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"Be generous with benefits" seems like a good policy in general, but should be optimized for employee #1 (and the next few).

I wouldn't feel a need to get excellent healthcare for my first few employees if they have existing good insurance on their own (I plan to keep my $100/mo HSA plan indefinitely), but I value a $10k equipment budget and basically unlimited Amazon book ordering more than they cost to provide, I'd value a place to receive packages during the day, including cases of ammo, far more than the cost to provide that. If you are a tiny startup, don't just do cookie cutter benefits, pick benefits your current and prospective employees would particularly value.

I'm not sure about spending a marginal dollar on benefits vs salary.




This is the value of using outsourced HR with a company like TriNet. They allow you to offer really competitive healthcare plans.

I think it's really important from the beginning to say that you care enough about your employees to get them the best healthcare you can afford.

It's not really that expensive, so why wait?


Btw Ryan, what's your view on running a business in the US compared to UK - is it easier in one or another, cheaper in one or the other?


I'm moving to Portland Oregon, from the UK. I'm afraid that says it all :(


That and the frowny face say conflicting things. Are you happy to be working in the states?


He's sad that having the company in the UK didn't work out.


Well you dont have to worry about heathcare as the NHS takes care of that.

Incorporating is quick. Taxes are simpler than the states theres only one sales tax, one income tax and none of this complex mixture of 52 state taxes.

Housing and Gas is more expensive like for like


A lot of companies offer private health / dental cover as a benefit though... don't know about the cost comparison


BUPA is pretty cheap (maybe 1/5 of a US health policy if healthy and young down to 1/25 or less if you have pre-existing conditions) because it's just an add-on to NHS.


But not in the context of a startup which is the context I was talking about your right a lot of the big firms on the FTSE will offer BUPA or somthing similar.




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