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Who You Need to Hire First (and Who Can Wait)
Early hiring decisions shape a dispensary’s cost structure, compliance posture, and operating discipline. Hiring too many people too soon burns capital, while hiring the wrong roles first creates gaps that are hard to correct later. Sequencing matters more than headcount.
Article Summary
- Early dispensary hires should focus on control and compliance
- Not every leadership role is needed before opening
- Overstaffing before systems are built creates inefficiency
- Hiring order affects burn rate and inspection outcomes
Overview
Why Hiring Order Matters More Than Total Headcount
In the early stages, a dispensary does not need a full retail team.
It needs clarity, accountability, and compliance coverage.
Hiring roles out of sequence often forces owners to pay for labor
before there is productive work to perform.
First
The First Critical Hire: Operational Leadership
One person must own day-to-day execution before opening.
This role coordinates vendors, prepares inspections,
and translates plans into action.
Whether titled General Manager or Operations Lead,
this hire provides structure before scale.
Compliance
Ensuring Regulatory Readiness Early
Compliance responsibilities cannot be deferred.
Someone must understand regulations, inspection requirements,
and reporting obligations from the start.
This may be a dedicated role or a responsibility carried
by early leadership, but it must be clearly owned.