How to hire a freelancer for your business

Why you may need a freelancer

Freelancers can offer a great resource of specific skills, perfectly suited to meet your business’ immediate needs. The pent-up demand across many industries has left small businesses scrambling for resource within their teams. Costly, time-consuming recruitment processes are not an option for SMEs who need support, fast. As businesses try to find some sort of equilibrium, and recalibrate for the post-pandemic world, freelancers can help to alleviate pressure and help to deliver important projects to your valued clients.

Points to consider when hiring a freelancer

There are many things to consider before you begin your search for a freelancer. It can streamline the process if you have a very clear idea of how the freelancer will fit into your existing team. There are also additional points to note when it comes to the contractual side of freelancer hire.

Here we have outlined key considerations for hiring a freelancer, split into two categories – practical and contractual.

Practical

• Who will they work with? Think about the cultural fit with your business. Will they work well with your existing team?
• Where will they work? Will your freelancer be expected to work remotely or in office with your team? Many freelancers opt for a hybrid or a remote working agreement, so it is important to establish this fact within the job description.
• How will they interact with your clients? Will your freelancer be client facing? Think about lines of communication, particularly access to a company email address. Will you introduce them to clients as a specialist freelancer or do you plan to ‘white label’ them as an existing employee?
• Can they adapt to your business? Most freelancers have a specific set of skills and are a valuable resource for project work and specialist client requests, but it is important to ensure they can adapt to the business systems which you have in place if they need to.
• Carefully review their work:  Get references, request their full portfolio, and ask for testimonials. Get proof that the work they are showing is theirs: they should be able to validate that they were solely responsible for the work they present to you. Do your due diligence and you will be more likely to find a freelancer of the right quality.
• Get evidence of their qualifications: Asking for certification of recent training or proof of membership to their body’s code of practice can help to bolster your confidence in a freelance hire.
• Be cautious:  Trial your freelancer on a low-risk project first to see if they have understood and fulfilled the brief to your standards.

Contractual

• IP Agreement:  If you are giving a freelancer access to your clients and brand materials, it is imperative that you make them sign a watertight subcontractors’ agreement.
• NDA:  Get an NDA in place before a contract is signed to allow you to speak freely about the project.
• Subcontractors’ agreement:  The contract for a freelancer is very different to a permanent employee’s agreement. Get guidance on this from a professional.
• Know their rights: As a business owner you should understand the nature of the freelancer/ employer relationship to avoid any problems in the future. Please read the Government advice on this subject prior to exchanging contracts.
• Other considerations: Make sure the freelancer knows what they need to do to get paid – deadlines for delivering invoices, who to send the invoice to, when they can expect to be paid. You should be aware that freelancers are protected by the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 – invoices need to be paid within 30 days or they can start charging late fees and interest.

We hope this article has helped you decide on whether your business might benefit from hiring a freelancer. If your growing business needs flexible workspace, for both permanent and freelance employees, please don’t hesitate to contact us on call 0800 107 4667 or email info@capitalspace.co.uk .