How to Build a Thriving Freelance Team to Support Your Business

As a business owner, you can benefit from hiring freelancers in many ways. Work-for-hire professionals allow you to tap into niche expertise, filling small gaps in your team that you don't necessarily need a full-time worker for. Freelancers also have other benefits, allowing you to scale up quickly and adopt new technologies or techniques efficiently. This guide provides some tips for integrating a freelance team into your business.

Determine what roles are suitable for freelance hiring

Not every job is suitable for freelance work. For example, if you need someone to do a job full-time, hiring a freelancer may not make a lot of sense. However, many part-time jobs that you don't rely on constantly are suitable for freelancing. Examples range from marketing to accounting. Tax assistance is another great example. A professional like Speedy Tax Preparation can manage your quarterly and annual taxes for you.

Register your business to simplify freelancer hiring

Before you start building a freelance team, consider formally registering your business as a company entity, like a corporation or a limited liability company, LLC. This can make the logistics of hiring people easier. An LLC is a great option, as it streamlines administrative tasks, offers flexibility, and provides tax perks. You don't have to hire a pricey lawyer to start an LLC. You can form a cheap LLC online using a business formation service. Just make sure to read reviews first to figure out which service is best for you.

Address administrative essentials like freelancer contracts and pay

Once you have your company established, you can set up the other administrative components needed to successfully hire freelancers. Start by developing a basic freelance contract that you can adapt to different roles. Shopify has a basic guide to setting up a freelance contract. Essential elements to include are names and contact details, a description of deliverables, payment details, and legal jurisdiction in case of disputes. You also need to determine what method you'll use to pay people, such as PayPal or Venmo.

Set up a streamlined freelancer hiring process

Now that you've got the practical components in place, you can start hiring your first freelancers. Start by figuring out what roles you want to fill. Then, come up with a description outlining the key responsibilities your freelancer must fulfill. You can then create a job post. There are many platforms that allow you to post jobs for freelancers, from Upwork to LinkedIn. When reviewing applicants, consider details like their experience and portfolio. You should also include an interview as part of the hiring process.

Invest in tools to help your freelance team succeed

The right technology can support collaboration and communication within freelance teams. Talent Desk offers a roundup of tools to consider, like Zoom, ToDoist, and Google Drive.A PDF converter is another useful tool. Use it to compile documents, so people collaborating on projects can share info in a single, easy-to-send PDF. You can even rearrange pages within the PDF to get content into the optimal order.

Onboard your freelancers

Onboarding introduces your freelance team to your company culture and processes. Start with the practicalities. Make sure your freelance team has access to any technologies you use and provide tutorials to help them master these tools. You also want to establish some rapport with your freelancers. Hosting a casual event like a virtual coffee session is a great way to get freelancers and in-house team members to bond. Finally, onboarding should address practical steps, like making sure contracts are signed and payment methods set up.

Freelancers can support your business in many ways. However, it's important to set them up for success, for example, by first registering your company as an LLC, so you can draw up freelance contracts easily. Follow this step-by-step guide to get your freelance team started.

For more resources and tips to help your business succeed, head to the blog.