Hiring the wrong person for a position is an expensive mistake for a company to make. In a recent Career Builder survey, 42% of companies reported that a bad hire cost them at least $25,000 in the past year, and 25% reported a loss of at least $50,000. But for small companies, where every employee often juggles many important responsibilities, the cost of a bad hire can be even more devastating – up to $190,000 according to a report by Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. To avoid hiring the wrong person: Keep your references close; Be proactive; and Kick those tires.