Freelancers are self-employed individuals that take on projects on an as-needed basis and are paid on a project-by-project basis. For freelancers, the ability to work remotely and establish their own schedule are huge advantages, but as a business owner, what are the upsides to bringing on freelance workers?

Independent contractors are frequently accessible on short notice, allowing you to satisfy an unexpected demand that your in-house staff would not be able to handle. In addition, freelancers often have extensive expertise in specialized areas and can handle complex projects with ease. 

It’s hard enough to manage a team that works in the same building as you. It’s not easy to manage a team of freelancers, especially if they’re all over the world and you’ve never met most of them. Still, managing them is not an insurmountable challenge. Here are five valuable tips to better manage your team of freelancers and achieve great success. 

Consider Utilizing A Freelance Management System As An All-In-One Solution

First things first, you should know that nowadays, freelance management systems are being massively adopted by an increasing number of businesses because of the difficulties inherent in managing a rising freelance workforce. Because of this, you might want to consider using this kind of software, especially if you have a significant number of freelancers working for you. 

Everything from onboarding new employees to completing their paperwork, paying them, filing taxes, and keeping track of their earnings, could be easily handled within a professional freelance management system solution. A reliable FMS vendor will assist you in rolling out their platform, customizing it to fit your workflow, incorporating it with your existing apps, and providing one-on-one instruction to your staff. As a result, your company will be able to quickly adapt to the new FMS technology and enjoy a more convenient and organized way of dealing with your freelancers. 

Spell Out The Scope Of Work In The Contract And Remain Fair To Your Employees

The scope of work and the agreed-upon fee for it should be spelled out in detail in your contract with each new freelancer on board. You should show your freelancer some courtesy by paying them for any extra work they do above and beyond the scope of the original contract, and they should show you some courtesy by completing their work in a timely manner. To ensure continued consensus about what is and is not covered by the budget, it should reflect the aforementioned project specifics.

Develop related tasks and cost estimates if you’re paying a freelancer by the hour. Inquire as to how much they can accomplish within the time constraints of a given assignment, and encourage them to raise any concerns they may have about finishing the task at hand promptly.

Stay Away From Micromanaging

Freelancing’s adaptability is a significant benefit. The clients are the ones who pay the bills for freelancers. When you introduce severe rules into your relationship, tensions arise. Seasoned freelancers will have established their own ways, so it’s best to avoid micromanaging them by setting strict deadlines or outlining detailed processes for them to follow and letting them work according to their practices. 

Of course, this doesn’t imply that you should give them the freedom to organize each day on their own terms. However, when you notice a particular freelancer works best at night, if it doesn’t interfere with your project or if the work could be done at any time, steer away from micromanaging and let them work at their own pace. 

Simplify The Interaction With Your Freelancers

Next in line, make sure that each freelancer knows how to get in touch with you. If you prefer email as a means of communication, for instance, you should exchange email addresses and a sample message before beginning work on the project. This will allow you to iron out any problems with message delivery early on. 

If possible, it’s best to have all of your independent contractors contact you using the same method. You can utilize some of the free online communication platforms like Slack to create a standardized communication channel for the entire team and communicate about your project’s latest developments with them there. 

Don’t Forget To Give Some Feedback

Leave feedback for independent contractors and tell them how they did. If they consistently provide you with modest bits of work, you don’t need to go into depth each time; a simple reminder that they’re under contract to do a better job will do.  

On the other hand, it might be encouraging to tell freelancers what they did well when working on a larger project with success. Also, let them know if there is anything you would like them to change in the future. The feedback will aid in their further growth and development.

Final Thoughts

Freelancers may be found just about anywhere in the world, and their wide range of experience and expertise can be a great asset to your company. Remember that even if they are not officially employees, they still provide you with a service, so treat them with the respect they deserve. If you recognize and reward their contributions, they may eventually join your team.