It all depends on your situation. Do you have ~1 year of salary for a new employee in the bank? You're probably doing alright then, and can definitely afford t

It all depends on your situation. Do you have ~1 year of salary for a new employee in the bank? You're probably doing alright then, and can definitely afford the risk. "1 year of salary" is, of course, just a suggestion, but you don't want to hire someone without looking really deeply at how it will affect your finances if you are in a "struggling" phase. Do you spend an inordinate amount of time doing non-technical tasks that take away from your product? If so, a designer/salesperson/client-wrangler can be an extremely valuable asset in even a small company. Essentially, if they fit a need you think you have in your business, there's nothing wrong with a hire. Don't just hire a friend because your friend needs a job though - that's a sure-fire recipe for disaster.