Every small business owner needs help at some point. Bringing on partners or employees may be too big of a commitment. Examine how outsourcing work through subcontractors can provide the extra hands you need.
Create a Plan
Analyze which assignments you can hand off to a specialist. Determine if it is worth the cost by calculating the time saved through outsourcing. If the growth achieved and the hours gained by farming out the work is greater than the price of hiring a freelancer, then don’t hesitate to search out qualified help.
Investigate and understand the freelancer culture and market. You cannot demand the same stipulations of a subcontractor as you can of an employee. Be sure not to cross a boundary in your contract. While confidentiality is a must, no-compete clauses and exclusivity are tricky areas requiring legal advice. International workers may be able to do remote jobs but ensure that all necessary legalities are handled appropriately.
Test Out Your Options
Instead of relying solely on conversations, references, and reviews, spend a little money and see how well a potential subcontractor works on a few smaller projects before committing to something long-term. Hire multiple groups to do a basic assignment and compare how well they fulfilled the task. Was communication seamless? Were instructions followed? Was work finished on time? The cheapest is rarely ever the best. Precise results help you know who is the perfect fit.
Invest in Training
Once you find the ideal candidate, your work is far from over. Subcontractors need to be brought up to speed on your company procedures and culture. Don’t expect them to assimilate everything right away. Realistic expectations create a healthy working relationship. Spend adequate time to train new recruits and be patient.
Build a Strong Relationship
Once a quality subcontractor is brought into your fold, communicate often and foment a team spirit. If relationships are strained or even adversarial, openly address the challenges. Work to improve things before casting a trained and experienced subcontractor to the wayside. If work is consistently subpar and communication doesn’t resolve the problems, respectfully part ways. Eliminate many complications by including clearly defined benchmarks and expectations in your contract.
Be willing to listen to the viewpoint and observations of the subcontractor. The person is likely an expert in a niche aspect and can clue you into industry trends and tips to beat the competition. Openness to feedback creates trust and unity.
By outsourcing the right assignments to skilled subcontractors, you can save more time and money than doing everything yourself.