Don’t hire a freelancer. That’s not clickbait. I mean it.
If you’re thinking about bringing on a freelancer to help scale your business, stop. Don’t hire a freelancer without carefully considering the potential downsides. While tempting for their flexibility and seemingly lower upfront costs, going the freelance route can present unexpected challenges. Let’s talk about when it might be best to reconsider your freelance needs and hire freelancers only when it makes sense for your specific business goals.
Table Of Contents:
- Don’t Hire A Freelancer When You Need Someone Full-Time
- Don’t Hire a Freelancer if Consistent Availability is Crucial
- FAQs about Don’t Hire a Freelancer
- Conclusion
Don’t Hire A Freelancer When You Need Someone Full-Time
Think long and hard about the level of quality you need and how that will impact your customers. A recent study highlighted that 53 million Americans are now freelancing making up 34% of the US workforce.
While freelancing platforms have grown, so too has the sheer volume of options, making it even harder to discern a true professional from someone who just knows how to game the system for good ratings. Finding expert freelance talent with a proven track record is like finding a needle in a haystack. Now, what if that “expert” goes dark in the middle of your project? And speaking of reliability…
Don’t Underestimate Reliability Issues
Deadlines get missed, communication falters, and suddenly, you are behind schedule with no one to hold you accountable. This is why, when you’re hiring, it’s important to find someone who will be reliable and dedicated to your business.
Don’t Hire a Freelancer if Consistent Availability is Crucial
Building a cohesive team requires everyone to be pulling in the same direction at the same time. While freelancing offers a great deal of flexibility, it comes at the cost of being readily available when needed.
Freelances juggle different clients. That means their attention is divided between you and the other clients they’re working with.
FAQs about Don’t Hire a Freelancer
What are the cons of hiring a freelancer?
Hiring freelancers can lead to unpredictable quality and reliability issues. Communication and project management might become major challenges due to their availability and dedication to your projects. Also, relying solely on freelancers can inhibit building a strong company culture and create inconsistencies in the quality of your deliverables.
Is it better to hire freelancers?
Not necessarily. It depends. Freelancers offer benefits like cost savings on salaries and overhead. However, if factors such as consistent availability, direct communication, and deep integration within the team are crucial for your business, then you don’t hire a freelancer.
A dedicated full-time team may be a more reliable solution. Remember, every business is unique; analyze what structure best supports your goals and provides you with what you need to meet your business goals.
Should I hire an employee or a freelancer?
The big question, right? Think of it this way: freelancers work best for short-term tasks, one-off projects, or when you need a specific skillset temporarily. Employees or full-time independent contractors from the Philippines are more suited for long-term goals, when building company culture is key, or when you require consistent, readily available support for daily operations.
This is what separates VA Staffer from other VA agencies out there. Our VAs will do remote work for you full-time and their attention and skills are focused on your business.
Ultimately, deciding what structure best suits your needs relies heavily on your specific circumstances, budget, and long-term visions for the business. When you’re hiring, consider the long-term vision for your company.
Why do people quit freelancing?
Freelancing isn’t all sunshine and roses. While attractive to many, it presents its own set of challenges. Freelancers often struggle with the instability of income, chasing late payments, finding reliable clients, and handling all aspects of running their business solo (marketing, accounting, you name it).
These combined factors lead many to seek the stability and structure of full-time employment. Often they are seeking more than just an hourly rate.
This is where you can provide job security.
Conclusion
Deciding whether or not to bring on freelancers is a big deal. It impacts your company culture, bottom line, and long-term success. Consider what aligns with your specific goals. Sometimes it makes more sense to bring someone in-house for greater control and to foster a sense of shared purpose. Don’t hire a freelancer just because it seems easier or more affordable upfront.
Think of it as a strategic decision to support your company’s long-term vision and goals. You may save time and money in the long run.
