When I first started freelancing the idea of hiring contractors to help me with the workload was foreign. As far as I was concerned, I was the contractor and it was my job to complete all of the work. It was simple math. The more work I did on my own, the more money I was able to take to the bank.
Eventually, I realized to scale a freelance business you need to hire contractors. They may not be doing your skill (i.e., writing, designing, or consulting), but they take some jobs off of your to-do list so you can get more done.
Here’s why freelancers should consider working with contractors this year:
Contractors Do the Busy Work
If you’re a writer, designer, or creative in another capacity, you may be excellent at executing your skill but not so great on the business side of things. Tasks like making sure you’re profitable, collecting payments from tardy clients, and prospecting for new clients can be taken care of by a contractor.
Also screening your emails and engaging on social media isn’t something that requires your attention. Handing these jobs off to someone else can free you up to do more pressing business tasks. If your strength is creativity, logistics and bookkeeping may not be your forte which is fine. You don’t have to be perfect in every area to run a successful business. Hire people who can help you where you struggle so you can be as productive as possible.
Being a Visionary Takes Freelancing to the Next Level
Doing all of the work can distract you from making long-term plans for your business. Hiring contractors to help you with workload can give you a break to be more strategic. We’re at the beginning of a brand new year. Hiring someone can help you reach your annual goals faster if you want to make major changes in your business.
Last year was the first time that I decided to heavily hire contractors. I hired someone to redo my website, I hired a social media strategist, and I hired someone to help me with writing tasks. Having experts support me in these areas took a load off my shoulders.
It Can Save You Money
If you’re thinking hiring contractors means money down the drain, think again. When you hire contractors it saves you time which helps you take on more clients. As a writer, I’ve hired contractors to help me research and edit content. These are both areas of the job that take a considerable amount of time.
I was amazed at how liberating it was to get the help of other people in areas that took a lot of effort. In fact, hiring out helped me overcome an income plateau and helped me serve my clients better. I could take on new clients and I could “wow” current clients when I had extra support.
Final Word
Running a slim business in the beginning makes sense. You keep your expenses low until you have a full client roster. But you can’t do this forever. You will eventually need to get support from someone or a team of people to take things to the next level.
Don’t struggle trying to do everything in-house from creating your website to color coding your email inbox. Enlisting the help of others can help you avoid stress, bypass unnecessary learning curves, and help you focus on the pressing areas of your business that need attention.
