The Timing Question
When should you hire your first in-house engineer?
We hired at $500 MRR. Too early.
We waited until $50K MRR. Too late.
Here's what we learned.
Signs You're Ready
1. Revenue Supports It
Engineer costs $100K+. You need revenue.
Target: $20K+ MRR minimum.
2. Technical Debt Is Costing You
Agency quotes are expensive.
In-house is cheaper long-term.
3. You Have Work
Full-time work. Not just bug fixes.
They'll get bored. Bored engineers leave.
Signs You're Not Ready
1. You Don't Know What to Build
You need a product person first.
Not an engineer.
2. You're Still Validating
Keep agency work. Lower commitment.
3. Revenue Is Unstable
Don't hire when you're unsure.
The Type to Hire
Full-Stack Generalist
Can work across the stack.
Flexibility matters early.
Specific Problem Solver
Have a specific issue? Hire for that.
The Honest Take
Hire when revenue supports it.
Hire when you have full-time work.
Don't hire for prestige. Hire for need.
