# Building a staff team for a FiveM server

> Structure a FiveM staff team: ranks from trial support to owner, what each rank can do, matching txAdmin and ACE permissions, recruiting and training, coverage across time zones, logging and reviewing staff actions, and handling staff mistakes.

Source: https://fam-tools.com/guides/fivem-staff-team-structure · FAM Tools · published 2026-09-11 · updated 2026-09-11 · about 10 min

**Short answer.** Use a small ladder of ranks (trial support, support, moderator, admin, head admin, owner), give each exactly the permissions it needs in txAdmin and ACE, recruit through applications and a trial period, train with written guidelines, cover your peak hours and time zones, log every action and review decisions regularly. Mistakes are handled privately and consistently.

## Key points

- Few ranks, clear responsibilities.
- Permissions match the rank — no shared logins.
- Trial periods before full rights.
- Every action logged; decisions reviewed.
- Written guidelines beat tribal knowledge.

Staff make or break a roleplay server. Players forgive bugs; they do not forgive unfair moderation. A clear structure — who can do what, how decisions are reviewed, how new staff learn — keeps the team consistent as it grows from three friends to thirty people.

## A rank ladder

| Rank | Does | Can |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Trial support | Answers tickets, learns | Message, spectate |
| Support | Tickets and minor reports | Warn, kick, teleport to help |
| Moderator | Reports and rule breaks | Ban (temporary), freeze |
| Admin | Escalations, events | Longer bans, vehicles, announcements |
| Head admin | Staff management | Server control, staff reviews |
| Owner | Direction, money, infrastructure | Everything |

Map ranks to txAdmin permission sets and ACE groups — see [txAdmin permissions](https://fam-tools.com/guides/txadmin-admins-permissions) and [ACE permissions](https://fam-tools.com/guides/fivem-ace-permissions).

## Recruiting and training

- Applications with scenario questions (“A player reports RDM; what do you do?”).
- A two to four week trial with a mentor.
- A staff handbook: rules interpretation, punishment ladder, ticket etiquette.
- Regular short staff meetings to align on recent cases.

## Coverage

Look at your player graph and make sure someone is on duty at every busy hour. A server that is well moderated in the evening and lawless at 2 am loses its night players first.

## Accountability

- txAdmin logs every action with the admin’s name.
- Ban reasons cite a rule number and include evidence.
- Appeals are handled by someone other than the original staff member.
- Staff who break rules face the same process, privately.

Rules and the punishment ladder: [rules template](https://fam-tools.com/guides/fivem-server-rules-template).

## Questions

### How many staff does a FiveM server need?

Enough to have someone on duty at every busy hour — often one active staff member per 20–30 players at peak.

### What ranks should a FiveM staff team have?

A short ladder such as trial support, support, moderator, admin, head admin and owner.

### Should staff share an admin account?

Never. One account per person, so every action is logged to someone.

### How do I handle staff abuse?

Review logs, handle it privately with a clear process, and remove permissions immediately if needed.

## Related

- https://fam-tools.com/guides/fivem-server-rules-template
- https://fam-tools.com/guides/fivem-whitelist-application-process
- https://fam-tools.com/guides/fivem-discord-server-setup
- https://fam-tools.com/guides/fivem-player-retention