Why Hiring Staff Might Be the Smartest Investment You Make—Even with the Costs

As a business owner, one of the most pivotal decisions you’ll make is how to build your team: do you hire permanent employees, or rely on subcontractors (a.k.a. subbies)?

At first glance, subbies may seem like the cheaper, more flexible option. No payroll hassles, no holiday pay, no pensions. But peel back the layers, and a different picture emerges—one where investing in employed staff could actually be your strongest move toward sustainable success.

Here’s why taking on employees might not just be a cost, but a serious catalyst for growth.

1. Loyalty You Can Build On

There’s a reason successful companies invest in team culture: it drives everything. When you hire staff, you’re bringing on people who can align with your vision, absorb your values, and become ambassadors of your brand. They’re more likely to:

• Stick around for the long haul
• Take ownership of their work
• Build meaningful relationships with clients and colleagues

Subbies, by contrast, are business owners themselves. Their loyalties are often split across multiple gigs, and their commitment ends with the contract. You might get skill, but you won’t get the buy-in those fuels long-term growth.

2. Consistency You Can Count On

Let’s be honest unpredictability is a business killer.

With employees, you control schedules, systems, and standards. That means:

• You train them your way
• They show up when you need them
• Quality stays consistent across the board

Subbies come and go. Their availability depends on their workload, not yours. If you’re relying on them during a busy period and they’re tied up elsewhere? You’re out of luck.

3. Brand Control that Builds Reputation

Your team is your brand in action. Every customer interaction, every job done, every email sent—it’s all part of how your business is perceived.

Employees are a direct reflection of your company. You set the tone:

• Uniforms and dress codes
• Customer service etiquette
• Communication flow and expectations

With subbies, you’re partnering with another business. They might be skilled, but their approach won’t always match yours. And if they represent you poorly? It’s your reputation on the line.

4. Real Scalability, Not Just Flexibility

Subbies are great for plugging gaps. But if you’re looking to build, not just survive, employed staff offer a real path forward. You can:

• Create team structures and defined roles
• Promote internally and nurture leaders
• Streamline operations with consistent feedback
• Foster innovation through collective ownership

Try doing that with a revolving door of contractors—it’s like trying to build a house with a different set of tools every week.

The Costs: Let’s Break It Down

Yes, employees come with obligations. But they’re not as scary as you might think. Take a full-time employee earning £30,000 a year:

• Salary: £30,000
• Employer NI: ~£2,400
• Pension (3%): ~£900
• Misc. (training, sick pay, etc.): Varies

Total cost: £33,500–£35,000/year

Now, consider a subbie charging £250/day for 220 days a year:

• Annual cost: £55,000
• No training, no long-term culture, no consistency

That’s a £20k difference—and you’re paying more for less control.

The Real Cost of “Flexibility”

Subbies might save you admin headaches, but they can cost you:

• Control over your brand
• Long-term team loyalty
• Strategic growth opportunities

Employees, on the other hand, are an investment. They offer stability, scalability, and the ability to build something lasting.

Final Thought: Build for the Business You Want

If your goal is quick turnover with no long-term vision, subbies might do the job. But if you’re serious about growing a reputable, resilient, and scalable business, investing in employed staff is almost always the better play.

Yes, it’s a bigger commitment. But it’s also the path to bigger rewards.

Build your team like you’re building your future—because you are.