11 Startup Perks That Actually Attract Potential Hires

A higher salary is not the only consideration for many job applicants. Perks and benefits go a long way when looking to attract new talent to your company. From good insurance to a pinball machine in the break room, making an effort to show your employees you care is the best way to make sure your team is in tip top shape all year round.

We asked eleven entrepreneurs which company perks or benefits have actually been influential in why recent hires chose your offer over another. Check out their answers below:

Remote Work Environment

Using a combination of cloud-collaborative tools, our employees can work from any place in the world. A combination of Podio, Skype, Join.me, Google Drive and Hangouts allows us to organize project and task management, while everyone can work from the comfort of home. Sporadic team meetings solidify the team environment and collaborative aspect. Freedom and flexibility are great perks!

– Marcela De Vivo of Gryffin

Paid Health Insurance For Employees and Their Families

We not only offer health insurance but pay for the health insurance of our employees and their families. A recent hire said that it gave her peace of mind and meant a great deal that we not only said that her health is important but put our money where our heart is by making sure she and those she cares about are covered.

– Doug Bend of AgentFound

Meaningful Projects

We are focused on making an impact. We choose customers that we can help in the biggest way and take it very seriously. We work on internal projects that could help find a cure for cancer. Our recent hires want to be a part of that type of culture.

– Tom Cullen of Launch Pad Lab

Coolness Factor

In a less-competitive business locale, people are happy to work for a cool and growing business, especially when they feel as if they are part of a group really making a difference in the world. We receive numerous awards and land major press. AcousticSheep employees are able to routinely brag to family and friends about their really great company, especially when they show up on TV.

– Jason Wolfe of SleepPhones

Reimbursement for Professional Events

If you want to attend a conference or join a networking group, we’ll reimburse you. We respect people who want to enhance their skills and realize that it gives our employee and company a competitive edge.

– Shalyn Dever of Chatter Buzz

Work Abroad Days and Travel Assistance

My company offers five “work abroad” days every year, which means that the employee can do their work from anywhere in the world. In addition to that, we offer to pay 25 percent of their airfare for international travel. This is really appealing to go-getters who want to explore the world, and those are the type of people I want at my company.

– Cassie Petrey of CrowdSurf

Effective and Fun Training

We have a very strong training program that is both very effective and fun for new hires. We offer one week of classroom training, followed by shadowing with the top recruiter.

– Nicole Smartt of Staffing Star

Ability to Have an Impactful Voice

Employees at goBRANDgo! are given lots of perks (unlimited PTO, flex time, retreats, catered lunches, etc.), but none of them are as valuable as the ability to influence positive change on how their role and the company as a whole is executed. The promise of autonomy and having an impactful voice is a magnet for employees who are entrepreneurially-minded.

– Derek Weber of goBrandgo

Flexibility and Food

We provide a flexible setting, as we know our hires are highly motivated and self-driven and don't need constraints such as a 9-to-5 workweek to produce quality work. Additionally, the great location in San Francisco and free lunches are certainly added benefits that the employees thoroughly enjoy.

– Vik Tantry of FormSwift

An Excellent Company Culture

Besides traditional benefits and perks, a big reason employees chose my company is because of our culture. I make sure to let potential employees know that we will value them for their diversity and individuality, and prize them for their unique skills while allowing them to flourish. This attracts happy and motivated employees who are interested in more than a paycheck.

– Elle Kaplan of Lexicon Capital

An All-Star Social Committee

Despite being a relatively small team, we have formed a social committee to organize company-wide events. These have included sporting events, BBQs, axe-throwing, scavenger hunts and charitable events. The fact that a group is organizing these events demonstrates our commitment to extracurricular activities which is reassuring to a candidate.

– David Ciccarelli of Voice.com

Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) is an invite-only organization comprised of the world's most promising young entrepreneurs. YEC members generate billions of dollars in revenue and have created tens of thousands of jobs.

Photo: Flickr / US Embassy

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Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) is an invite-only organization comprised of the world's most promising young entrepreneurs. YEC members generate billions of dollars in revenue and have created tens of thousands of jobs.
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