Andreanna Jason's blog : Is Hiring Freelancers a Viable Option for Startups?
Freelancers are individuals who work for
themselves in a variety of settings. The most common freelancing arrangements
are contract work and consulting, with the most significant percentage of
freelancers finding online jobs. Freelancers are self-employed, but
organizations can also employ them. Freelancers often specialize in a particular
area of expertise, such as graphic design or web development, and sell their
services to clients through websites like Gig4U.
Freelancers in Start-ups
Freelancers can benefit startups because
they bring high creativity and innovation to their projects. They tend to be
more flexible than employees because their work is contracted on a project
basis rather than based on the hours or days they will work. Some freelancers
may also be more willing to take risks than traditional employees because they
don't have any long-term commitment to their employers for better productivity.
In addition, many start-ups need to meet deadlines or launch new products at
short notice, and working with freelancers can help speed things up.
Why Freelancers are Viable for Small Businesses
Freelancers benefit small businesses in several
ways. They can be flexible, which means they can work from home or wherever is
most convenient for them, and they have access to specialized skills that are
difficult for larger companies to find. They also have experience with
different types of clients and projects, making them valuable employees for
start-ups looking to proliferate.
1.
Freelancers
work on an ad hoc basis which means they can work on weekends too if required.
They do not work on long-term contracts, thus helping businesses save money by
not having to pay full-time employees.
2.
They are
flexible and can take on projects requiring short notice or no notice. This
means they don't need to spend time finding ways around conflicts with other
commitments (such as work) if there are unexpected delays in getting the job done
(e.g., because of traffic).
3.
They
have a low cost of hiring and don’t look for statutory benefits. If the
performance is unsatisfactory, a business owner can terminate the contract and
move on to other resources without severance pay. Start-ups stand to gain a lot
financially in the long run by working with freelancers.
4.
Freelancers
specialize in certain areas of expertise, enabling you to gain expert access in
those areas. This can help you avoid hiring someone who doesn’t know what they
are doing or how to do it properly.
5. When working with freelancers, you won’t need to worry about someone going to work before because they want lunch or due to an illness or personal emergency.
Critical
Considerations for Viable Freelancer Hiring
Freelancers are the backbone of small businesses. They are an excellent resource, especially in industries with no established workforce. Here are things that start-ups should consider while hiring freelancers to scale up their businesses.
· Hiring should be structured so that the
freelancer's skills and expertise match the organization's requirements. There
are millions of freelancers available, but it must never always be about hiring
someone fast and on the cheap. Professional skills are an asset that is not
available for free, and freelancers should be paid fairly so that morals are
high and they are motivated enough to produce the best quality work for your
business.
· Freelancers also need support in understanding
what is expected from them. They must not feel left out or like outsiders with
scantily prepared job outlines that don’t explain clearly what is expected of
them.
· Hire freelancers from trusted hiring channels.
There are loads of freelance marketplaces on the internet, but only a handful
like Upwork, Freelancer.com, Fiverr, Gig4U, and some others have stringent
signup processes where only the best freelancers with certified skills can sign
up. Talent from these portals is experienced at working on multiple projects
simultaneously with unmatched efficiency and competency.
· Speak with freelancers more often through
meetings and online calls to keep them in the loop with the ongoing
developments in the business and appraise them if their work has resulted in
considerable progress.
· Retain freelancers that are good and talented.
Since they work on short-term contracts, they might get engaged in other
projects and might be too tied up to be available when you need to re-hire
them. You can do this by keeping communication channels open when awaiting new
work. Retaining freelancers do not cost you money as they need not be paid when
there is no work.
Freelancers are a boon for start-ups primarily
because of their flexible nature of work which is small business-centric. Their
work principles align perfectly with how startups operate. Freelancers are a
valuable resource for small businesses. They can help small companies to scale
up their operations, especially when they are starting and don't have much
staff.
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