Many women start side hustles to make their passions profitable, and with confidence, dedication, and adaptability, they have the potential to grow these into successful businesses. A major step in this process is hiring your first employee, which can be overwhelming and stressful.

As an entrepreneur, you’re likely focused on improving your product or service offering and don’t have time to make sense of confusing and complicated employment laws in Australia – with BrightHR, a leading end-to-end HR software and support services provider, you can leave it to the experts.

Mollie Eckersley, Head of Operations, ANZ, at BrightHR, is passionate about helping small businesses grow. She shares advice on how you can grow your business for the first time, and how BrightHR can empower you to turn your side hustle into your main gig.

Who are you? Tell us a bit about yourself and what you do.

I’m Mollie, the Head of Operations, ANZ, at BrightHR. I’m responsible for constantly improving our software and service and always looking for new ways to ensure our customers save as much time as possible on HR admin.

BrightHR operates globally, which means I often collaborate with teams in the UK, Ireland, and Canada as we work together to support small to medium-sized businesses worldwide.

It’s a dynamic and exciting role that is me to a T. I love problem-solving and that’s what this whole job is, finding and fixing problems.

How can you build confidence as an entrepreneur?

It’s not uncommon for female entrepreneurs to feel imposter syndrome – it’s the reason many don’t take the leap to grow their side hustle. While more opportunities are emerging for women in business, many of us still hold back and doubt our abilities.

My advice for female entrepreneurs wanting to build confidence and overcome imposter syndrome is to trust your instincts, be assertive, and stand up for what you think is right.

When you’re assertive, you’re being honest about your opinions and thoughts. That earns a measure of respect from people around you. The more you believe in yourself and your business, the more supporters you will gain.

What tips do you have for entrepreneurs wanting to grow their side hustle into a small business?

Part of the reason small businesses succeed is because they offer unique products or services that customers want or need. You can find out what your strengths are and develop your value proposition based on them.

Here are some factors to consider in identifying your business’ strengths:

• Do you have loyal repeat customers thanks to your exceptional customer service?
• Are you drawing in business through your affordable prices?
• Is your product special with a higher quality?
• What are you doing better than your competitors?

Once you’ve got your strengths pinned down, it becomes easier to focus on them as a foundation for growth. It also helps you to discover where your business falls short and identify key areas for improvement.

Remember to constantly reassess your goals and keep the bigger picture in focus. Expert advice and assistance can be outsourced and is always a good investment, saving your time, effort, and energy, which can then be redirected towards creative thinking in improving your business.

Start with small, gradual steps in growing your side hustle for the first time. Begin by hiring a single employee to support you with day-to-day operations.

How can someone hire their first employee?

The first step in hiring an employee is to determine why you need them and how their position may grow with the business. You’re not simply sourcing labour but securing the future of your company too.

Ask yourself the following to accurately identify your hiring needs:

• What will the employee’s role and responsibilities be, including work hours and minimum entitlements?
• What skills and training will they need to have?
• What salary is legal, fair, and affordable for you to pay?
• What kind of person will suit your business and your working style?

With the answers to these questions, you are better placed to land on the correct job title, establish an accurate description of the role, and compose a compelling job advertisement.

You can then promote your new role through job boards like Seek and Indeed, social media platforms, such as LinkedIn, and recruitment and industry events.

What should you look out for during the recruitment process?

When it comes to reviewing applications, technology can expedite the candidate screening process, however, interviews are the best way to gauge whether someone is the right fit for your business.

Discuss not only an applicant’s skills and experience during interviews, but their personality, attitude, motivations, and attributes too. And remember, if you’re ever unsure about your legal obligations when it comes to hiring or managing your first employee, expert help is never far away. When it comes to industrial relations legislation in Australia, mistakes can be costly and catastrophic for a micro or small business.

What are the implications for small business owners if they get HR or employment relations wrong?

If businesses fail to comply with the Fair Work Act and relevant modern awards in hiring and managing employees, whether intentionally or not, they can face reputational damage, loss of trust and regulatory action.

Breaches of the Fair Work Act can carry significant penalties in the form of fines or even imprisonment, as some breaches are considered criminal offences.

That’s why business owners must have clear position and role descriptions, classify employees correctly, regularly review pay rates against relevant awards, and seek professional advice on HR and employment relations.

What is BrightHR and how can it help entrepreneurs grow their business?

BrightHR is a leading provider of HR and health and safety software and services in Australia. Powered by experts, it offers easy-to-use technology and advice that’s clear, practical, and jargon-free.

Over 100,000 small to medium-sized businesses worldwide use BrightHR for end-to-end management support, from the initial talent search to people management and handling difficult decisions.

BrightHR can support entrepreneurs hiring their first employee or employees compliantly, with a suite of tools that can also help them navigate the ongoing management of staff.

Why did BrightHR expand its operations to Australia? What gap in the market did it identify?

Australia’s industrial relations legislation is among the most complex in the world, which means many businesses have a complicated and confusing relationship with HR.

The Fair Work Act is over 600 pages long and is written in technical legal language that most people would struggle to understand. No business owner can be across all its details and what they mean.

BrightHR was launched in the UK 10 years ago to help small business owners who were spending hours every day on HR tasks. It came down under for the same purpose and to meet the Australian demand for 24/7 access to smart, reliable HR software and specialists.

What features set BrightHR apart?

BrightHR is always expanding and upgrading its software and service offerings and is constantly developing new features.

One of BrightHR’s standout offerings is BrightExchange, a world-first for a HR company as a free advertising platform. It’s a fantastic way for entrepreneurs to promote their business to a vast network of businesses and customers.

BrightExchange admins can create unlimited adverts for over one million potential customers around the world for free. Clients can advertise their products and services on the marketplace and share exclusive perks and discounts with their staff members.

Another fantastic tool for small businesses is BrightHR’s Turbo Talent Navigator, an all-in-one platform designed to help employers hire top talent. Among its features are 24/7 recruitment advice from HR experts, templates for documents including job descriptions, and a central hub to stay on top of applications.

Learn more about BrightHR and how its expert team can help you turn your side hustle into a small business below.

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