What to Look For When Hiring Your First EmployeesYour startup's initial employees can make or break the place. Choose wisely.

The first few employees at your startup are crucial. They set the tone for your company and determine whether you fade out or make it to the next level.

"Hiring the right people is absolutely critical in the beginning, because each person you add will have a significant impact on shaping what will—and won't—be valued, and how people will behave," says Chris Cancialosi, founder and managing partner of gothamCulture, a New York-based organizational consultancy.