Women Startups resource

First-hire and payroll checklist for women-led teams

Plan the first employee or contractor: role design, budget, contracts, payroll, inclusive onboarding and UK employment obligations.

Open resource libraryOfficial GOV.UK employing staff guide

Updated 15 August 2026 · Checklists · Check linked official sources before acting.

What this resource covers

First-hire and payroll checklist for women-led teams turns official UK guidance and women-founder ecosystem practice into a practical action plan. Use it to decide what to do next, what evidence to save and which official source to verify before acting.

This guide is written for women founders and female entrepreneurs using UK funding, networks, hiring, data and investor-readiness routes. It is practical guidance, not legal, tax, investment or regulated professional advice.

Action checklist

  1. Write the job outcome before choosing employee, contractor or advisor.
  2. Budget salary, taxes, tools, onboarding and management time.
  3. Verify payroll and employment rules with the official labour source.

Founder task flow

  1. Open the local Women Startups guide and read the women-founder action checklist.
  2. Verify the current requirement using Official GOV.UK employing staff guide.
  3. Assign an owner, deadline, evidence folder and next mentor, adviser or funder conversation.
Download worksheet