First, let me say that if what you want to do is grow a big company and make money DON'T LISTEN TO MY ADVICE. If what you want to do is enjoy life more and focus on the portions of the business you enjoy then read on.
Well, we are up to 5 people now and we are all (I think) having fun. Let me share my experience. First, I have been blessed. I have had the same business partner for 35 years and we get along really well - primarily I think because neither one of us gives a shit about money. We make enough to be happy (actually he has done real estate and has far more than I do - but thE Ppoint is we do it because we love the tech, and the challenge.
We have had a number of people over the years and what we have found is - if they are not making what we do more fun then get rid of them. We can do this because WE DON'T GIVE A SHIT ABOUT MONEY.
Do not be afraid to fire people! One of the best pieces of business advice I ever got was over thirty years ago from a friend and mentor who WAS good at making money. I was working for a company at the time and had about 35 employees under me. (hated it) I mentioned I hated firing people and this is what he said. "I Don't, if someone is not doing a good job they are not a good fit here and THEY know they're not doing a good job and are not a good fit. They're is a place for that person, it just isn't here so the quicker I get rid of them the quicker they can be looking for something where they will be happy and the quicker I can find someone who is a good fit here."
The people we are working with now are people we met through the industry we are in and wanted to join us because they like what we do. They are not greedy and looking for a big payday, they just enjoy the niche we are in. My partner and I are able to stay focused on development which is what we love and have been able to offload a lot of what we don't love: Paying bills, collecting bills, technical details, customer support (the parts we don't like) and, of course, sales. Everyone we work with started part time. Our Bookkeeper/finance person/bill collector is still part time, she has a number of other clients but she loves working with us because we aren't demanding and just let her do what she does best.
So look for people who compliment what you do and recognize that probably means they will have a different temperament and different priorities than you - that is a good thing. But if, after working with them for a while you find they are sucking energy from you rather than generating more energy then get rid of them and try again.
When I was young of course I wanted to set the world on fire and be rich but I gradually recognized that is just not what interests me. Some guy on a talk show once. Never forgot what he said.
"You know that old adage 'Just do what you love and the money bill come?' That's BS. If that was true bad poets would be rich. The people who say that are people who love to make money."
And I know people like that. I remember one friend who was extremely wealthy financially and he described an new opportunity (which he succeeded at). A city was getting out of the street sweeping business and was letting a contract for the business. And to him it was just "I need X treet sweepers at X dollars each and that many means I need two mechanics at X dollars and X drivers at X dollars, etc. he added it all up, add in his profit, and made a bid and won.
Now me, I want to know what the best street sweeper is and how it works and what kind of mileage it gets, what kind of person likes to drive a street sweeper, etc. He could care less, he was just moving $$$.
So, think about what you want to accomplish. Is it more money? More free time? Maybe just the ability to focus on the parts of the business you enjoy. Then talk to people you might want to work with or who would know people and TELL THEM your goals. And when you are hiring someone BE HONEST about what YOUR goals are and that you are looking for people that can help you accomplish that. That way there is less opportunity for friction because the goals are clear.
I am amazed every day that the talented people my partner and I get to work with are happy working with us.
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