Hiring and Working With Freelancers

Guest article by Ethel Lair

When small business owners need help to get things done, many turn to freelancers as a solution. Freelancers, also referred to as independent contractors, aren’t actual employees of the business but rather are hired to complete a specific task. If you’re a small business owner, this can be a real boon to your business as long as you learn to manage expectations and work smoothly with freelancers. Today, Find the Client is here to explain the basics of finding and working with freelancers.

Finding Freelancers to Hire

A typical job posting isn’t generally the best way to find a freelancer. One of the simplest ways to find people willing to work without actually being employed by you is to search on one of the many freelancing websites online. Writing, graphic design, and technology workers all generally have different hubs where you can find them. A simple search online can help you find the best place.

Also, try reaching out to your contacts in Goldens Bridge, New York, and beyond to see if they have any recommendations. Include plenty of details in your job description to be sure candidates are fully informed. Carefully read the policies of any sites you use when hiring. Many don’t allow you to hire outside their platform and may charge additional fees.

Communicating with Freelancers

Once you’ve found someone, you need to communicate with them. Most freelancers work in a remote capacity, and sometimes teams of people are working on one project while located in various geographical locations. Organizing the work product and steps can be difficult for the inexperienced.

One way to get started is by utilizing a process map. This will break your project into stages and shows exactly what steps need to be completed and in what order. Another idea is using a platform with live updates to documents so that changes being made can be seen by everyone at once. This way everyone has the most current version of a project and its elements. 

Working With Freelancers

The IRS has very specific guidance on who can be considered a freelancer and who is considered an employee. Essentially, if you have the right to tell the worker what to do and when to work, you’re paying them on a regular schedule, and you’re offering benefits, such as vacation or insurance, they are an employee, not an independent contractor.

Also, it’s important that precise payment records be maintained; in that case, a free invoice maker can make a huge difference. The tax implications for employees are very different from freelancers, so be careful of this. Essentially, you’re free to set a deadline and a scope of work in your contract, but the contractor gets to decide where they work, when they work, and how they work, as long as they fulfill their contract.

When working with a freelancer, even though they’re working with you for perhaps a short time, treat them like a colleague. Feel free to ask for updates and ask questions about their work. After all, if things go well, you may want to collaborate on projects together in the future.

Independent contractors are a great source of help for specific business projects. Utilizing their services offers many benefits to your business while allowing it to grow and prosper.

Author Bio

Ethel Lair understands that it’s easy to live the life of your dreams when you know what you want to leave behind for future generations. She created legacybasedliving.com to help her site visitors create financial plans that allow them to leave a legacy of support and love for their families and communities.