By David Dixon
Image via Pexels
Staffing is one of every business's biggest costs, and partnering with freelance workers can be a great way to save money and resources. In today's connected world, you also have a global talent pool to choose from.
Hiring freelancers is fast, cost-effective, and flexible, and it gives you the opportunity to work with the most qualified people for the job from around the globe. SignalHarmony presents the tips you need to find the best freelancers for your business.
How to Find and Retain Freelancers
Here's how to source and keep freelancers who add the most value to your company:
Avoid complacency. Most people decide to freelance because they enjoy flexibility, so be prepared for constant shifts and changes.
Offer feedback and opportunities. When you're working with a great freelancer, provide constructive feedback to help them improve and potentially gain access to more work.
Be clear with expectations. No one can read minds, so be super clear about what you expect. The clearer you are, the higher the quality of work you'll get.
Communicate. Provide information about the availability of work, payment schedules, and client feedback.
Facilitate collaboration. Provide a forum or messaging platform, so you can speak to freelancers and let them speak to each other.
Qualities to Look For
When choosing freelancers, look for the following qualities:
Discipline
Time management skills
Professionalism
Motivation
Resilience
Networking prowess
Flexibility
You can use the internet to find the best remote freelancers for your small business. If you want to hire freelance workers from India, as an example, be sure to check out online job boards to do your scouting.
What to Do Before Starting the Hiring Process
Before starting the process of hiring freelance workers, you'll need to take care of the paperwork. Some required documents include:
A contract and statement of work
W-9 form
If necessary, an NDA
Information about payments
Consider Starting a Limited Liability Company
If your business is still in the early stages, you might be considering the best type of legal entity. An LLC limits the personal liability of the owner (member) while enabling the same taxation rules as a partnership. Under this structure, a member's personal assets aren't on the table when it comes to lawsuits or business debts. A formation service can help you set up an LLC and save you the expense of attorney fees.
How to Pay Freelance Workers
When you hire any type of worker, the importance of paying them properly can't be overstated. When it comes to paying freelancers in India, using traditional payment platforms or international wire transfers could be expensive options. Working with a trustworthy, low-cost money transfer service such as Remitly could save you even more money. The best part: If you’re sending more than $1,000, you can avoid transfer fees — even if you’re sending cash using something like a debit card.
Simplify Paperwork When Hiring Freelancers
With freelancers making up more than 36% of the American workforce, it's clear to see that the trend is growing. What can be unclear is how to efficiently and effectively manage the documents required to hire and pay freelance workers.
With Adobe Acrobat's free online converter, you can convert PDFs into DOC.X files from Microsoft Word or a wide range of other file formats, without compromising formatting. It's as easy as uploading your PDF file, quickly converting it, and then downloading it in its new format.