As a business owner, you have many fixed costs: telephone, internet, water, heating, and rent/mortgage just to name a few. Do you need the added costs of salaried, full time employees to the mix? Or would you be better off contracting a freelancer to complete jobs as you need them?
There are pros and cons to both and it really depends on the nature of your business and the amount of control you want over the different aspects of your business. Read the list below to help you decide if hiring freelancers is right for you and your business.
Here are five ways you can benefit from regularly hiring a freelancer for your business:
- You only need to hire a freelance worker when you have a project or need. This saves you money by not employing salaried workers. You can pay them by the hour or by the job – it’s completely up to you and your budget. The job or project can be something can take a day or a month.
- The freelance worker you hire can be anywhere in the world – thereby not using your resources, like water, internet and telephone. Freelance workers have home offices of their own, using their own resources, so you don’t have to worry about extra costs.
- Freelance workers understand the importance of deadlines and are more than willing to help you achieve your business goals. Just make sure they know the deadlines up front when they accept the position.
- You set the budget of what you are willing to pay for certain tasks to be completed. Freelancers ‘bid’ on getting the job you post – you can opt to hire whomever you choose based on qualifications or amount of their bid. You choose how much you’re willing to pay, based on your budget. You can pay by the hour, or by the job.
- You can hire a freelancer for any or all of your business projects: administrative tasks, website creation and design, article writing, data entry, web programming, database management, press releases and much more! Virtually every aspect of your business can be completed by a freelance designer.
Whether you are looking to cut costs, improve productivity or increase your bottom line, hiring a freelancer may be the answer you’ve been looking for. Freelancers offer a specialized niche, flexibility, and a budget for almost any business. Do your homework – hire only competent, qualified individuals who you feel you would be comfortable working with.
Ask for references and work samples. Be sure to communicate openly with your candidates, including impending deadlines, expectations, and pay rate. You can check in regularly via email, telephone or messenger to be sure the project is on track. By checking in with your freelancer, unexpected delays and unwelcome surprises are less likely to arise.
Remember that whether you hire a salaried worker or freelance worker, all costs are tax deductible. Keep all your receipts and invoices.
