Every year, it feels like business costs are only going up. If you’ve found that it’s just not feasible to have an office full of employees, it may be time to reconsider how you structure your company’s departments. Chances are, there’s a way to get a lot of the work you need to be completed for less money while maintaining quality. If you’re thinking about outsourcing some of your company’s work, here’s what you need to think about. 

Working With Independent Contractors

Instead of hiring an employee to work full time, you can hire an independent contractor to work from home or occasionally come into the office to make sure the work is being completed to your satisfaction. You don’t have to pay to keep someone in the office, and the contractor doesn’t need to pay for gas, parking, or expensive lunches. 

For many independent contractors, the flexibility to work where and when they want outweighs the benefits of an employee position, so they will often be comfortable completing the same work for less than you would spend maintaining an employee. Before bringing in any independent contractors, consult with your accountant to make sure any contractors don’t get classified as an employee, or you could wind up paying all sorts of fines come tax time.

Working With Companies

Before you settle on any one company, do your research. In many cases, if the price is too good to be true, it probably is, and you’ll wind up getting what you pay for. Don’t be afraid to ask for samples of similar work or references from other clients. You must find a company that can stick to a schedule. If you become one of their bigger clients with plenty of work and pay, chances are you’ll be a priority. If you’re a smaller client, there’s a risk you’ll be placed on the back burner if something with a bigger client comes up. If you don’t have that kind of flexibility with your deadlines, this could become a problem. It’s also a good idea to make sure the company has experience in your industry. If they don’t but are willing to gain experience, they may still be a feasible option.

Finding a good company or contractor to take care of all your outsourcing needs can be tricky, but don’t let the time you’ll spend researching scare you away. With the right match, you can get the same work done while seeing some big savings.