Working with a freelancer on graphic design / visual communications projects definitely has its benefits over hiring design employees. Here are a few:
You don’t have to employ another staff member.
By employing a staff member, you have to:
- Promise hours
- Make sure they’re always busy when on the clock
- Manage their work schedule
- Manage their benefits (insurances, 401k, etc)
- Pay for their time off (vacation pay, personal time)
- Pay for their training
- Concern yourself with unemployment insurance
With a freelancer, all you have to do is:
- Honor their contract
- Pay their fee
They take care of the rest.
Streamline your business.
Hiring a freelancer instead of employing a graphic design means that you can focus your business efforts on what it is that you actually do, pure and simple.
Freelancers have scheduling flexibility.
As a business person yourself, you may often find yourself too busy during the day to stay on top of graphic design projects, reviewing mockups, discussing changes, and everything else that goes with it. Employees are only available to you during working hours. So, if you have a pressing graphic design need or rush project, you’ll have to make it wait until the open of business.
A freelancer, on the other hand, can often be available to you around the clock. Be sure to check with them first on their availability and potential rush fees, keeping in mind they have a life too. But generally speaking, freelancers have a home office and the freedom to alter their schedule to balance projects and their family needs.
Freelancers have connections.
If you require anything beyond the freelancer’s skill set, they can likely refer you to someone in their professional circle, or they can coordinate the work for you. With an employee, you’ll be on the search for another provider.
High Quality Work
One thing you can be sure of is that freelancers are freelancing because they truly love what they do. They are eager to work on your project and always aspire to excellence.