Annie
September 16, 2024
Reading time: 4 minutes
Getting distracted, managing work-life balance, or meeting tight deadlines are all challenges of a freelance career. Even the most experienced freelancers, with years of practice and trial and error, need a little help from time to time to manage their workload. The Art of Delegation for Freelancers is also suitable for all stages of your freelance career!
You’ve probably wondered if it’s worth the cost of delegation, what tasks you should outsource, and even how to delegate effectively. We’ll show you that delegating as a freelancer is easy – and frees up your time to focus on the money-making side of things!
Focus on your strengths
When you do tasks that you’re not very good at or don’t enjoy, the process takes hours out of your day. They can also stress you out and reduce your overall productivity. On the other hand, productivity peaks when you do things you love.
The art of delegation for freelancers starts with knowing what you’re not good at doing. Be honest with yourself – and see if you can find someone to take on the task for you! Another benefit is that the overall quality of your work improves because you have more time to devote to it.
Outsource to other reliable freelancers
You don’t need to hire employees to delegate! Enlist other freelancers in your network to share the workload. This also helps to increase your future opportunities as they can also send you work. It’s a mutually beneficial situation.
Get to know a range of freelancers working within – and near – your industry. Then, when projects requiring their expertise come up, you can outsource that element of the project. Because you found the work, you can also charge a percentage of its usual cost as a “finder’s fee” (usually 10%). Freelancers are always grateful to have a community sending them work, so they are often happy to give you that small amount in the form of commission – because they didn’t have to work (or pay for marketing ) to gain the advantage.
Outsourcing to freelancers also helps reduce your costs. You’re not responsible for paying their taxes or overhead, so it’s very easy to stay on top of your finances. You simply charge the client the full amount, then withdraw your percentage before paying your freelance friend. Remember, their fees count as a business expense, so you only need to account for the percentage you keep for profit purposes on your tax return.
More free time
Another key benefit of delegation for freelancers is freeing up more hours of your day. This extra time can now be used to perfect a skill that could increase the quality of your service or generate more business.
You can also use this time to reach more people and expand your customer network. More free time gives you the opportunity to deepen your strategies and think creatively about new ways to increase your income streams. Outsourcing reduces your workload, which can lower your stress and burnout levels. You have more time to focus on the aspects of work you love, which makes you feel more satisfied with your career.
The other advantage of having more free time is of course establishing a better work-life balance! This can be difficult when you run your own business, so make sure that when you delegate to increase your time, you allow some of that time as TIME OFF.
Get a virtual assistant
Virtual assistants are a boon for many freelancers. They take on tasks such as booking meetings and arranging travel, managing social media, and administrative management like invoices and emails. This can save you SO much time each week – and because this type of work falls within THEIR skill set, it takes them less time than it would take for you too!
A virtual assistant could handle a specific thing for you, like balancing your books at the end of each month. You can also make them a more central part of your freelance business and have them handle all administrative tasks and even social media as well. Many freelancers use a virtual assistant for small tasks first, then expand their role as the business grows.
Improve your tax returns
Your taxes will be much easier to manage when you have a virtual assistant or accountant managing your bills and expenses! If your annual income tax return gives you a headache, it’s worth hiring an accountant to do it for you. This will cost a few hundred pounds. However, a good accountant will probably know where you can save MUCH more than that on your return, so it’s always worth investing.
Additionally, outsourcing fees you pay to assistants, other freelancers, and even business coaches can all be deducted from your tax bill. So, using freelancers to support your business also benefits you financially!
How to delegate effectively
The secret to the art of delegation for freelancers is to do it well. Here are some helpful tips for delegating tasks well to get the most out of this experience for both parties.
Write a clear brief for the freelancer. Include deadlines – and stick to them! Make sure they have the tools they need to complete the job. Be available for them to ask questions. Avoid micromanaging – it defeats the purpose! Never forget to thank your fellow freelancers for their work.
The advantage of using freelancers rather than employees is that it is a flexible arrangement on both sides. So, if you find that a freelancer hasn’t completed a project to your high standards, you don’t have to hire them again.
More tips for freelancers
This is just one of many articles we offer to help new and established freelancers achieve career success. Read them then!
