One of my favorite best practices to share with small businesses is that you can do so much more (in many cases) by leveraging alternative options to hire resources to get things done. In this ever-changing marketplace, you can outsource or delegate simple and complex challenges or functions in your business to achieve greater success faster.

When you us alternatives to hiring employees, you have greater flexibility to get help when you need it and save money when you don’t.

3 Alternatives to Hiring Employees

1. Hire Contractors or Consultants that are experts that you can engage to outsource key functions or projects. For example, I know several entrepreneurs that use web designers or social media consultants to manage their online presence. The key with using this alternative is being clear on what results you want to achieve, so that you can maximize the cost of hiring this type of expert.

What you want to avoid, depending your state regulations, is a contractor or consultant that can claim that they are an employee. For example in the state of California, there are specific rules and regulations around how you engage and manage a consultant or they could be considered and employee, requiring back wages, benefits and more. To avoid this issue, you can use a temp agency.

2. Hire a temporary worker from a temp agency. There are different agencies that have or will find different candidates with the expertise you need. This is a great solution, because the agency takes the risk and exposure for any employee challenges that arise. For example, when I was VP of Operations, we used temp workers. The great thing was that we could give day-to-day direction as needed and when one of our temps ended up with carpal tunnel, the temp agency dealt with the workman’s compensation and disability issues. They just sent us another person to help backfill the position. Whew!
   

Although there is a markup on the cost of the hire, you can decrease that rate by payrolling. Payrolling just means that you found the candidate and want to have them sign up with the agency and still have them work for you. Again, here you save yourself the potential burden, lawsuits and employment claims AND reduces the cost of the markup from the agency. 

3. Another strategy is to utilize a service provider or vendor. You can find several companies that offer the service and support to complete tasks, projects or a business need.

I loved the fact that I was able to pay my shoppingcart vendor to setup all of the payment offers for each product and service that we deliver. I was already using my shoppingcart for my emails and for a minor fee; I was able to have one of their expert setup everything within about 48 hours.

No matter what options you choose to get work done in your business, be sure to think about all of the different ways you have outside of hiring a part-time or full-time employee. Doing business differently can help you increase service, support and overall profitability of your company or within the organization.

We look forward to connecting with you on the inside!

My Best,

Toni