How to Find Freelancers and Contractors<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
The good news? We can help you with one of the first major decisions you need to make with your new online business: choosing between freelance or contract workers.<\/strong> With a little research and direction, you\u2019ll be able to hire your ideal remote professional in no time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To get you there, we\u2019ll first talk about freelance vs contract workers. Then we\u2019ll explain how you can find the pro that\u2019s right for your business. Let\u2019s dive in!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Freelance Or Contract Work: 3 Key Differences<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re interested in hiring either of these types of workers, you\u2019ve probably realized their job roles are very similar. They both have significantly different responsibilities and restrictions compared to traditional 9-5 employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before we get started, it\u2019s important to understand that \u201cindependent contractor\u201d and \u201cself-employed\u201d are interchangeable terms. Additionally, both share the same tax status<\/strong> as freelancers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\tGO TO >> IRS.GOV \u2013 Independent Contractor (Self-Employed) or Employee?<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
The line between self-employed and employee is a very fine one.<\/strong> And it can be easy to accidentally treat your freelancers and contractors as employees, which is something you definitely <\/em>do not want to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For US-based companies, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is the ultimate authority when it comes to classifying workers. That being said, make sure you\u2019re careful to follow the rules, or you could find yourself owing some serious back taxes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With that out of the way, let\u2019s explore the three major differences between the roles of independent contractor and freelancer<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>1. Negotiation of terms<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The most notable difference between independent contractors and freelancers is that contractors tend to engage in more specific negotiation. After all, that\u2019s why they\u2019re referred to as \u201ccontractors\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The most common negotiated terms include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Location where work is completed<\/li>
The amount of time the person can count on work being available (contract period)<\/li>
Hours of expected availability<\/li>
Project price<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>2. Duration of work<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The contract period (mentioned above) and pay are also major differences between freelance and contract workers. Both freelancers and contractors will typically need written contracts outlining the scope and the duration of their projects:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"An$ <\/a>
an example of a freelance contract<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
However, independent contractors generally work on much longer terms and often work for a set price, rather than on an hourly basis. This isn\u2019t always the case, but it\u2019s much more common for a contractor to charge \u201cby the project\u201d or to negotiate a \u201cretainer\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Contractors and long-term retainers<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
A retainer <\/strong>is an agreement where the contractor charges a set amount in exchange for reserving their services. For example, a web developer might agree to set aside a certain amount of time per month and charge you a $2000 monthly retainer<\/strong> to reserve that time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a result, it\u2019s not uncommon for contractors to remain with one company for many months or even years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Freelancers and short-term work<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
In contrast, freelancers complete projects on shorter timelines and more often for a per-hour rate. They may work for weeks or even days. You\u2019re also usually not obligated to give them notice if you no longer need their services (although it is polite to do so). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example, a marketing team at a large company may want to hire a graphic artist for a redesign project that will take about two months of part-time work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This would likely be a job for a freelancer. When the job is complete, the company may decide to stay in touch with the designer. The worker can then decide if they want to accept any projects in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>3. Working Conditions<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Another big difference between freelance and contract work is the working conditions. These two types of workers have different restrictions and freedoms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Contractors usually have longer contract periods, but they also tend to have more limitations. This often (but not always) translates into less independence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In contrast, freelancers can enjoy the freedom to complete their projects at their own pace, according to their chosen hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"An$ <\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Additionally, freelancers choose the work they take on. They must come to agreements about deadlines and the scope of projects. But outside those terms, they can make independent decisions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>How to Decide Which Worker to Hire for Your Online Business<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Every online business is unique. It will have evolving needs and preferences at any moment in time, so there\u2019s no hard and fast checklist for making this decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Still, it will be easier for you to choose between freelancers and contract workers if you carefully consider the three key differences between them. You might want to reflect on the following: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The scope of the work<\/li>
How long projects will last<\/li>
The work relationship you\u2019d like to have (more or less supervision)<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
In general, smaller businesses with restrictive budgets or solopreneurs trying to monetize their ideas<\/a> might want to start with freelancers. If you really like working with a freelancer, and the feeling is mutual, you can always hire them as an independent contractor later on.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Overall, both worker models are pretty flexible, so you shouldn\u2019t stress about this decision. However, you will <\/em>need to know where to look for these different professionals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>How to Find Freelancers and Contractors<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe rise of entrepreneurship<\/a> means both freelancers and contractors are easy to find. Many people are fed up with rigid labor conditions and toxic work environments. Therefore, they see the benefits of going remote and working for themselves or online businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re looking for a contract worker, you may want to advertise the posting like you would a traditional full-time job. There are plenty of places to post a listing online. For example, LinkedIn.com<\/a> and Indeed.com<\/a> are some of the most popular places for job seekers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can seek freelancers on these platforms too, but you also have other options. There are many well-established freelancer platforms, such as Upwork<\/a> and Fiverr<\/a>, where you can search for specialized remote workers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s quick and easy to make accounts on either of these websites. Additionally, they have many benefits, such as streamlined payment processes and internal messaging systems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
With both Fiverr<\/a> and Upwork, you\u2019ll want to make sure you understand the terms of service for your chosen platform. These terms can sometimes prevent you from transitioning your freelancer to an independent contractor<\/strong> (for a set duration of time).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Conclusion<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Hiring someone to collaborate in your online business can be daunting, especially if you\u2019re already struggling with excess work. And there are many factors to consider when making this life-changing professional decision. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fortunately, there are some key differences between remote workers that should help you decide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To recap, here\u2019s what you need to know to decide on hiring freelance or contract workers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Freelance:<\/strong> This setup is typically for irregular or short-term work. Freelancers tend to work with minimal supervision and on their own schedule.<\/li>
Contract:<\/strong> These workers complete long-term projects, in roles that may become full-time. The work will require more collaboration and may include a retainer.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Do you have any questions about hiring a freelancer or a contractor? Let us know in the comments section below!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you liked this article, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter in the box<\/a> up to your right!<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Learn 3 key differences between freelancers and contractors, and see whether they matter for your situation. If you\u2019re a growing small online business or solopreneur looking to hire, you might not know where to begin. If you\u2019re looking for help, there a chance you\u2019re also stressed beyond belief if you feel bogged down and burnt [\u2026]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":76756,"featured_media":32026,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_strive_editorial_status":"complete","_strive_copy_of":0,"inline_featured_image":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_caption":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_nocaption":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_hide":"","_strive_checklists":"\"\"","_strive_active_checklist":"62291e2bb2422","_strive_post_notes":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[69,144],"tags":[582,347,173,322,622,245],"class_list":{"0":"post-30661","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-advice","8":"category-business","9":"tag-employees","10":"tag-freelance","11":"tag-hiring","12":"tag-online-business","13":"tag-small-business","14":"tag-working-with-freelancers","15":"entry"},"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t