We’re living in a freelancer economy, according to Forbes. Should you hire a freelancer to market a franchise? The answer isn’t always clear. With 2016 just getting started, you might think hiring a freelancer could spur your franchise growth in the New Year.
Here is a glimpse into the state of the current freelance market and a few reasons you might want to consider bringing a freelancer on board.
The State of the Freelancer Market
A third of the United States workforce is a freelancer of some kind. Millions of Americans have taken their career into their own hands by branching out to work with clients on their own.
For franchise owners, this is promising. There is a large pool of highly qualified candidates to choose from. Within the millions of freelancers are small niche groups of highly specialized experts. There are freelance social media gurus, writers, consultants, designers and more.
In your franchise, you have unique needs. Drilling down to find a freelancer in your area (or someone you feel comfortable working with remotely) will help you get expert help to grow your business. Still, there is one big consideration to make – what will corporate think?
Will Corporate Approve?
Some franchises are strict about who you hire and for which tasks. Compliancy is vital when it comes to franchises, especially in marketing and finances. For example, if you’re hiring a freelancer to help with your social media, you might need to check with your corporate office first. However, if you’re hiring a freelance consultant, it might not be as important to get approval from headquarters.
Benefits of Hiring Freelancers for Your Franchise
Once you get the go ahead from corporate, you’re ready to start considering a freelancer for your business. There are many benefits to choosing a freelancer to help with your business. Here are a few you might not have considered before:
You won’t have to offer benefits to your freelancer
Freelancers are considered independent contractors. The government does not require that you offer any type of additional benefits to these employees of your company.
You won’t have to pay any payroll taxes
Another big consideration to make when hiring someone is payroll taxes. Freelancers are considered self-employed so they are responsible for covering their own taxes. The rate you agree upon with your freelancer is the rate you’ll pay.
You’ll get a highly skilled employee for half the cost
Many times, franchises don’t need a full time person to handle certain areas of the business. Instead of hiring someone to work exclusively with your company, you can hire a freelancer. These people are experts in their craft so they will provide you with quality results at a fraction of the price.
You can scale as needed
You’ll quickly find in your franchise that your needs scale depending on the season. For example, in tax season you’re more likely to need the help of an accountant than other times of the year. With a freelancer on your side, you can scale your costs as needed instead of paying an employee when their job isn’t as important to your business.
Is a Freelancer Right for Your Business?
Most of the time, the answer is yes. If headquarters approves of you hiring some outside help, go for it! This is one of the most cost effective ways of getting a specialized job done right and done well.
