6 Key Employees for Cannabis Retailers

Assembling a strong staff at your dispensary is vital to staying profitable and keeping customers happy. However, a cannabis retailer employs more than just budtenders and store managers to maintain a successful marijuana business. Finding quality external professional support is just as important as hiring a qualified sales team.

In this article, we’ll point out the key employees necessary to continue operating a compliant and customer service oriented cannabis retailer.

Certified Public Accountant

Soliciting the services from a certified public accountant is highly recommended considering the amount cash flowing in and out of cannabis retailers on daily basis. Since banking services are fairly limited to marijuana related businesses securing a CPA who understands taxation and filing protocol is paramount.

Enlisting the services of an accountant who specializes in legal marijuana taxation will help ensure your taxes are correct so you can focus on running your business. Acquiring CPA services will be especially beneficial for California dispensaries who will be facing new tax mandates in the new year.

Specialized Lawyer

Utilizing legal services to protect your investment as cannabis retail owner is vital to operating within the proposed regulations. While paying for a lawyer who specializes in cannabis statutes may be costly, avoiding a fines or a potential shutdown will be well worth the upfront legal fees.

Not only can a lawyer help your dispensary stay compliant but they can mitigate any punitive actions from state or even federal officials. Retaining a lawyer should certainly be a high priority for marijuana dispensaries to stay protected and proactive regarding state compliance.

Dispensary Manager

Hiring managerial staff for your dispensary is a process that requires in-depth vetting and careful consideration. Running the day-to-day operations of a cannabis retailer involves a variety of responsibilities so a manager must have extensive experience to achieve success.

Meeting with vendors, scheduling staff, and handling expenses are just a few of the duties this position requires. Employing a dispensary manager who has a comprehensive knowledge of compliance, customer service, and operational protocols will help keep your business organized and profitable.

Knowledgeable Budtenders

Selecting knowledgeable budtenders for your cannabis retailer is extremely helpful when onboarding a new staff member. Budtenders must be able to convey accurate and detailed information while also providing excellent customer service. This combination will result in a high customer retention rate as well as increased sales.

While product quality and interior design may be appealing for customers, the people who serve patients make the real difference. Assembling a team of budtenders willing to passionately represent your brand and bring their own expertise to your clients will lay the foundation for long-term success.

Friendly Receptionist

This first point of contact in most marijuana dispensaries is the receptionist. While this may not seem like an important position, this is often where a customer’s first impression is established. Placing someone in this role who is friendly, courteous and proficient at registering new patients is key.

Every cannabis retailer receptionist is responsible for verifying state identification and patient recommendations which is a vital component of compliance. They should also have an in-depth knowledge of your dispensary POS software to shorten check-in times and expedite a high volume of customers.

Security Officer

Keeping your marijuana dispensary safe is huge concern for most business owners and operators. State regulations require specific security measures in terms of video surveillance and entry ways, but as an extra precaution many retailers employ a security officer.

Trained security personnel can be used to identify threats outside of your storefront and prevent a potential crime before it happens. Additionally, they can help enforce policy within the dispensary, help resolve confrontations and eliminate product theft. Employing security guards is a great way to communicate the importance of safety in your cannabis retailer.