How to Hire a General Manager (and Get Your Life Back)

Running a small business can feel like running on a treadmill—every fire, every decision, every shift depends on you. The solution? Hiring a general manager.

But how you hire one makes all the difference.

If you’ve ever Googled “how to hire a general manager,” you’ve likely seen fluffy job board articles or recycled HR advice. This isn’t that. This is a practical, owner-focused guide to stepping out of the day-to-day—and putting the right person in charge.

Guide to the Guide

Here are the six most important lessons every small business owner needs to know:

1. Start With the End in Mind

• Why are you hiring a GM?
• To reclaim your time?
• To grow revenue?
• To prepare the business for sale?

Your reason should drive how you define the role and who you hire.

2. Define the Real Job

Generic job descriptions won’t cut it. You need to map out:

• Daily/weekly/monthly responsibilities
• Who they manage
• What systems they’ll use
• What success looks like

3. Write a Job Description That Attracts Doers

You’re not hiring a middle manager—you’re hiring an operational leader. Write a compelling job ad that shares:

• Your company’s mission
• The challenges of the role
• The impact they can make

4. Offer Compensation That Aligns with Goals

Forget bloated bonus structures. Your incentives should reflect the business transformation you want:

• Stability = income-based
• Growth = revenue-based
• Sale prep = margin/efficiency-based

5. Screen for Initiative

Resumes aren’t enough. Use assessments to see how candidates think.
Look for:

• Complete, thoughtful responses
• Examples of ownership
• Clarity around goals and problem-solving

6.Interview for Ownership, Not Just Experience

Don’t just ask what they’ve done—ask how they think.
Try these:

• What would you change in our business in 90 days?
• What motivates you to take ownership of results?
• How do you lead teams through change?

Final Thoughts: From Burnout to Business Resilience

Hiring a general manager isn’t just about offloading tasks—it’s about building a resilient business that can thrive without you.

That resilience translates directly to business value. Buyers love businesses with systems, leadership, and low owner dependence.

Whether you’re preparing to sell, install a GM, or just want your evenings back, I help small business owners like you plan the right exit—or step into a true ownership role.

Hiring a general manager (GM) isn’t just about lightening your load—it’s about transforming your business into something scalable, sellable, and sustainable. Whether you’re a plumber in a growing shop, a chef-owner tired of 80-hour weeks, or a professional services founder trying to work on the business instead of in it…this is for you.