No one solid is going to leave where they’re at to come work part-time, even if you pay them well. They need to see real earning potential and steady work. That means you’ve got to build enough volume first. If you can’t keep them busy, they’re not going to make that jump, and honestly they shouldn’t.
Something else I’ve learned over the years having technicians is that structure matters way more than you think. It’s not just about having work, it’s about showing there’s a future there. People want to know they’re not just coming in to grind, they want to see that there’s some kind of path forward and that you actually have your business dialed in. That stuff takes time to build.
What I would focus on is building a strong pipeline and being financially ready. Even if you’re slightly short on work but you’re clearly trending in the right direction, have some money set aside and be willing to front payroll for the times they aren't necessarily revenue producing and have them help you with SOPs or something. Sometimes you’ve just got to take that short-term hit if you really believe in where it’s going.
There are a lot of talented people who actually like smaller companies because they can make an impact. But you’ve got to be ready when the time comes. If you’re not there yet, just keep building.
