Why hiring friends or family in your Startup might not be the best idea.

Neha Sahay
NehaSahay.digital
Published in
5 min readMay 4, 2024

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Dream Team or Drama Team? The Friend/Family hire dilemma. Focus on fit, not friendship.

Have you ever had a friend or a family member ask for a job in your startup?

They have no idea what we are going through. They think we are successful but we know that we might fail. We are under stress and others think our lives are sorted.

Starting a business venture is both exhilarating and challenging. The early days of a startup are a whirlwind. You’re fueled by passion, fueled by caffeine, and desperately seeking the right people to join your venture.

Running a startup is a constant hustle. Even with a few years under your belt, market shifts, competition, and regulations loom large. In the early stages, every decision can have a significant impact on the trajectory of the company. But while you’re focused on keeping your business afloat, friends and family might have a different perception.

One such decision that often arises is whether to hire friends or family to join the team. While the idea of working closely with people you already know and trust may seem appealing, it can come with its own set of challenges and risks.

Here are some reasons why hiring friends or family in your startup venture…

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Neha Sahay
NehaSahay.digital

FinTech & Digital Payments Strategist, Blogger. You can find more about her and connect through her personal website : https://nehasahay.digital/