How Small Businesses Can Benefit From Hiring Freelancers

If your small business needs extra help, but you’re not sure about hiring someone full-time, a freelancer could be the way to go. With a range of both on and offline services available, freelancers can be a great way to help you scale, save time, and build your business.

To help you get started, we’ve put together some of the most common freelance services, where you can find them, and how much they’ll cost. Where possible, we’ve included reasonable market rates for small businesses, since more technical and specialized freelancers often charge more.

Why do small businesses hire freelancers?

As a small business owner, you’ll likely hire a freelancer for one of three reasons.

To get professional help

Not everyone went to school for graphic design, but every business needs a logo. Freelancers cover the gaps in your business by offering skills you may not have so that you can focus on what you’re great at.

To save you time

You might be able to build your own website, and you might be able to do your own accounts. But you might also want to spend your valuable time and energy building relationships with clients and growing your business. Freelancers are a great way to delegate valuable work for a reasonable rate.

To help you scale

Finally, freelancers can be an invaluable resource if you’ve already built a process and just need to plug in some more firepower. If you’ve already established a process and want to double up, or you need to add a few more salespeople to your roster, freelancers can be a useful tool to help you multiply your output and maximize your revenue.

Common freelance services

Web design and development: $30 - $45/hour

With so many buying decisions made online, a basic website is a must for small businesses. As we outlined in our guide to small business startup costs, a basic website template (plus hosting) starts at about $10/month. However, if you’re looking to get a professional to help you build and develop your website, there are hundreds of affordable web designers on sites like Upwork and Fiverr. If you want to go for something a little more high-end, check out Behance or Dribbble. 

Logo and brand design: $30 - $45/hour

A professional logo and brand identity help you stand out to your customers. Brand designers create logos and visual graphics for your marketing documents, social media, and website. You can find designers on sites like Fiverr, Upwork, 99Designs, Behance, and Dribbble. 

Content and copywriting: $20 - $50/hour

Content writers and copywriters have very similar roles. Whereas a content writer typically writes medium to long-form pieces like blog posts, copywriters work with all forms of copy—this includes websites, ads, and reports. Copywriters and content writers often charge per post, per project, or sometimes per word. You can find great writers on sites like Fiverr, Upwork, and LinkedIn.

Administrative Support: $15 - 30/hour 

Keeping things running smoothly is a vital part of running your business. If you need to outsource some of your day-to-day, there are hundreds of freelance admin specialists who can help you with everything from scheduling, data entry and collection, to taking phone calls. The best place to find admin support is through Upwork, Fiverr, or LinkedIn, and rates start at around $15/hour.

Photography: $50 - $100/hour

Freelance photographers help you showcase your products, location, and personnel in their best light. Almost every industry needs help capturing quality imagery from time to time. Freelance photographers can be found on sites like Upwork, Freelancer.com, and Peopleperhour. It’s also worth checking out local photographers in your area on Instagram or Facebook because many will accept commissions through direct messaging if you ask them for their rates. 

Accounting: $100+/hour 

If you need a personal or corporate accountant, freelance accountants can be found on sites like LinkedIn, Workhoppers, or Upwork in most cities in America. It’s also possible to do some or all of your accounting with an online freelancer, thanks to advanced accounting software. Expect to pay around $50 / hour, although you may find a few accountants offering their services for cheaper, depending on your location.

Find the right freelancer for your business

Now that you know why small businesses typically hire freelancers, where you can find them, and what they cost, you’ll hopefully have a better sense of where to start. While it can seem daunting at first to bring in outside help, the great thing about most freelance platforms is the level of trust built in through things like reviews, testimonials, and profiles. Once you know the services you need, search for trustworthy freelancers who clearly explain their services, rates, and past success.