Hiring your first employee is exciting, and maybe a little intimidating. From payroll and paperwork to employment rules and onboarding, here’s a practical, plain-English checklist to help small-business owners make their first hire in Canada or the U.S. with at least a little more confidence than they started with.

Probation periods sound simple enough… but do you really need to include them in a contract? Is it always three months? And what’re they actually for?

Not sure who to hire for HR? Compare big firm resources vs. boutique speed and customization. See the tradeoffs and pick your best fit.