The wrong hire can set a startup back by months

For early-stage startups, every hire matters.

A bad hire doesn't just cost salary.

It can mean:

delayed product launches
missed customer commitments
lost momentum
spending weeks rehiring instead of building

The frustrating part?

Many bad hires don't look risky during the hiring process.

They often have:

strong resumes
impressive portfolios
good interviews

The problems only show up once the work begins.

What's the biggest lesson you've learned from hiring freelancers, agencies, or employees?