Ask YC: Team structure - when is the right time to start?
I need your help and thoughts. Here's a quick background.
I started building some projects for fun and realized that it would be great if I can hire some help. Obviously, I couldn't afford a full time salary here, so I decided to see if there's some possibility of an offshore team.
I hired my first person 18 months ago and this person started working at then my partners house (he lives offshore). We moved into our first office 15 months ago and increased the team to 4 people. Till then I was just building stuff for fun trying to see what sticks. This is when I started getting requests from a couple of people to build applications for them. It was a good source of side income and so we did.
Fast forward to now, my partner is no longer with us (I own the company now), we have moved into a larger office and recently hired employee # 10 and # 11. We're doing some fun things building fun applications and this hobby has suddenly turned into a BUSINESS with real profit and revenue.
The problems and questions I have are: a) My structure so far was flat. Everyone reported to me. We used scrum reporting from Assembla. However, now there's too many people to manage plus I still have customers to work with. However, if we introduce a structure, the hierarchy may slow things down. Thoughts?
b) With more people especially since I am not in the same location as others, there are communication hurdles. We've gotten pretty good at this but does anyone have better experience with dislocated teams that can suggest some tools? process? etc. that can help other than the regular skype, messenger, phone etc.
c) If we decide a structure, it makes sense for me to make my first 4 employees as leads. They have been around the longest and worked with me the most (and hence understand me the most). 2 of those are the strongest developers, however the other 2 not so much. However, from experience I know that when you make the smartest people leaders, they loose their day to day contribution a little at least in the short run. What do you recommend the best structure would look like.
I understand I may not have provided some details, so please let me know in the comments and I will add here.
Appreciate your help for a first time entrepreneur/business owner with little knowledge of growing a company and creating a structure that lends well to growth.
Thanks !