6 Must-Dos When Hiring a Freelancer Make sure both parties understand up-front exactly what's needed.

By Jonathan Long

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

startupstockphotos.com

Using freelancers can be quite convenient: It allows you to hire talent for specific tasks, both large and small, without bringing on additional full-time employees. And this ability helps you save two valuable resources -- time and money.

Related: 6 Ways to Avoid the Dreaded Bad Hire

I've used freelancers in the past for personal side projects, and my company has matched freelancers with some of our online marketing consulting clients. While hiring a freelancer may sound easy, there are some things you should take into consideration. I picked the brain of Matt Barrie, CEO of Freelancer.com, to highlight six must-dos to ensure you hire the right talent.

1. Be as detailed as possible.

It's important that your request be as detailed as possible, including the skills required, project time frame and deliverability benchmarks. Share an outline of what you require directly with the freelancer, and, as needed, break it into small steps so you can easily track the freelancer's progress. Since you have to define exactly what you require, it's important that both parties communicate efficiently. You might want to schedule an online video conference to go over the plan and make sure the freelancer fully understands the scope of the project.

2. Make sure the freelancer has good communication skills.

Make sure that anyone you might consider hiring has excellent communication skills. Different time zones, cultures and language barriers may all come into play, so you need to be confident in the freelancer's communication skills before awarding the job. Different projects will have different communication requirements. To avoid any misunderstandings in the future, keep your communication on the freelancing platform you choose, so, if you need to, you can make use of the site's dispute-resolution services.

3. Look for relevant experience.

Look for someone with experience doing the specific task you are hiring for. Ask to see examples of his or her work, whether those be web and app development, data entry or content writing. There are a lot of highly skilled freelancers who stick to a specific task because that's what they are good at; but there are also some who will bid on any project they can find. The key metrics to look at when searching for talent include ratings, feedback and his or her repeat hire rate. To avoid wasting time, entertain only those freelancers with experience doing the exact task you are hiring for. Ask for references if you want extra reassurance.

Related: 5 Tasks Entrepreneurs Are Better Off Outsourcing

4. Give yourself plenty of time and frequently engage with your project.

Given the millions of skilled and talented people to choose from worldwide, freelancers are usually quite flexible about getting things done based on your requirements. Frequent engagement is the key to any project's success; don't simply hire a freelancer and disappear. So, plan to constantly communicate with the individual you hire throughout the project's duration. Also make sure that you provide enough time for the freelancer to do the work and for you to provide feedback throughout the course of the job, allowing room for any needed revisions.

5. Pay only when the project is completed and delivered, as agreed.

There are multiple freelancer sites to choose from. Use one that releases the payment to the freelancer only after you have signed off on the project. Never pay up-front; use the site's escrow system and make sure you are 100 percent satisfied with the project before you release the funds. Paying in advance gives the freelancer very little incentive to stay on schedule.

6. Don't fall for offers outside of the freelancing platform.

If something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. If a freelancer says he or she will offer you a lower price off-site, be cautious, because you have zero protection if things go sour. Freelancing marketplaces are designed to help keep your project on track and protect your best interests by keeping all of the communication and payments on the platform.

Do you have any tips to share that have helped you hire quality freelancers in the past? If so, share them with our readers in the comments below.

Related: Using Slack to Build a Referral Network

Jonathan Long

Founder, Uber Brands

Jonathan Long is the founder of Uber Brands, a brand-development agency focusing on ecommerce.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Growing a Business

What Our Digital World Is Missing — and How I Turned It Into $100 Million After Dropping Out of High School

I went from high school dropout to $100 million CEO by sticking to one very important learning principle.

Growing a Business

This Charleston Hotspot Found an Inflation Loophole That Helps It Avoid Rising Food Costs – Here's Its Secret

Miller's All Day partners with local farmers to combat rising inflation costs and thrive in Charleston's competitive restaurant scene.

Business Plans

Healthy Business Growth Comes from Depth, Not Just Disruption — Here's Why

For startups with a strong foundation, here's how to discover and deliver new products and services that customers want.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Business News

Walmart Is Laying Off Hundreds, Relocating Others as the Company Closes a U.S. Office

Walmart is giving some employees at least a month to decide if they want to relocate.

Starting a Business

Why Psychological Courage Is the Secret Ingredient for Successful Startups

This article explores the concept of psychological courage in startups, highlighting how employees — not just founders — can develop resilience, face challenges head-on and thrive in uncertain environments by embracing reality, problem-solving effectively and pushing through struggles.