A Guide to Hiring for Small Business Owners

20 May 2025 by Elevate Virtual Business Solutions

A Guide to Hiring for Small Business Owners

Ever wish there were two of you to handle all the tasks and responsibilities on your desk?

That’s probably a good sign, it’s time to hire!

Expanding your team, whether you’re adding your first team member or hiring your 25th employee, can be a complicated, exhausting process if you don’t have a specific system in place.

At Elevate, we love operationalizing and systematizing everything––and hiring is one of the areas where we shine!

Come with us as we share the signs it’s time to hire, the most common hiring mistakes we see, and our best tips and practices for hiring like a pro. We’ll even take you behind the scenes to show you how we streamline the hiring process for our clients so you can borrow what works best to use yourself!

Signs it’s time to hire

Balancing the need to bring in extra help and having the business to justify the expense of a new team member can be tricky, but putting off the need to hire for too long can lead to a loss of business, getting stuck at a specific revenue plateau, or serious burnout.

If you’re experiencing one (or more!) of these signs, it’s probably time to kick off the hiring process and bring in some additional help:

There aren't enough hours in the day. You're consistently overworked and stressed out.
You're turning down opportunities because you can't step away from client work.
You and/or your team can no longer keep up with inquiries.
You're missing personal time or family events to meet deadlines.
Your team is reporting the same feelings of overload and burnout.

Mistakes to avoid when hiring for small business teams

You don’t have an unlimited budget, so it’s important that every hire is strategic, effective, and successful.

A bad hire can cost you thousands of dollars and slow down your growth, so it really is worth it to put in the time and energy on the front end to ensure a positive hiring experience.

Here are the most common mistakes we see that you should try to avoid:

Creating a generic job description: If you're attracting applicants who don't fit your needs, revisit and clarify the job description.
Not following a specific hiring process: You need a repeatable, flexible process tailored to the role.
Focusing only on hard skills: Don’t ignore soft skills like communication, critical thinking, and collaboration.
Ignoring company culture: Hire people aligned with your brand values to boost retention and team harmony.
Hiring for tasks instead of outcomes: Focus on what success in the role should look like beyond just duties.

Best practices: Hiring for small business owners

If you know your current hiring approach isn’t working, here are 3 best practices from our playbook:

Start with your mission and vision: These must be clear before you hire. Everything else flows from this foundation.
Prioritize clear, consistent communication: Internally with your team and externally with applicants. Don’t leave people in the dark!
Spend time crafting the job description: Focus on outcomes, expectations in the first 3–6 months, and both soft and hard skills required.

Streamlining your hiring process

A flexible, repeatable hiring system will save you time and improve results. Here’s what our experts recommend:

Choose the right system: Consider HR platforms, project management tools like ClickUp, or even Google Sheets + Forms for smaller operations.
Train your team: Everyone involved should understand the system, their responsibilities, and how to follow each step.
Ask similar questions at every stage: Consistency helps you assess how candidates think and respond in different settings.
Give yourself more time than you think you need: A longer runway prevents rushed decisions and accounts for inevitable delays.

Need help with hiring for your small business?

Our team of operational experts can take the work off your plate!

We’ll build every step of your tailored hiring process to attract the right person and make it easier for you to make an excellent hire every time.

We can create:

Job descriptions
Application questions
A multi-step hiring process

All designed to give you the power to attract and select the perfect candidate for what you need.

Our Get It Done Service starts at $999, and you can click here for all the details!

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City of Santa Clarita

Business Insight Sessions

19 May 2025 by City of Santa Clarita

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Koegle Law Group, APC

California Sexual Harassment Training Requirements: What Employers Need to Know

12 May 2025 by Koegle Law Group, APC

Contrary to popular belief, sexual harassment training doesn't lead to more complaints—it leads to better workplaces. Informed employers know that clear expectations and consistent training reduce risk and foster a culture of respect.

Plus, California law requires it. Employers with five or more employees must provide ongoing sexual harassment prevention training. Falling short can result in legal exposure and costly penalties.

At Koegle Law Group, we help business owners approach compliance as a smart business strategy. In our latest article, we break down:

Who must receive training and how often
Key compliance rules every California employer needs to understand
Best practices for documenting compliance and updating policies
Misconceptions that can trip up even well-intentioned employers

Need training done right—and on your terms? We can help.

👉 Read the full article here

This article was originally published by Koegle Law Group, proudly serving businesses in Santa Clarita and beyond.

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State Farm - Henry Rodriguez

The Rodriguez Agency Rundown

09 May 2025 by State Farm - Henry Rodriguez

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U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Ahead of Mother’s Day, New Tariffs Put a $25 Million Tax on Flowers

08 May 2025 by U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Every year on the second Sunday in May, Americans celebrate the mothers in their lives. Often with flowers.
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Leading up to Mother’s Day, America imports just over $250 million of cut flowers.
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But now they are subject to 10% tariffs, creating a $25 million Mother’s Day Tax.
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This tax will not only affect families, but also the over 11,000 florists across the country.
Given that 80% of all cut flowers sold in the U.S. are imported, if these tariffs remain in place, over the course of the next year, it will impact Valentine’s Day, birthdays, and other occasions with a flower tax totaling over $210 million.

Why it matters: It isn’t just flowers. Tariffs are increasing costs for Americans and creating massive disruptions that put small businesses at risk.
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What they’re saying: Brittany Hizer, co-founder and COO of Pluie, in Keller, Texas said higher duties make it more expensive to import the materials her company needs to make diaper-changing products:
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“The 25% tariff imposed on all steel and aluminum imports into the U.S. will be a huge expense to our commercial products. In addition, we are also facing increased tariffs for our diaper changing table parts made in China… Our consumer products recently launched in 2024 are made in China. We are very concerned and already seeing small businesses, especially in our female-founded business community, fold in advance of the tariff increases taking place."
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What we’re doing: The U.S. Chamber is calling for immediate tariff relief for small businesses and to provide tariff exclusions for products that cannot be made in the U.S. or threaten American jobs.

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Southern California Edison

Plug in to Edison - Local Public Affairs

06 May 2025 by Southern California Edison

How the General Rate Case Supports Customers

California has ambitious goals to improve air quality and achieve a carbon-neutral economy by 2045. While Southern California Edison (SCE) works to achieve that long-term vision, we need to make foundational improvements to the grid today. Like all regulated utilities, SCE’s investments must be authorized by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) through a process known as the General Rate Case (GRC). Every four years, SCE must file detailed plans to the CPUC seeking their approval for grid investments for our operations – planning, designing, building, and operating the electric grid. Our latest GRC focuses on things that will provide customers safer, reliable, resilient electric service now and for the future while supporting energy affordability and the state’s climate initiatives.

SCE’s current GRC application proposed investments include:

Improving the grid to support new and evolving energy needs, such as EV's and electrifying buildings.
Developing solutions to address the needs of local energy systems.
Proactive infrastructure replacement and hardening the grid to reduce wildfire risk.
Targeted undergrounding and installing covered conductor to significantly reduce wildfire risks.
Continued vegetation management to provide safe and reliable electric service.

To learn more about our comprehensive approach, visit this website or speak with your Government Relations Manager.

Net-Energy Metering Reform

The Net-Energy Metering (NEM) program originally began in California in 1996 as a subsidy provided to energy customers to incentivize consumer rooftop solar, and it worked! With the goal of 10,000 rooftop solar systems, today there are approximately two million in the state.

The Issue: This subsidy comes at a cost. Contrary to common perception, the NEM subsidy in no way negatively affects SCE’s revenues or profits. Instead, it is paid for by customers who don't have rooftop solar. Today, NEM subsidies make up about 21 – 27 percent of non-solar customer bills. Cal Advocates projects rooftop solar incentives cost non-solar customers $8.5 billion in 2024 alone. This cost-shift on average adds hundreds of dollars per year to non-solar customer bills and disproportionately impacts low-income, seniors and other disadvantaged communities.

The CPUC revisited the state's NEM program in 2022 and adopted the Solar Billing Plan (SBP/NBT) for customers that installed solar systems after April 2023. This was a step in the right direction, as it gave energy credits based on the actual value of the electricity to the grid rather than the retail prices given through NEM. It also incentivized battery storage. By using battery storage and shifting energy use to off-peak times, SBP/NBT helps make the electric grid more reliable and reduces strain during high-demand periods.

While this was a step in the right direction, legacy NEM customers who installed solar before April 2023) are still disproportionately offloading their fixed costs (the costs to maintain the grid and mandated energy efficiency and assistance programs) onto the customers who do not have solar and can least afford it. To address this we need policies that support equitable rates for all customers. Other states and California publicly-owned utilities have shown that it's possible to grow the rooftop solar market in a way that doesn't force others to pay for subsidies that disproportionately benefit those who were able to install rooftop solar. To learn more: Sustainable Path for Solar Power | Energized by Edison

Upcoming Events

AAPI Heritage Month Event

SCE is proud to host its 19th Annual Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month event on May 16, at the SCE Energy Education Center. This year's theme, "Honoring the Past and Rebuilding for the Future," will address critical issues such as climate change, anti-Asian hate, economic and social inequities, and mobility challenges for older adults. Register and join us for an inspiring program featuring guest speakers, networking opportunities, and vital resources to foster community resilience and equity.

Short Stories

Lineworker Scholarship Closing May 9

If you’re looking for a new career path, now is the time to apply for the Lineworker Scholarship, which awards up to $25,000.

The program is funded by Edison International shareholders and IBEW Local 47. It covers the cost of tuition, tools and support services needed to complete required training at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College.

The scholarship is open to applicants with demonstrated financial need. For details on eligibility criteria and to apply by May 9, visit Lineworker Scholarship | EIX.

Funding and Learning Opportunities for EV Infrastructure

Transit Agency Fleet Electrification Learning Session: Join us on Tue., May 13, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. for an exclusive virtual session designed for transit agencies exploring or actively deploying electric buses. Learn directly from the leaders who've done it - what worked, what didn't, and what you can apply to your own fleet plans.
Rural Electric Vehicle Charging 2.0: There is $10 million in available grant funding for projects that will install light duty EV charging infrastructure in rural communities. Submission deadline: May 23.
Charging Interoperability and Collaboration Yard: A $4 million grant aimed at creating a neutral space for industry collaboration, knowledge sharing, interoperability testing, and conformance testing for electric vehicle charging equipment. Submission deadline: June 4.
Medium- and Heavy-Duty Zero-Emission Vehicle Port Infrastructure: Up to $40 million in grant funds are set to be deployed to support projects that will install medium- and heavy-duty EV charging infrastructure or hydrogen refueling infrastructure for CA seaports or land ports of entry. Submission deadline: June 13.

Recent Legislation Introduced in the State

SB 540: The bill provides a crucial framework for the evolution of an expanded regional electricity market, allowing California to access a broader portfolio of clean energy resources and at a lower overall cost. While doing this, it also retains California's control over key policy as it applies to the state, including environmental regulations, procurement mandates and reliability standards. (SCE Supports; Current Status: Pass Sen. Judiciary Committee)
SB 254: This bill systematically undercuts established utility ratemaking principles supporting necessary grid hardening and clean energy investments, while ignoring external factors that drive up utility rates and impact customer affordability. (SCE Opposes; Current Status: Pass Sen. Energy, Utilities & Communications Committee)

Workshop Helps Pilots Avoid Air Strikes

SCE hosted its second Wire Avoidance Seminar to teach pilots how to detect and avoid power lines while flying. Nearly 140 pilots from various agencies, including local police and fire departments, attended the event. This training is crucial for improving safety and preventing accidents, especially during wildfire mitigation and equipment inspections. By sharing this knowledge, SCE is helping to protect lives and enhance safety in our region.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: What is SCE's Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) decision making process?

Answer: SCE may decide to shut off power during dangerous fire weather conditions based on weather forecasts, fire modeling, and real-time guidance from experts. We consider factors like strong winds and dry vegetation that could cause fires. PSPS is used as a last resort to prevent wildfires from starting, and we must balance reducing wildfire risk with the impact on customers and community safety.

Please Submit Your Questions: If you have a question related to SCE and our electrical service, please send to us in one of two ways:

Contact your local SCE Government Relations Manager and pose the question.
Send the question directly to our communications staff at SCE.LocalPublicAffairs@SCE.com.

We will go through all questions and answer them in priority order, based on the most popular or frequently asked. Answers will appear each month in this newsletter. Thank you for your interest and engagement with SCE Local Public Affairs!