In this fast-paced modernization era, businesses of all sizes appreciate the immense potential of hiring third-party services and, in particular, extremely qualified talent to handle most of their operations. Popular sites such as Upwork, Freelancer, and Fiverr are just some of the prevalent sites for outsourcing skilled freelancers to perform tasks like writing product descriptions, logo design, Bookkeeping services. SEO strategy, or even marketing.

Bear in mind; most startups bite the dust due to insufficient funding, prowess, and other resource handicaps. And that’s where outsourcing comes in handy. For most emerging startups and even SMEs, outsourcing is an excellent way to get important startup projects done on time and even better while still saving some money. Still, as a yet-to-be-established brand, you can focus on other tasks that will get your business off the ground. 

As lucrative as outsourcing sounds, still it can be a double-edged sword. For instance, it’s impractical to entrust your startup’s most valuable and profitable tasks to just anyone. A wrong approach and failure to be incognizant with the following top tips can make you shut your startup’s doors.

Tips to Keep In Mind Before Outsourcing Your Startup’s Talent  

Always Do Your Research

Many brands and businesses have outsourced before. You can find lots of information regarding a particular outsourcing individual or company from Google search or the individual’s portfolio. Do other brands recognize and endorse them? Do they meet the skill set you are looking for?

Don’t coy from asking your prospective freelancers their level of expertise and talents. Instead, ask for previously completed tasks. This is the only way to figure out if the freelancers can match the job at hand.

More importantly, you have to identify the areas you need significant help with. Then, as mentioned, prioritize tasks that consume too much of your time and level of expertise not currently available with your house team. 

Set up Your Ideal Budget

Yes, outsourcing might be a favorable way to cut a lot of costs. For instance, steep discounts in labor costs and the fact that your freelancers can work from anywhere in the world. Still, expect a price tag, and it should be fair. In some cases, you might have to cover the initial legal fees.

You don’t want to overpay or underpay for the services. But, on the other hand, if your budget is a bit low, you might not get top-quality service.

Also, don’t forget to inquire how your chosen freelancer would like to receive their payments. For example, is it at the end of the project, hourly, or after each milestone. 

Don’t Forget That You Are Still Responsible

No one believes and cares about your venture as you do and your founding team members. So, no matter the number of third-party members you outsource, and regardless of how skilled they are, you still should be the head of all operations. 

First and foremost, always keep in touch with the freelancers from the beginning of your startup’s project. Spill out your fears and expectations, and don’t coy from making recommendations and alterations whenever possible. Also, if it’s a long-term project and your startup garners the necessary resources, it’s best to make occasional travels to the outsourcing locations. Enhanced interpersonal relationships with your team members will go a long way to expand your startup into a global organization.

Additionally, track the work progress of your freelancers. Project management tools such as Trello and Slack have kanban boards to ensure all your team members have access to new tasks and easy visibility to see the functions that have been completed. Always remember that outsourcing and project management tools should always go hand in hand. 

Take Proper Security Measures

Some of your freelancers might have to deal with your startup’s critical data, such as finances and intellectual properties. Therefore, it would be best to find an ideal way to protect the files you share with them. Even better, hire a lawyer or sign up for cybersecurity insurance. This guarantees your startup protection and leverage in case of any malicious attacks. 

Assess Their Technology and Risk For Disruptions

Digital technology is bound to change. So when outsourcing your startup’s talent, you have to consider whether your partners can match future digital transformation. This is particularly essential if you are outsourcing for long-term projects. 

Technology and risk disruptions can also impact your startup’s security incidents and cyber-attacks. Therefore, ensure that your prospective freelancers can identify and have a plan to address potential technological risks.