When you start a home business, it may be difficult to do everything on your own. There may be a serious need for help, but you may not want to hire anyone you don’t know to come into your home. This is why many people employ their family. There are many pros and cons to doing this, and several of them are detailed here.
Hiring a family member is great if you are trying to save money. This is because family members may be a lot more understanding to your financial situation than others. They will not require all of the benefits associated with being a regular employee. You can hire them informally and pay them without having to worry about any taxes. For example, your daughter can answer the phones for you in exchange for a $100 allowance every week.
Many times family members think they are above the law. This means that they will do things because they think they can get away with them. While someone would most likely put their phones away at a traditional job, they may think texting is okay since they are at home. Be very clear about what the rules are beforehand so there is no confusion about what is expected of everyone.
Since they are your family members, you may have an easier time letting them know when you are unhappy with their work. Many people do not like the idea of employees thinking they are bad people. Hiring family eliminates this issue because they already know what type of person you are. When you have to buckle down and give them direction they will know that this is because you are their boss at that moment and nothing more.
It is very hard to let a family member know when they will have to be let go. How can you tell your husband that you do not like the job he is doing and let him know he is no longer needed? Just like with any other person, firing someone is not a pleasant task. It is very hard to fire a family member because you have to worry about any resentment being carried over into your personal relationship.
You will have to place family members in different positions based on ability and this may make some of them jealous. For example, your wife may feel upset if she is given the job of receptionist while your daughter is given the job of office manager. You have to make it clear to your family members that roles in the home have nothing to do with their job titles and you are hiring them based on what their qualifications are.
It is ultimately up to you to decide if it is worth it to hire members of your family. While it might save you a lot of money, it may create some tension in your home. Think over all of the information here before making a decision since a lot is at stake.