Working with Contractors – 11 tips

Your business has grown to the point where you can no longer do everything yourself. Congratulations! To help your business grow you may desire to add a team member who is a contractor.

In 11 years of business I’ve interacted with thousands of small business owners. Many of these folks have amazing businesses however they do not understand how to have an enjoyable AND long-term partnership with a contractor. Before hanging up our small business shingles most of us worked in corporate positions as employees. We had bosses and received regular paychecks and benefits regardless of whether we did a great job or not.

Then we became business owners and everything changed. 🙂 Now we are the boss and responsible for our own income and benefits.  We hire our own team and prospect for clients.  How in the world can we do it all? You guessed it!  Trusted professional team members.

You’ve done it!  You took your time, performed due diligence and finally on-boarded a great team member!  Congratulations! You know how to work with employees – how different can it be to work with a contractor?  Very!

Contractors…

• Partner with multiple clients. If you need immediate response or a professional who only works with you an employee is the best fit.
• Are business owners = a peer.  Treat them as a trusted colleague.
• Pay their own taxes.  Unclear about taxes for independent contractors? The IRS has guidelines and information.
• Detest micromanaging clients. If this behavior persists clients will be fired.
• Provide own technology, office space and supplies.
• Select the clients they partner with. Similar to their clients, contractors have specific target markets they partner with.
• Choose own office hours, time off, etc.
• Are partners in their clients business success. They are not in it for a paycheck on Friday. Contractors network for theirs and their clients businesses.
• Have a consultant’s brain. Strategy with clients is part of the value add.
• Share their amazing expertise with clients who value them.  Sound familiar?
• Attend training and conferences to upgrade skills and stay in the know about trends.