201 GREAT IDEAS for Your SMALL BUSINESS, Third Edition

GREAT 134 IDEA: Cast a Wide Net to Attract Good Employees

It's very tough for a small company, especially in the start-up phase, to compete with bigger companies when it comes to offering competitive salaries and attractive benefits. But it's essential to hire the best people from the very beginning. Hiring mistakes are costly. A big company can afford a few duds on the payroll, but a small business doesn't have the time or financial resources to waste on a poor hire.

Here are some low-cost ways to recruit good workers:

• Tell your customers and vendors that you're hiring. They know your business and can refer people they would like to work with.
• Call other small business owners and ask if they've interviewed any talented people they weren't able ...