10 Smart Ways to Subcontract
Because you may find that some areas of database design and development might require outside assistance, here are some important considerations to bare in mind while planning your effort.
1. Understand that building a subcontractor relationship takes time. You need to get to know your subcontractor and she needs to get to know you.
2. Before you even consider hiring someone, ask your colleagues for recommendations. A great recommendation will go a long way towards insuring that you’re hiring someone who is good at what you need her to do.
3. Hire the best subcontractor you can afford, not the cheapest one you can find. You may pay more than you think you can afford, but you’ll bank on a fine reputation instead of throwing money down the drain on a bad situation that could hurt your reputation.
4. Get references. And actually call those references. If the references all give glowing reviews, you’re ready for the next step. If the references are less than glowing, you may want to find out why.
5. Check the potential subcontractor’s portfolio and website. If her own site isn’t up to your standards, chances are, her work won’t be either.
6. Consider a trial project. Contract her to do one small project and see how she handles it. If you ask her to edit a 500 word article that you wrote and she takes 3 weeks, you know she’s not going to be a good fit. If she returns 30 minutes later and has truly made the article better, you’re golden.
7. Make sure you both sign a contract. Include how much she will be paid, allowances for increases in rates later on, a point at which the contract will be re-evaluated and specific instructions on what will happen if either one of you wants out of the contract. You’ll also need to include specific information on what happens if either one of you breaches the contract. You’ll also want to include a confidentiality clause. In any case, make sure you consult an attorney before signing any contract.
8. Communicate effectively. Make sure that you provide clear instructions and that your subcontractor understands what you are wanting. If a mistake does happen or there is a miscommunication, review the situation with your subcontractor so that both of you understand what went wrong.
9. Always review your subcontractor’s work. The only way you’ll be able to ensure your company’s quality is to review the work yourself (unless, of course, you’ve hired someone to serve as a project manager and that person knows exactly what you’re looking for).
10. In the event that a subcontractor doesn’t work out, follow the instructions in the contract for termination. Don’t take it personally, don’t tell her she stinks, but do give constructive feedback if she wants it.
Also, don’t let one bad experience turn you away from subcontracting.
Follow these ten tips and you can grow your business from a solo entrepreneurship to a company run on teamwork that handles several clients and many projects with ease.
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Tom Gruich
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