Justworks: Empowering Small Businesses with Simplified HR Solutions
Company profile
Company business details
Motivation to build the product
The founders were motivated by the challenges small businesses face in managing HR tasks and the need for a simplified solution that allows them to focus on growth. They recognized that many entrepreneurs struggle with payroll and compliance, which sparked the idea for Justworks.Problem that their product solves
Justworks solves the problem of managing payroll, benefits, and HR for small businesses. The end users are small business owners who need to streamline employee-related tasks to focus on growth. Solving this problem is important as it allows businesses to ensure compliance and employee satisfaction without getting bogged down by administrative burdens.Their unfair advantage
Justworks offers a user-friendly platform that combines payroll, benefits, and HR services, providing small businesses with access to big-company benefits and automated services, which many competitors do not offer.Strategies
Pre-Launch (Product Development & MVP)
Customer-Centric Product Development
In the early stages of Just Works, Mike Seckler focused on understanding the needs of small business owners by engaging directly with them. He established a customer board consisting of 10 customers who provided feedback on their experiences and expectations. This initiative allowed the team to align their product development with real customer needs, ensuring that the services offered were relevant and valuable. By prioritizing customer feedback, Mike was able to create a product that resonated with the target audience, setting a strong foundation for the company's growth.
Identifying Pain Points
Isaac Oates identified a significant pain point in payroll and benefits management while working at Adtuitive. He realized that the process was cumbersome and inefficient, which inspired him to create Justworks. By leveraging his experience in payment systems, he aimed to develop a solution that would simplify these processes for businesses, ensuring that they could focus on their core operations rather than administrative burdens.
Identifying Pain Points for Etsy Sellers
Isaac Oates recognized a significant pain point for Etsy sellers regarding the cumbersome process of hiring and managing payroll. He experienced this firsthand and realized that many entrepreneurs were deterred from hiring due to the complexities involved. This insight led him to create Justworks, a platform designed to simplify payroll, HR tools, and compliance support for small businesses.
Launch Stage
Transparent Communication During Change
When Just Works faced the need to restructure and reduce the size of its team, Mike Seckler prioritized transparent communication. He held an all-hands meeting to explain the reasons behind the decision, ensuring that employees understood the context and the necessity of the changes. This approach not only helped in managing the transition smoothly but also reinforced trust within the organization. By being open about the challenges and the rationale for the decisions made, Mike fostered a culture of honesty and accountability, which was crucial during the launch stage.
Building a Strong Product Focus
During the launch of Justworks, Isaac emphasized the importance of having a high-quality product that addressed customer needs effectively. He believed that many existing solutions in the market were sales-driven with little focus on product quality. By prioritizing user experience and functionality, Justworks aimed to differentiate itself from competitors like ADP and TriNet, which often neglected product development in favor of sales.
Learn more about Justworks
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Isaac Oates - Baremetrics
