If you’re a business owner, you will have come to realize that hey, you aren’t Wonder Woman! You can’t do everything, no matter how skilled you are in what you do. There will probably be a time when you should consider hiring others to help you, but you don’t need to employ others on a full-time basis. You might not have the funds for full-time wages anyway, but then again, there might not be enough work for full-time staff to do, or you might not want the bother of working with others during every hour of your business week.
There are alternatives. So, you might…
1. Take on volunteers looking for work experience. Should you have friends or family members looking to enhance career prospects, then spending time with you one or two days a week will both benefit you and themselves. You might also post an ad online looking for volunteers, or you might consider taking on unpaid interns on university graduate programs. And while we are discussing these as voluntary positions, you might still offer some kind of payment as a thank you for the work they do with you.
2. Hire staff on a part-time basis. Not every employee is looking for a full-time position. Many people apply for part-time jobs as a means of boosting their income or to allow them to work flexibly around family life. So, you might employ somebody for around 16-18 hours a week, instead of the usual 32-35. Of course, as with full-time staff, you will still need to adhere to rules and regulations, so educate yourself before beginning the hiring process.
3. Hire a contractor for one-off projects. Contractors are usually paid on a freelance basis, so you don’t need to worry about salaries, pensions, and other staff benefits. A contractor will work with you on a specific task short-term, and when work has been done, you then pay them what they are owed. However, you will need the right paperwork in place, such as references, proof of the contractor’s qualifications, and, of course, a contract, so read the advice here to help you safeguard your business interests.
4. Hire seasonal workers. There may be times in the year when your business is busier than at other times. We are thinking about such times as the Christmas period if you sell anything that could be used as gift ideas, or during the summer if you sell seasonal fashion. When employing seasonal workers, you will still need to draw up contracts and stick to part-time regulations, and you will need to make it clear in your vacancy ads that you are only looking for people on a temporary basis.
5. Outsource to another firm. As wonderful as you are, there might be some tasks better suited to the professionals. We are thinking about such tasks as accounting, web design, and digital marketing. You can utilize the services of an outsourced firm on an ‘as and when’ basis, without the worry of salaries and employee benefits. As with every suggestion on this list, there are pros and cons, so read here to find out about the advantages and possible disadvantages to outsourcing.
So, don’t run your business on your strength alone. If you need help, and don’t want to or can’t take on full-time staff, consider the suggestions here. Your business should benefit if you do take on more people to help you, and you won’t burn yourself out trying to do everything!
Thanks for reading.
