That feeling is all too familiar. You’ve just finished a stunning owambe setup in Lekki, your back aches, and your phone is already buzzing with three new inquiries for dates you know you can't handle alone. You're turning down good money, and the thought crosses your mind for the hundredth time: is it time to hire help? For Nigerian decorators, this is the ultimate growth dilemma. Scaling your business from a one-person passion project into a real company is both exciting and terrifying.
This guide provides a practical framework for Nigerian event decorators to decide whether to hire staff or optimize their solo operations. We'll break down the clear signs you need help, the true financial costs of hiring, and strategies to scale your business smartly, with or without a team.
The decision to hire should be driven by data and clear signals, not just a feeling of being busy. You need to hire when staying solo is actively costing you money and damaging your brand. If you're seeing several of these signs, it's time to seriously consider expanding your team.
A great way to track this is by looking at your booking patterns. When your TrustAm for Business dashboard shows a calendar that's fully booked three months out and a history of rejected booking requests, that's the hard data telling you that demand has outgrown your capacity.
Before you post a job advert, you must do the maths. Hiring an employee isn't just about their monthly salary; it involves several other costs that can add up quickly. A clear financial picture prevents you from hiring prematurely and putting your business cash flow at risk.
Let's break down the approximate costs of hiring a junior event assistant in a major Nigerian city like Lagos or Abuja in 2026:
A simple rule of thumb is that a new hire should generate at least 2-3 times their total cost in new revenue. If your new assistant costs you ₦120,000 per month in total, they need to enable you to take on enough extra work to bring in an additional ₦240,000 - ₦360,000 in revenue. Use the income and spending analytics on your TrustAm app to get a precise understanding of your current monthly profit. This will show you exactly how much room you have in your budget for a new salary.
Hiring isn't the only path to growth. For many decorators, the goal is not to build a big agency but to maximize personal income and creative freedom. Staying solo is a powerful and profitable strategy if you are intentional about it. This means working smarter, not just harder.
Here’s how to scale your income without scaling your team:
The key is efficiency. When clients book you through your TrustAm profile, the process is streamlined. They see your services, read your payment-backed reviews, and can pay a deposit securely via escrow. This professionalism builds trust and justifies the premium prices you're charging.
For many growing decoration businesses, the best next step isn't a full-time hire; it's building a reliable team of contract staff. This hybrid model offers the best of both worlds: the flexibility of staying lean and the capacity to handle larger projects. It's the perfect way to test the waters of expansion without the heavy financial commitment of a permanent employee.
Think about the December rush. You might have four weddings and five corporate end-of-year parties. It's impossible to do alone, but you don't need that level of help in, say, February. This is where freelancers are perfect.
However, managing and paying freelancers can be a challenge. Chasing them for their bank details and dealing with payment disputes can add stress. This is another area where a structured system helps. When a client pays for a large event into your TrustAm escrow account, you have the confidence and the guaranteed cash flow to hire and pay your freelance team promptly upon job completion. It removes the risk of you paying staff out-of-pocket while waiting for a client who is telling stories.
This approach also helps you learn how to delegate and manage people, a critical skill for any business owner. You might discover that one of your freelancers is so good that you eventually offer them a full-time position. For advice on navigating client relationships, especially when things get tricky, check out our guide on how to handle difficult clients, which has lessons for any service provider.
Ready to stop turning down jobs and start scaling your decoration business? List your services on TrustAm to get discovered by clients in your city, manage bookings professionally, and get paid securely with escrow protection.
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To price your decoration services, you should calculate your total costs (materials, transport, labour), add a markup for your profit (typically 50-100% or more for premium services), and research what competitors in your city are charging for similar events. Always provide a detailed quote to your clients to justify your price and build trust.
The best way to find reliable freelancers is through referrals from other vendors in the event industry, such as photographers, caterers, and planners. You can also use platforms like Instagram to find aspiring decorators or event assistants. Always conduct a brief interview and consider a paid trial for a small event before hiring them for a major project.
Protect your business by having a clear contract that outlines the scope of work, deliverables, and payment terms. Always insist on a deposit before starting any work. Using a platform with escrow, like TrustAm, is the best protection, as it ensures the full project fee is secured before you begin, preventing payment disputes after the event.
While you can operate as an individual, registering your business with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) adds a layer of professionalism and trust. It is essential if you want to get corporate clients, open a business bank account, or apply for loans. It's a critical step in transitioning from a side hustle to a serious, scalable company.
To price your decoration services, you should calculate your total costs (materials, transport, labour), add a markup for your profit (typically 50-100% or more for premium services), and research what competitors in your city are charging for similar events. Always provide a detailed quote to your clients to justify your price and build trust.
The best way to find reliable freelancers is through referrals from other vendors in the event industry, such as photographers, caterers, and planners. You can also use platforms like Instagram to find aspiring decorators or event assistants. Always conduct a brief interview and consider a paid trial for a small event before hiring them for a major project.
Protect your business by having a clear contract that outlines the scope of work, deliverables, and payment terms. Always insist on a deposit before starting any work. Using a platform with escrow, like TrustAm, is the best protection, as it ensures the full project fee is secured before you begin, preventing payment disputes after the event.
While you can operate as an individual, registering your business with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) adds a layer of professionalism and trust. It is essential if you want to get corporate clients, open a business bank account, or apply for loans. It's a critical step in transitioning from a side hustle to a serious, scalable company.
Founder & CEO of TrustAm. Building Nigeria's smartest money app — AI-powered budgeting, instant P2P transfers, and financial advice in one place.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always consult a qualified financial professional before making major financial decisions.
Disclosure: This article is published by TrustAm, a financial services company. Some links in this article may direct to our own products.
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