When and How to Hire Help in Your Crochet Business

As creative entrepreneurs, we pour our energy, creativity, and heart into every stitch, post, and product. But there comes a time in nearly every handmade business journey when you hit a ceiling—suddenly, your passion project is too much for just one person to handle. The question is, when is the RIGHT time to hire help in your crochet business? And how do you do it in a way that supports both your growth and your peace of mind?

When can you have help? Because I have my business, and I have a a regular job that I go to. I feel like I should be doing more, but I can’t do more because of my job. And then, I feel I’m lagging behind because what I need to do for my business, I’m not doing it.

– Pamela Kuloba, Pam’s Cozy Corner

When to Hire Help to Grow Your Crochet Business

A while back, I sat down with Pamela Kuloba of Pam’s Cozy Corner to discuss this very topic. Although that was a few years ago, the insights we gained from that conversation are as relevant as ever. Read, watch, or listen below for my best advice as you work through the sometimes tricky decision of moving from a solo operation to a team—no matter how small that team might be. 👇

Why Hiring Help is a Game-Changer for Crochet Businesses

If you’re running a crochet business (or any craft-based venture), chances are you started out as a one-person show—designing, making, marketing, selling, shipping, and maybe even blogging about your creations. For a while, this system works. But what happens when:

• You juggle a full-time job and your business.
• Your business growth is limited by your available time and energy.
• The to-do list keeps growing, but your capacity does not.

Pamela K. expressed a sentiment familiar to many makers:

“I feel like I should be doing more, but I can’t do more because of my job. I feel I’m lacking behind because what I need to do for my business, I’m not doing it.”

This internal struggle—wanting growth but being stretched thin—is the first sign that it may be time to hire help. It’s important to realize that there’s no falling behind from anyone else’s perspective. You’ve set some goals for yourself and you feel like you’re behind where you want to be.

How Do You Know You’re Ready to Hire Help for Your Crochet Business?

Here’s how to know you’re ready:

🤯 You’re Consistently Overwhelmed: If your business consistently leaves you feeling like you can’t catch up, it’s your first red flag.

💨 Opportunities are Passing You By: Perhaps collaborations, markets, or new product ideas are lost because you simply do not have the time to pursue them.

📉 Growth Has Plateaued: If business growth is stalling—not because there’s a lack of opportunity, but due to your availability—it’s time to reassess.

💪 Your Business Needs Outpace Your Skills/Interest: Are you struggling with content creation, social media management, or shipping logistics? Hiring for these tasks frees you to focus on your strengths.

You don’t have to “wait until your business can pay for the help consistently.” You can choose to invest some of your own funds to get things moving faster. It’s about risk tolerance and understanding your particular business needs.

Smart Strategies to Hire Help for your Crochet Business on Any Budget

What if you’re not making enough to afford help out-of-pocket? Here are several creative strategies that you can try to hire help within your price range:

1. Invest Personal Funds (if you’re comfortable)

If your business isn’t yet earning enough but you’re serious about growth, you may choose to invest your own money to kick start the process.

2. Internships & Mentoring

Try offering internships or mentoring opportunities—trade experience and business insights for help with tasks like product photography, social media, or even pattern testing.

3. Bartering & Trade

Barter your skills or products in exchange for help. For example:

• Offer a finished product in exchange for modeling or photography.
• Trade teaching crochet skills for administrative support.

4. Outsource Overseas

Hiring virtual assistants (VAs) from countries with a lower cost of living can be a budget-friendly option. Onlinejobs.ph is a great resource for finding experienced virtual assistants at a fraction of the cost you might pay locally.

Building the Foundations Before You Hire Help in Your Crochet Business

Maximize your ROI by making it as simple as possible for new help to jump in. Write down the systems that you use in your business so that when you bring someone in, they can just hit the ground running and start working.

Set Up Your Systems

• Document your workflows (order fulfillment, pattern submission, social posting).
• Use process tools like Asana or Trello to track tasks and deadlines.
• Automate what you can (e.g., schedule social posts in advance with apps).

Inventory the Tasks You Want to Delegate

• List every business task:
  • Content creation (blogs, emails, product descriptions)
  • Social media (posting, engagement, graphics)
  • Admin (answering emails, updating shop listings)
  • Customer service
  • Logistics (packing, shipping)
• Decide what to keep—and what to pass along. You want to spend your time on tasks that only YOU can do or the ones that directly make you money, like designing new crochet patterns or refining your marketing strategy.

Not sure what tasks are most important? Check out this post to learn more about how to prioritize tasks and maximize your productivity!

Should You Hire Local or International Help?

This question comes up a lot. I’ve worked with both local and overseas assistants and there are tradeoffs to each.

When starting out, I used platforms like onlinejobs.ph to find skilled Filipino VAs (virtual assistants).

• Pay scale: $4-$6/hr for reliable, experienced help.
• Considerations: time zone differences, communication.

👉 Key Takeaway: Hire based on what you need—not just location or industry expertise. For example:

• If you need social media content scheduled, look for someone with experience in Canva and Instagram, not necessarily someone who crochets.
• If you need someone managing an online shop, prioritize Shopify or Etsy expertise.
• For niche needs (like crochet pattern editing), you might look for a contractor with craft-specific background.

Even if a VA is not already familiar with crochet, they’ll do the research and create content for you—or you can have them do other things while you create your own content.

Overcoming the Hesitation: “Do I or Don’t I?”

Maybe you’re still not sure. My best advice? If you’re already feeling the pull, and have tasks that drain you and slow your business down, it’s probably time. Start small if you like—maybe just a few hours a month. Try one-off projects before committing to longer agreements. Prepare your systems in advance for easier onboarding. Then, take action to get the help you need!

Action Steps: Ready to Delegate? Here’s How to Get Started

1. Pinpoint Your Pain Points: Make a list of what’s holding your business back. What tasks are you avoiding, not getting done, or dreading?
2. Document the Tasks: Write clear instructions for each task. Screen recordings or annotated screenshots can be a godsend for visual learners.
3. Decide on Your Approach:
   • Student/intern/volunteer help
   • Barter with fellow makers or local creatives
   • Hire a freelancer or VA (locally or abroad)
4. Budget Wisely: Decide how much you’re willing to invest—either from business profits or personal funds.
5. Start the Search:
6. Tap your local network
   • Post on freelance platforms
   • Try onlinejobs.ph or similar sites for international VAs
   • Monitor and Adjust
     Start small. Review the relationship early and tweak your processes as needed. Remember, the first hire won’t always be a perfect fit—keep refining as you go.

Reach New Heights When You Hire the Right Help for Your Crochet Business

Hiring help is a power move for any handmade business owner ready to step up. Whether you’re stuck balancing a day job with your side hustle, or you’re simply exhausted trying to do it all, help IS out there. If you’re ready to make your business less stressful and more scalable, start outsourcing, even in the smallest way. Your creative energy—and your business—will thank you for it.