You may have noticed that larger businesses utilise the talents of freelancers and contractors regularly. As a small business owner, it is common for the thought of outsourcing to freelancers or contractors to feel intimidating, as there can be some uncertainty that comes with it.
Whilst this won’t suit every business and industry, it does suit more than you realise. Here are the pros and cons of hiring freelancers or contractors.
Benefits
There are several benefits to hiring freelancers or contractors.
Flexibility
Perhaps one of the biggest benefits is flexibility for your business. You are able to utilise these workers as and when you need them. This could be determined by seasonal changes or project demands. Flexibility also allows you to control your cash flow as you can scale back when needed.
Specialised skills
Contractors especially often possess specialised skills or expertise in niche areas. By hiring outside workers, you canaccess talent that may not be available in-house. It is unlikely that this specialised knowledge will be needed all the time, but if it is you can create a full-time role to be filled.
Cost savings
Although freelancers and contractors can cost more on an hourly basis, they will save you money in the long run. Unlike a salaried employee, freelancers and self-employed contractors are responsible for their own taxes. Plus, you will not need to outlay any additional benefits such as healthcare or pension payments.
Drawbacks
As with all things business-related, there are some drawbacks that you will need to consider before utilising freelancers or contractors.
Lack of control
Traditional employees are managed in-house and all follow the same processes for their work. Freelancers and contractors do not have that same structure and can work in their own ways and to their own schedules. This can cause some issues, especially if these things are not discussed before completing a hiring process.
Limited loyalty
As freelancers and contractors come and go, their loyalty to the company will be significantly less than that of an employed worker. This may lead to you having to use different people each time, as previous workers have moved on to other jobs or projects elsewhere. Having to vet and recruit new people each time can be costly and time-consuming.
Greater risk
With outsourcing work, the risk of inconsistent quality and adherence to company standards increases. This is especially true when it comes to the level of professionalism displayed by freelancers or contractors. You may also be opening yourself and your business up to legal risks, such as clients making claims for professional negligence as a result of work completed by an outsourced worker.
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