Running a business is no small feat, and one of the biggest challenges you may face as an entrepreneur is effectively managing your contractors and freelancers. Whether it’s making sure they stay on task or understanding how to pay them properly, these individuals need special considerations that your in-house team may not require.
To help ensure success while navigating this complexity, we’ve put together five tips for managing contractors and freelancers. Read on to learn more about what steps you should take when interacting with these professionals.
Determine the Scope of Work and Deliverables Upfront
Before both parties get too deep into the project, it is essential to define the scope of work and deliverables upfront. Contractor management software can help to ensure that both parties understand the specifics of their responsibilities, what’s expected of them, and more. This is a crucial step when working with contractors and freelancers because clarity gives each party peace of mind and helps ensure that everyone is on the same page.
Agreeing on what tasks are included and what the projected outcome should look like ensures that nothing important gets dropped from the process and eliminates any guesswork. Defining expectations upfront also prevents confusion if any changes need to be made as projects move through their various phases. Establishing an open dialogue about deliverables will also allow for more transparency throughout the process, setting both sides up for efficient collaboration and a successful end result.
Set Clear Expectations on Deadlines and Budget
Effectively managing contractors and freelancers requires setting clear expectations upfront on both deadlines and budgets. This ensures that everyone is on the same page from the start, and outlines explicit agreements on project scope, timelines, costs, and payment schedules.
By having these expectations in place from the beginning of the engagement, team members are able to ensure that everyone fully understands their individual roles and collective responsibilities throughout the workflow process. Additionally, with a clearly outlined budget for the completion of tasks, both parties can be comfortable that financial constraints will not interfere with project progress or compromise quality.
Having a well-defined set of expectations when it comes to deadlines and budget management allows projects to run more smoothly while offering peace of mind throughout the workflow process.
Communicate Often and Provide Feedback Regularly
It is important to keep the lines of communication open to ensure projects progress smoothly. Regular feedback is equally important; not only does it give you peace of mind that your project goals are being met, but it also provides contractors and freelancers with much-needed guidance and clarity.
Keeping an open channel of communication through check-ins, providing direct feedback on tasks completed, and allowing for questions to be asked can go a long way in creating a successful working relationship between employer and employee.
Make sure you state expectations on availability at the start of a project. This helps prevent confusion or misunderstandings later down the line. Both the business manager and contractors or freelancers can benefit from this practice, which will help ensure smooth sailing throughout the entire project.
Pay Contractors and Freelancers on Time
When payments are timely, trust is established and both parties can focus on collaboration rather than worry about when or if they’ll see the income they’re expecting. That being said, it cannot be overstated how important it is to vet your contractors and freelancers prior to any project commencement. You should never put your business at risk just because of a rushed decision.
If possible, create contracts that establish an incentive program that rewards those who consistently hit their deadlines. This way, everybody is incentivized to work efficiently together while upholding the agreement made between each party. In general, managing contractors and freelancers effectively means paying them on time, making sure you take reasonable steps before hiring anyone, and creating a contract with agreed-upon terms for everyone involved.
Bottom Line
By following these five tips, managing contractors and freelancers will be a breeze. From setting clear expectations to creating a system for payments, you’ll have everything under control in no time. And when you do, you can sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor with the knowledge that you’ve built a team of people who are just as passionate about your business as you are.