As we are based in the Netherlands and plan on staying here unless something enables us to do otherwise, we are looking for someone who is also able and willing to move here or is able to move with us to a desired location.
I am surprised so many new tech companies make this a requirement, I have built several companies over the last decade that had distributed teams and it is now easier than ever to do so. With a tool a simple a Skype it is no different than being right next door to an associate. I say that as 10 of my developer are on Skype now and are located throughout North America.
That is a fair point you are making. It makes it easier now then ever to work on a long distance.
But, nothing beats a face-to-face. Never meeting your employees in real life simply because they live in a different country could create 1)tension 2)legal difficulties 3)communication difficulties (i.e. timezone differences)
Also if he/she is committed to make our business work, then why wouldn't they be committed to make the move with or to us? Another way of determining if they are a fit.
Yet, this is my personal opinion and like I said to some degree I agree with yours. Also this is my first business and I am still learning a lot. And this might be one of those learning curves. Determining whether the distance is/could be an issue.
Sure, it was not meant as a critique of your preference, I was more or less pondering out loud why more people don't do it. I have had just as much success with a distributed team as I have had with a central team. I was really just wondering if it is fear of the unknown that keeps people from doing it or if it is a negative experience.
For me it is the unknown as it is my serious attempt to start a business. But, if we would find someone on a long distance and it would work great, who are we to say move here.
It is something me and my co-founder talked about a good hour. As we are both new to this. :-)
I am surprised so many new tech companies make this a requirement, I have built several companies over the last decade that had distributed teams and it is now easier than ever to do so. With a tool a simple a Skype it is no different than being right next door to an associate. I say that as 10 of my developer are on Skype now and are located throughout North America.