

Here's why:

• You can line up another project for yourself
• You can control when you leave
• You have deep knowledge about what's required to succeed in your role
• You have a good client relationship
• You know the billable rate that's possible which is whatever you're billing

If you find someone that's interested in working for you, you can let the prime know you're leaving and say you have a replacement lined up and would like to hire them under your own company.

You can also put in a good word with the client (with whom you have a good relationship in theory) and say your replacement will do a good job and will ensure an orderly transition if he comes to work for you.

The prime may still want to bring in their own person, but it's a pretty easy sell if you got someone lined up the client will accept.

Then, you'll lose the title of solo 1099 federal sub-contractor and officially be a boss and company owner making an extra ~$40,000/year.

Want the full playbook? Check out Going 1099.