The gig economy is booming and small businesses are hiring professionals working around the world. Your small business can benefit enormously from using freelancers.
In this article, I will discuss some of the benefits of using freelancers to handle aspects of your business, leveraging the wide range of digital and other services freelancers offer.
Who is a freelancer?
A freelancer is simply an independent professional who possesses skills in a particular niche and offers their services to clients based on demand.
You might consider hiring a freelancer for writing, creative, video, bookkeeping, marketing, sales, administrative – pretty much anything you can think of.
Where you can hire a freelancer?
The most popular platforms where you can hire a freelancer are:
- Fiverr.com
- Upwork.com
- Freelancer.com
Below are 4 benefits from using freelancers in your business:
1. Affordability
Getting services from a freelancer can cost significantly less than a permanent employee. On websites like Fiverr, you can hire a freelancer for as low as $5. (It’s a bit of a marketing gimmick, but you get the point.)
A permanent employee requires a salary or hourly payment and often benefits. So, while the hourly rate for a freelancer can be more than an employee in some cases, you may actually save money because you are just paying for what you need.
Kelsey, who is a business owner, revealed in an article on Fundera that she outsources her jobs to freelancers because their prices are reasonable and their services can be delivered quickly.
2. Specialization
There are a lot of freelancers who specialize in a particular niche, or have specific industry knowledge. It can be expensive and you may not have the time to advertise to recruit specialists on your own.
Freelancing platforms make it easy. You just log in to any of the freelancing platforms and search for freelancers who specialize in whatever you need.
You can view their work samples, ratings, and reviews that previous clients have given about their services, which can help you make an informed decision.
3. Reduced Overhead
You incur overhead when you hire permanent staff in your business. For example, you may need to provide space, furniture, internet service, and other amenities on top of their wages.
Hiring a freelancer reduces your overhead. All it takes is the time you invest in identifying a professional freelancer on any of the freelancing platforms, discussing your project with them, and paying for their services.
4. Fast Turnaround
Many freelancers are able to turn a project around quickly, sometimes the same day. One of the benefits of a global workforce is time zones. You may be able to hand off a project, go to bed, and wake up to the completed job / project, depending on size and scope.
If you are in a crunch for time, this may be exactly the help you need.
If your job cannot be done right away, the freelancer will give you a timeline for delivery of the job.
Summary
The benefits from using freelancers in your business are numerous. I have discussed just some of them with you.
It is now up to you to compare them side by side with hiring an employee.
For a one-off or occasional need, a freelancer may be a great option.
