Building a business that sets you free to live the kind of life you have always wanted is the dream in so many ways, and the digital age has opened things up like never before.
Being able to connect with talent from all over the world opens up the talent pool.
Millions are now freelancing, meaning you don’t have to be tied down with permanent hires.
With so many different options out there, all you have to do is figure out how to select the right ones, and your business will go from strength to strength.
With this in mind, we’re going to show you how to take your side hustle to the next level.
Step 1: Define your new project
You’re the expert on your business, but don’t fall into the trap of thinking that what you’re doing is self-explanatory.
Everyone has their own interests and areas of expertise, and it’s not a given that a freelancer’s skillset will mean that they instantly understand your business as well as you do.
In fact, this is rarely the case due to language barriers, cultural differences, and different areas of focus. To achieve success, you will need to:
– Outline the aims of the project so that freelancers can buy into what you’re trying to do
– Create a detailed list of deliverables so that freelancers can see what is required of them
– List the qualifications and specific skills that applicants need to bring to the table
By being open, transparent, and prescriptive about what you need and what you’re doing, you can make sure that the communication is right from day one.
It will also help you to clarify things in your mind so that you can identify any gaps in your thinking.
Step 2: Recruit and onboard talent
Freelancer platforms seem to be the obvious route to take here, but they come with high fees and restrictions that can slow your business down.
Putting them aside for now, your other option is to hire talent directly and then manage them with your own systems.
There are a range of ways that you can do this:
– Approach freelance agencies and ask about their outsourcing packages
– Look for individuals on LinkedIn and hiring boards, and conduct interviews
– Ask the people in your network for referrals and recommendations
Once you have found someone who has the technical skills, personal communication, and mindset that align with your business, hire them.
The key here is to have a clear and precise contract that outlines the scope of work, deliverables, timeframes, deadlines, and pricing.
When they have signed and returned, you may wish to onboard them with a digital meeting that is attended by other members of your outsourced team.
Sometimes something as simple as putting a name to a face is all it takes to build some priceless early momentum.
Step 3: Manage your freelancers
Platforms like Trello and Asana allow you to quickly and easily delegate tasks to members of the team and then track progress accordingly.
Having everyone in the same place will streamline your efforts and cut out duplicated work spread across multiple messaging platforms.
And while you may wish to go light on the admin and bureaucracy side of things as you grow, scheduling in a periodic check-in with each freelancer is important.
Even if it’s just a quick note to ping them a message on a Friday afternoon, it will give them a chance to raise anything they are not happy with or ask you for something that will help them do their job better.
Step 4: Be proactive with compliance
Every country will have its own tax regulations that you have to follow, and every country will have a unique set of employment laws.
Making sure that everything is clearly laid out, transparent, and has been checked by a legal expert will ensure that you are in control of your business as it scales.
Speaking with an accountant or solicitor is the best place to start, as they will be able to advise you on the key processes, checks, and balances that you need to have in place.
In addition, looking into how a specialist international payment service can help you is also important.
There are guides that start by covering the key details of every UK bank SWIFT code, which then extend to SWIFT code formats for every other country.
This allows you to check key details quickly and efficiently.
Conclusion
By being proactive, transparent, and forward-thinking in everything you do, you will be able to make the best use of the global talent pool that is out there waiting for you.
Just what you want to hear when it’s time to go from bright idea to side hustle to thriving business that sets you free to live the life you want.
