RedHub AI
How the gate works
How the First-Hire Go / No-Go gate works
This tool grades the strength of the case for a first hire — on your own read of coverage, runway, and handoff. It scores 6 weighted controls into a 0–100 number — then a gate that can only make the verdict worse.
The 6 weighted controls
A Weak (0) mark on either Fully-loaded cost coverage or Work documented enough to hand off forces the verdict to NOT YET, regardless of the score. A Partial (1) mark does not. Being slammed isn't the same as being able to afford the hire.
Why: Five of six signals are strong — score 76, which reads HIRE NOW on the numbers. But cost coverage is at 0, and that's a gate signal: the verdict is forced to NOT YET. Being slammed isn't the same as being able to afford the hire.
A high score didn’t save it. The score is context; the gate is the answer — and where something is short, the fix first row names it. Not financial, tax, or legal advice. This decision aid scores the strength of a first-hire case using only your answers and the stated planning assumptions. It does not determine what you can afford, or whether any worker may lawfully be treated as an independent contractor. Federal and state worker-classification tests examine the facts of the actual working arrangement, not merely the label, and the applicable standards vary and may change. Confirm affordability with your CPA or other qualified financial professional, and worker classification with qualified employment counsel. A contractor-bridge result means only that temporary outside capacity may be worth considering; it is not a classification determination or a recommendation to engage an individual on Form 1099.