GoKawiilEntrepreneur op-ed urges founders to build HR and payroll systems before scaling forces the issue
A contributor with over 32 years in the industry writes that many founders delay formalizing payroll, benefits, compliance and hiring systems, relying instead on spreadsheets and personal oversight while small. The piece argues that as companies grow—especially across multiple states—these informal setups quickly become inadequate, and waiting to address them makes fixes more costly and complex later.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The argument suggests that operational infrastructure, often overshadowed by product and funding priorities, could become a hidden risk factor in a startup's ability to scale smoothly. Because this is framed as the author's professional opinion rather than a reported trend, readers should treat it as advice rather than an established industry finding.
- Founders often prioritize product and growth planning over operational systems like payroll and compliance.
- Multi-state hiring can expose gaps in informal HR processes, according to the author.
- Delaying investment in operational infrastructure may raise the cost and complexity of fixing issues later.
Source: entrepreneur.com — Scott Smrkovski, 2026-10-21
Published there as: “This Is the Decision Founders Put Off Until It Costs Them. Are You Waiting, Too?”
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