Should you hire a family member to work in your small business? In most cases, my answer is an unequivocal 'No".
Typically, hiring family and friends ends in disaster.
When things go awry, good, long-term friendships are destroyed and family gatherings become tense and uncomfortable.
My two uncles didn't speak for about five years because of a bad business deal.
Seating at holiday dinners was carefully calculated so as to avoid problems between the two.
You don't want that for your family I'm sure, so let's think this through carefully.
First, does the family member have the skills, experience and core competencies you need to grow your business.
Think about it from this perspective.
Would you hire a house painter to paint your personal portrait? Probably not.
There is a big difference between painting a room and painting a portrait.
A portrait artist requires more talent, sophisticated skills and training.
Additionally, when you add employees you should look for individuals who complement your skill set.
For example, you may be a real star when it comes to marketing and sales, but operational detail isn't your thing.
A smart hire for you might be someone who thrives on process and organization.
So before you hire anyone regardless of their relationship with you, you need to define what type of individual you need to help your business grow.
This makes your decision a business decision rather than a personal one.
What if the family member is willing to work for free or a below market-value salary, and your cash flow is tight.
Remember the adage you get what you pay for? Family members typically mean well and want you to succeed, but when it's not a "real" job, they may not take it seriously, leaving you high and dry when you need them the most.
After careful consideration you decide the family member makes sense for your business, then make sure you make their employment a professional business relationship.
Roles, responsibilities and expectations need to be clearly defined and agreed upon.
I recommend putting everything in writing because memories can be short.
Family baggage is also a critical consideration when you have a family member on the payroll.
Personal conflicts should be dealt with outside the office so other employees aren't caught in the middle of a family feud.
Additionally, you can't show favoritism to your relative without jeopardizing company morale.
And when you make a decision concerning the family member in the workplace, stop and ask yourself if you'd make the same choice with a non-family member.
Logic not emotion needs to control your thought process and that can be difficult at times.
Finally, ask yourself whether the family member has the capability and desire to grow and evolve as your company expands.
What will you do if your business grows and your relative is no longer a good fit? Are you comfortable with letting them go? The final decision as with all business decisions is up to you, but I encourage you to think long and hard before you add that family member to your team.
Employees come and go, but our families are here to stay.