Help Wanted

The good news for Florida is that the state has the lowest unemployment rate among the 10 most populous states. The bad news for small-business owners is that competition for workers is fierce. "It's brutal," says Nick Vojnovic, chairman of the Florida Restaurant Association and president of Tampa-based Beef 'O'Brady's chain of sports pubs. To find and keep good workers, smallbusiness owners are mixing the creative with the basics. Some methods:

? Offer benefits. "You have to step up to the plate in terms of benefits, salaries and work environment," says Dave Reeves, founder of 12-year-old Reeves Laverdure Public Relations in Boca Raton. Reeves offers his employees a SEP-IRA retirement plan funded by the company in addition to health insurance and flexibility in terms of vacation and sick time.

? Hire friends and family. "We've had a horrible time with staffing companies," says Andy McNeill, president of American Meetings Inc., an eventplanning firm in Fort Lauderdale. So for part-time help, McNeill has turned to relatives and friends with flexible schedules, such as stay-at-home moms and retired workers. Of the three people McNeill has hired in the past year, "all have come from existing relationships."

? Be who you are. If a business owner forgets to paint a clear picture of the work and working environment, there's likely to be a lot of turnover. "The first person I hired didn't last very long because she wanted a big corporate environment," says Reeves. He makes sure to tell prospective hires not only about the rewards of helping a business get its message out, but also that it's everyone's job to answer the telephone and make the coffee.

? Tailor your positions. Gone are the days when one set of benefits or requirements will work for everyone. "The one thing we are seeing is much more flexibility," says Vojnovic. That might mean finding a wonderful worker who wants to work 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. instead of 9 to 5. Or it might mean letting a worker take off for a religious holiday.

? Sell the intangibles. "We're in a fantastic office on Las Olas" in downtown Fort Lauderdale, says McNeill, adding that his employees love the location. When they aren't in the office, McNeill's staff is traveling around the country and world, another perk that comes with the job.

Tags: Florida Small Business, Entrepreneur