First-Hire Operating Kit
The 8-file system you hand the stranger on Day 1. Run the 4-Check Readiness Gate for a GO / NOT YET / STOP decision, then unlock the comp calculator and the carve-out, scorecard, onboarding, delegation, and exit templates.
The first hire is not your "next you". The first hire is your "not-you-anymore". You are not cloning yourself — you are subtracting work. And the work leaves you only if the system is built before the stranger arrives.
The 8-file system
Cover & how to use this kit — The recommended sequence to work through the system.
4-Check Readiness Self-Assessment — Revenue, delivery system, roster, hourly value → a single GO / NOT YET / STOP decision.
Scope Carve-Out Template — What leaves you, what the assistant owns in 90 days, what you never delegate. The $20 vs $80/hr triage.
Role Scorecard Template — 3–5 measurable 90-day outcomes. Filled-in exemplar plus a blank template the candidate signs.
90-Day Onboarding Protocol — Five-phase ramp from shadow to owned outcome, with Day 30 / 60 / 90 decision gates.
Comp + Economics Worksheet — Four comp models with gross-margin math at any client load, plus the 4/9ths sanity check.
Delegation Playbook — Delegate / document / delete triage and seven specific delegation patterns for trainers.
Termination + Exit Checklist — 30-day PIP, termination script, client comms template, IP/data return, non-compete review.
Who this is built for
Sam — the solo coach
28–38, ~30 clients, $4–8K/mo, 1.5 hrs/wk on acquisition
The default reader. Sits at the median readiness band — the hire ROI is positive in Year 1.
Grace — the gym owner
35–55, 3+ trainers, $8K/mo ad spend
Uses the same kit on hire #2, #3, or #4. The architecture does not change with headcount.
Amanda — the early coach
1–10 clients, sub-$3K/mo
Not the hiring stage yet. Acquisition is the leverage event. The Readiness Gate will say so.
Time investment
- The Readiness Gate: 20 minutes with your revenue, hours log, and roster in front of you.
- Scope Carve-Out + Role Scorecard: about an hour to draft, 15 minutes for an outside reader.
- Comp + Economics: 30 minutes with the calculator below.
- The whole kit is ~55 minutes of reading; the system it installs runs for the life of the hire.
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