Being a business owner, especially a small business owner, means you are used to carrying the load of the business all by yourself. Some of us do everything, giving a new meaning to the phrase late nights and early mornings: marketing, invoicing, accounting, building the business and the brand, paying the bills, cleaning the office space and everything else that keeps the business moving.
The reality is it can be difficult to ask for and accept help in the day to day operations of a business. However, having a team behind the scenes that is trustworthy, dedicated and hard-working can help to make your business successful. How do you hire a team if you have no budget? How do you even begin to choose the best team for your business?
1. Hire interns
Hiring interns is a good first step to hiring help for your business, especially with no budget. Contact your local college or university to recruit interns, preferably those pursuing an education in a field related to the services your business offers. Not only will interns receive college credit for working with your business (when applicable) but they will gain a mentor in you as they navigate through the early stages of their career.
Interning is also a great resume builder for college students and an opportunity for them to receive a letter of recommendation if they meet and even exceed the expectations of the internship. You may also find that one or more of your interns are so great that you hire them as employees for the business should the budget allow.
2. Barter services
Through networking, I’m sure you meet a number of people in different business areas. Keep those contacts close because they could be the next member of your team. Bartering services is a great way to build relationships with other business owners and those that provide services while gaining help for your business at no cost. A graphic designer may be willing to offer you their services to create your graphics or marketing materials and in return, you provide them a necessary service for their business that you specialize in. The key is to ensure both parties are receiving services that are beneficial and cost-effective for their businesses.
3. Employ part-time employees or contractors
If you have a budget to hire a team but can't afford full-time employees, contractors and part-time employees may be an option. Contractors are great because they are not actual employees of the company and therefore, don't qualify for benefits like insurance or paid time off. The longevity of a contractor’s relationship with your business is based on the amount of work that you have available, your budget and if they are meeting your expectations.
Hiring part-time employees can also be a great idea for your business. Find talented individuals but those that are comfortable working part-time. Make sure to never promise full-time employment, especially when it’s not in the budget. Depending on the position, it may be an incentive to offer remote or telecommute part-time roles as well.
4. Offer remote opportunities
Working from home or remote opportunities can be a huge incentive for employees and a cost saver for your business. If you have an office space, limiting the number of staff in the building saves you money. With remote employees, you will not need to have a large office space, cutting costs on rent as well as other office essentials such as printing, wi-fi, phone services and even electricity.
For your employees, being remote allows them to work from home should they have a sick child or inclement weather occurs. Hiring remote also gives you the opportunity to hire talent from outside your area, giving you a larger pool of candidates that may be a great fit for your company.
Hiring a team does not have to be difficult or break the bank. The key is to know and stick to your budget while recruiting talent that are a great fit and can help you grow your business. With the right team behind you, your business has a greater chance of flourishing and you can focus on the immediate needs of your own business.
