As a small business owner, it can be difficult to find ways of efficiently and profitably balancing your hiring and outsourcing needs. With limited resources and tight budgets, it is crucial to make decisions that maximize both efficiency and boosts profitability. As Jo Constantz wrote in Bloomberg Business, more than 75% of US Businesses prefer to hire freelancers in an uncertain economy. Maybe your business should too.
But how do you know the right decision for your business?
First, consider a software-as-a-service (SAAS) company that provides web development services. The company’s main project involves developing cloud-based applications for clients. With this type of project comes considerable complexity, requiring highly specialized skills to complete it within the timeline and budget constraints. The company has the option of hiring one or more full-time developers with the necessary qualifications or outsourcing the project to freelance developers who may have even more specific skill sets.
The advantages of hiring employees are clear: they usually cost less per hour than freelancers; you know their expertise well; they invest in the project’s success; they build closer relationships with clients; and their presence brings more stability to the business as a whole.
Outsourcing on the other hand can provide flexibility when working with short-term projects with relatively low complexity or resources required (such as coding tasks). It also allows businesses to better manage their cash flow because there are no commitments until a given task or project is completed successfully. Moreover, freelance developers come equipped with specific knowledge and skill sets that could prove invaluable when diving into unchartered territory during development processes – something that would not be immediately accessible through full-time hires due mainly to limited budget restraints. However, there is still an inherent risk that quality may suffer from outsourcing tasks as these professional services come at generally higher rates per hour than employing a full-time staffer for an entire month’s worth of work
When managing a small business, it can be difficult to determine the best balance between hiring full-time employees and outsourcing freelance workers. Each approach has its advantages and drawbacks. Hiring employees offers stability and direct relationships with clients but increases overhead costs for the company. Outsourcing can provide flexibility for short-term projects with low complexity, but there is a risk of quality being compromised due to higher hourly rates than employed staff. To make smart decisions that maximize both efficiency and boosts profitability, businesses should try to combine strategies by striking a balance between both approaches while still ensuring quality assurance measures are in place.
When it comes to making these decisions a Fractional COO can help with evaluating your needs, calculating costs, establishing structure, identifying risks, and more.
