Of course, there is no universal answer to this question.
We’ve gone from a structure based almost exclusively on employees to one that primarily relies on freelancers. So we have looked at both sides of the spectrum and here is our view.
Benefits of a Freelancer
1. Experience
When we go up a start up, the budget is often limited. Unless you raise funds, the solution is often to turn to a younger workforce, less expensive, and sometimes less allergenic than the risk.
They are dynamic, friendly and have a good web culture. The freelancers we work with are experienced, they give us Relevant recommendations which save us time and money.
And without having to recruit an experienced full-time employee for a significant payroll.
2. Productivity
Even with all the energy in the world, young or low-skilled workers are generally less productive than experienced freelancers.
For example, our experience shows that a professional freelance developer spends 10 times less time (sometimes more) than a novice developer on a similar task.
3. Accountability and Flexibility
Startup needs change rapidly but employees do not necessarily change at the same pace or in the same direction.
You usually need back-end developers first. Next, the site interface should be improved, then the company should be promoted.
It represents a variety of specialties that an employee would be difficult to master completely. One interest of freelancers is that you can turn to them and call An expert for every need of your startup.
4. Motivation: Customer Satisfaction
A satisfied customer can generate new contacts. A freelancer makes sure to understand the needs of its clients as much as possible. A successful project is the best promotion he can get for his work.
For example, trusted freelance writers are included in some clients’ favorite authors’ lists and therefore respond to requests for collaboration more regularly. Customer Satisfaction, Loyalty, New Projects, Increased Business!
So we might think that a freelancer would give more importance to their customer satisfaction than an employee.
Еmployee benefits
Of course, hiring a full-time employee has its advantages. And you should carefully consider the qualities of each profile according to the needs of your startup.
1. Implications
An employee hired indefinitely is, most of the time, involved in the company he or she works for, depending on the position. This translates into greater efficiency and greater participation in business decision. Тhis advantage appears to be relatively important in your final choice of whether to work with a team of freelancers or employees.
However, it should be moderate: some professionals are passionate about their but conversely, for some employees, only the salary at the end of the month is important.
2. Availability
Where freelancers typically have many clients and aren’t always available to respond to you quickly, a single employee is pretty much available to your business. It is indisputable. This can be seen as an essential advantage due to the time savings availability of an employee compared to the freelancer.
In spite of everything, employees can fall off work or resign: their availability is therefore not even 100% guaranteed.
3. Price
Some freelancers can be expensive, no doubt about it. However, salary is also an expense. With many charges attached to it.
In addition, it is necessary to take into account the high productivity of the freelancer: the high hourly cost quickly pays for itself if the productivity is 10 times higher.
So, at this point, it is interesting to compare cost of a freelancer than one employee, depending on the needs of your start-up.
Freelancer or Employee: Which to Choose?
There’s certainly no definitive answer: All situations are different, and we wouldn’t recommend that everyone mobilize an army of freelancers.
Furthermore, even if the freelancer is a force to be reckoned with and a source of experience, he or she will first expect you to explain your project as best as possible and delegate your work.
In short, clearly define your own requirements and find the professional suitable for you to ensure that work is going as smoothly as possible.
