The first 10 hires you should make in a startup and why

So you’ve got an idea that won’t let you sleep. Maybe it hit you in the shower. Or while doom scrolling on a Tuesday night. You think, “Someone should build this.” And then you realize… that someone is probably going to be you.

Welcome to startup life! Okay so you’re there now, but now what? Now comes the tricky part: turning this brainchild into a real, living, breathing business. But here’s the good news, you don’t need a 50-person team, a giant office, or VC funding with more strings than a guitar. You just need the right first ten.

So, who should you bring along for the ride?

Let’s break it down.

1. The Builder (aka your Founding Engineer)
The one who makes things happen. You’ve got the idea, they’ve got the fingers on the keyboard. They bring it to life, from “ooh what if…” to “check this out!” You want someone who’s part builder, part problem-solver.

2. The Designer (Design/UX)
No matter how smart your idea is, if it looks like it was built in 2006, no one’s sticking around. A good designer brings clarity, flow, and magic to your product. They make sure people don’t just use your app, they enjoy it. Alternatively to hiring a web designer now are no code app builders which can help you prototype and test your ideas fast and just as well too. This would be beneficial especially if you’re strapped for cash a bit.

3. The Planner (Product Lead)
Every startup has that one person saying, “Cool idea, but what problem does it actually solve?” That’s this person. They cut through the noise, focus on what matters, and make sure your team doesn’t spend three weeks building a button no one needs.

4. The Get-Stuff-Done Machine (Ops/Generalist)
Ah yes, the person who keeps everything moving, from setting up payroll to ordering coffee (if you’re lucky enough to need coffee logistics). They don’t care what the task is. They just make it happen. MVP? Legal forms? Wi-Fi not working? They’ve got it.

5. The Marketing Brain
You can have the coolest product in the world… but if no one knows about it, it’s just you and your cousin using it. Enter your early marketing hire, someone who can tell your story, find your people, and make you look way bigger than you actually are.

6. The Customer Support
More often than not CS is an unsung hero. The frontline. The one who gets the “Hi, I forgot my login ID” messages at 2AM. But also the person who hears what users really want. This role gives you insight, loyalty, and (occasionally) very polite feature requests.

7. The Sales guy/gal
If your product involves a price tag and human conversations, you need someone who’s not afraid to pick up the phone. Or hop on Zoom. Or show up to a coffee shop pitch meeting on short notice. Sales is less about pressure and more about persistence. This is your rainmaker.This person often works quite closely with the marketing and customer support team.

8. The Finance bro
No, it’s not just about spreadsheets. It’s about not running out of money while you’re building your dream. Whether it’s budgeting, forecasting, or making sure you actually send out those invoices, this person is the grown-up in the room.

9. A part-time Legal/Advisor
You don’t need a full-time lawyer right away, but you do need someone who understands contracts, privacy policies, and all that fun stuff. They make sure your T&Cs don’t accidentally say you’ll deliver your product by Airforce One.

10. The Culture Keeper
In my experience, this one’s super special. It might be someone already on the team but they’re the one who reminds everyone why you started. They help build the vibe. They care about how people feel at work, not just what they get done. Trust me, culture creeps up fast. Start strong.

Key takeaways

You don’t need to hire all ten on Day One. Some might be freelancers. Others might be you wearing five hats at once. But knowing these roles, what they bring to the table and most importantly, when to bring them in is the first step toward building something sustainable.

Also, if you’re wondering how you’re supposed to look legit to these hires without spending months coding a website… well, that’s where JDoodle.ai comes in 😉With JDoodle.ai, you can build a clean, professional, ready-to-share site in minutes. No code, no stress, no overthinking. Just ideas → launch. Start now. Or this weekend. You’ve got this.