Hiring new employees for small to medium-sized business owners is not always possible because of the expenses and responsibilities that come with a permanent hire.

Getting freelancers on board can be a great help to your business. They are paid by the hour and work remotely, saving the business time and money.

Whether you’re preparing for a big project, falling behind on deadlines or needing extra assistance in the office, there are many benefits to hiring a freelancer. Below are 6 tips to assist you and what you need to look out for when hiring a freelancer.

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After you’ve posted the job listing, expect an influx of freelancers applying for the position. The first step is to screen the freelancer’s application and portfolio.

Then, conduct a thorough check to see if the applicant’s experience and skill match your job requirements.

This is the ideal time to ask for previous examples of work. Reference checks and client testimonials are great tools to assess the quality of their work. You need to be rigorous with your choice.

In all probability, the freelancer will be working remotely. Our advice is to choose someone who works well independently, takes the initiative and solves problems on their own.

Accountability and communication are key here. This might sound like a no brainer, but ask the freelancer how they manage their time, how they ensure deadlines are met and what tools they use for the work to be completed in a timeous manner.

It is also imperative for the freelancer to be comfortable and competent with technology (especially if they come across any technical issues).

For the working relationship to be successful, the freelancer and business owner need to communicate openly at all times.

Establish your preferred method of communication from the start. If you work within an organisation, assign one contact person on the team as your freelancers point of contact. This ensures that the communication process is streamlined and efficient.

All freelancers use a business email account for communication. There are applications like Skype, Zoom and Messenger which assist when you have an urgent task or message to convey. Always ask the freelancer which applications they are comfortable using, keeping in mind that it may not be the same applications used in your business. The trick is to compromise and find methods that work for both parties.

Time management is one of the most essential skills when outsourcing. Deadlines need to be met! Ensure that the freelancer understands the importance of submitting work on time and be as detailed about the task/project as possible.

As a business owner or organisation, it is of vital importance that the freelancer understands the brand’s credibility and how submitting work late can have a detrimental effect on the business.

Another factor to consider is time zones. If the freelancer is based in another country, take the time difference into account.  

Most freelancers work with various clients and have multiple tasks to manage at any given time.

When you need additional help with your workload, always ask the freelancer if they can take on more work. Keep in mind that not all freelancers work on a full-time basis; some only work 3-5 hours per day.

Even the most sort after freelancer has time allocated to each task, make sure you ask them if they have availability to take on additional work first. If they are unable to, it may be time to hire another freelancer.

 

How do you cultivate trust and rapport with someone who may be sitting halfway across the world? By developing an honest working relationship and being transparent with the freelancer.

There are many benefits to building rapport. One of them is giving honest feedback after the freelancer has submitted their work. When doing so, make sure you consider these two factors:

• Can the freelancer handle constructive criticism and make improvements?
• As a business owner, do you have time to train or coach the freelancer?

When it comes to using freelancers, payment terms may differ from one to the next. Some expect an upfront payment and others, only once the project is complete.

To safeguard your business, make sure these terms are agreed upon before the project starts. Longer projects may require an initial upfront payment.

Always be honest with the freelancer about your budget and payment terms, especially if the payment is late - this is another excellent way to establish trust.

Through Skillbox there is a safe and secure escrow payment system allowing funds to be held in a holding account until both parties are satisfied with the outcome of the service provided.

If you are looking for freelancers, post a job for free or if you’re a freelancer, check out our list of available freelance jobs, here.