It seems like everyone is launching a business or side hustle these days. According to the US Small Business Association, over 30 million people currently run small businesses in the United States alone. Many of the world’s most successful companies, including Apple, Facebook, and Under Armour, started as side hustles. Entrepreneurs like Steve Jobs and Twitter’s Jack Dorsey were eventually able to leave their jobs to focus on building their businesses.
If you’re lucky, your business will grow to a point where you are no longer able to handle everything by yourself. At this pivotal point, you might consider hiring additional help. Of course, growing your team takes time and money. Experts say hiring a full-time employee costs an average of $4,000 — not including hidden costs like on-boarding and providing benefits.
Many business owners find it’s more cost-effective to hire a qualified freelancer instead of a full-time employee. From data entry to web design, the right freelancers can help your business flourish. Here’s how to find and hire them.
Tasks to Outsource
Your first step is to determine what tasks you need to outsource. Ideally, you’d hire freelancers to assist with nonessential work that’s eating up too much of your time. That way, you can focus on “big picture” responsibilities, like running the business, managing clients, and making sales.
Data entry is a perfect example of a task you might outsource to a freelancer. According to Upwork, you should look for a data entry specialist with a keen eye for detail and superior organizational skills. That way, whether you need help populating databases or plugging info into spreadsheets, they’ll meet your needs.
Freelance Job Postings
Finding the right freelancer starts with knowing where to look. Freelancers typically don’t find work through generic job boards or social networks. Instead, they turn to respected freelance websites or industry-specific job boards.
For instance, if you’re looking for help writing articles or blog posts, post your job on a freelance job board for writers. Meanwhile, if you need help building a website, check out a web design job board. Be sure to read online reviews or recommendations before making your decision.
Hiring Freelancers
These days, artificial intelligence (AI) apps can save time by automating the hiring process. However, with over 70 apps to choose from, it’s essential to weigh the pros and cons.
AI recruiting apps boast higher-quality candidates and improved efficiency. Unfortunately, however, AI recruitment challenges include biases, unfair algorithms, and uncertain accuracy of hiring decisions. These downsides led to Amazon famously ditching its AI recruiting tool after discovering the software was biased against female applicants.
To maintain control of the hiring process, you can always take the traditional route. If you have time, recruit and interview candidates yourself. Conducting your own hiring can be worthwhile because you’ll build rapport with candidates, avoid AI glitches, and save money on costly apps.
Legal Considerations
Before hiring, it’s crucial to understand the legal differences when hiring freelancers or contractors versus employees. Freelancers might not receive company benefits, but they do enjoy flexible schedules and independence.
Laws vary by state. New Californian regulations require many businesses to reclassify their freelancers as W-2 employees. Taxes also differ between contractors, freelancers, and employees. According to the IRS, it’s “critical that business owners correctly determine whether the individuals providing services are employees or independent contractors.”
Always talk to your accountant or business attorney if you have any questions. It’s essential to stay legal and ethical, whether you hire employees or freelancers. Have a solid contract in place, which clearly communicates your expectations, deadlines, payments, and deliverables.
Running a small business is tough. If you’re burnt out, craving more work-life balance, or don’t have the expertise to perform particular tasks like web design, it might be time to hire help. If you’re unable to afford W-2 employees, freelancers could be the perfect compromise. Regardless of your business size, they can provide the skills you need at a price you can afford.
Written by Julie Morris
Julie Morris is a life and career coach who strives to help others live the best lives that they can. She spent years in an unfulfilling career in finance before deciding to help people in other ways. She’s living this passion by the use of her site: http://juliemorris.org/
