From Caregiver to CEO: Your 90‑Day Owner Time Budget and the First 4 Hires That Buy You Back Your Time

Many founders stall because they can't stop trading caregiving hours for revenue. This episode gives a precise, executable 90‑day plan to shift a founder from 40 client-facing hours a week into a CEO role without blowing payroll or failing a state audit. Using lessons drawn directly from Scott McKenzie and HCAB’s work across 531+ agency launches, Daniel, Claire, and Sophia walk through the exact tasks to keep the founder on the floor for now, the four hires that produce the fastest ROI (intake/scheduler, caregiver lead/shift supervisor, intake coordinator/sales closer, and part‑time bookkeeper/HR), realistic cost ranges (e.g., scheduler ~$18/hr ≈ $3,100/mo; lead caregiver $20/hr), and the breakeven math that shows when each hire pays for itself. Claire flags delegation limits that trigger audits; Sophia walks founders through the identity work of letting go. No fluff—just a tactical owner time budget you can implement in 90 days.