Maximizing creativity: Why hiring a Graphic Designer as a contractor might be the best option for Your business

The way your business presents itself to the world, from its logo and website through to the marketing materials posted on your social media can make or break your success. High-quality graphic design is not just about aesthetics, it is about communicating your brand’s values, connecting with your audience and helping to achieve your marketing goals. With businesses expected to post regularly on multiple social media channels, the demand for diverse, dynamic and fresh designs is growing. How can you meet these needs without overextending your resources? One solution many businesses are turning to is to hire graphic designers as contractors instead of full-time employees. 

Introduction to hiring options

When it comes to fulfilling your graphic design needs, there are typically two options: hiring a graphic designer as an employee, or contracting a freelancer / agency. Both approaches have their own set of advantages and drawbacks.

Businesses looking for consistency often go down the route of employing a graphic designer, whereas opting for an agency or freelancer will often allow for greater flexibility and scalability. This flexibility enables businesses to bring in specialists for short-term projects without the long-term commitment. 

A third option available to businesses is to use an Employer of Record (EOR). An EOR acts as a bridge between companies and contractors, handling the administrative tasks such as payroll and taxes. This allows businesses to focus on their creative needs without getting bogged down in the complexities of hiring contractors, especially on a global scale. 

The benefits to hiring graphic designers as contractors

One of the primary benefits of hiring graphic designers as contractors is the flexibility this offers. Businesses can scale their design efforts based on project needs. This is especially useful for companies with a fluctuating workload. For example, you might need extensive design work when building a new website, but only require minor design updates afterward. Contractors allow you to manage these peaks and troughs without the financial burden of full-time salaries. 

Project-specific experts

Moreover, hiring contractors enables businesses to bring in specialists for specific projects, such as a specialist in UX/UI or with specific expertise in a programme such as Concrete CMS. Utilising contractors lets you access the right talent pool for a task, without the long-term commitments.

Access to a diverse talent pool

When you hire contractors, you are not necessarily limited by geographical restrictions. This opens up a vast talent pool, allowing you to find the unique skill sets and perspectives you require for your design projects. Hiring niche experts from different locations or industries can inject fresh ideas and input into your projects. 

Cost-effectiveness

Cost is always a significant factor for businesses. Hiring contractors can often be more budget-friendly compared to employing full-time staff. For employees in the UK, businesses are responsible for salary, benefits, taxes and office space among other costs. Contractors however are often typically paid only for the work they complete, making it easier to control and forecast costs. 

Cashflow is a significant consideration for businesses of all sizes. By utilising contractors, this financial flexibility can free up resources to invest in other areas of the business whilst not sacrificing on high-quality design work.
 

Comparing contractors to full-time employees

Full-time employees bring several advantages, such as consistency and a deeper understanding of your business over time. They can become ingrained in your company culture, leading to designs that align closely with your brand identity. Full-time employees are also available on-demand, which can be crucial for businesses dealing with ongoing, high-volume design needs.

However, there are downsides to employing a full-time graphic designer as a member of staff. The most significant downside is the associated cost of salary, benefits, taxes, pensions, insurance, equipment and office space. The admin involved with employing someone in the UK is also extensive.

Full-time positions can also lead to creative stagnation, where designers could lack the fresh input and innovation needed for certain projects.
 

The middle ground: Combining both approaches

Businesses can thrive by combining both full-time employees and contractors. This hybrid model allows businesses to maintain consistency with an in-house team while bringing in external experts to handle the more specialised projects. This combined approach can give your business the best of both worlds: the stability of full-time staff with the flexibility of contractors.

The role of an Employer of Record in managing contractors

Managing contractors, especially on a global scale, can be complex. There are a multitude of different tax and visa complications to start. An EOR will act as an intermediary between your business and the contractors. The EOR will be responsible for handling the legal, tax and compliance issues, allowing you to focus on your design projects without worrying about admin. This not only streamlines the process, but also reduces the risk associated with managing contractors directly.

Using an EOR to hire graphic designers will simplify the process of hiring international talent, allowing you to access a broader range of skills without the need to establish a local entity. This is particularly useful for organisations looking to tap into specialised talent pools in different regions.
 

Practical tips for hiring graphic designers as contractors

When hiring contractors, it is essential to source and vet talent carefully. Look for designers with a strong portfolio, positive reviews and experience within your industry. It is also worth considering recommendations within your network.

Once you have found the right contractor for your design project, set clear expectations for the project scope, timeline and deliverables from the outset. This will help to avoid any misunderstandings and ensure that both parties are aligned on the same project goals. 

Clear communication is key. Regular check-ins and constructive feedback will ensure the project is developing on track and will meet your final expectations. 

Working with multiple contractors can pose challenges when it comes to maintaining brand consistency. Establishing a brand style guidelines document will help to outline your brand’s visual identity and key elements such as colour schemes, fonts and logo usage. Providing this design guide to contractors will help to ensure all design works align with your brand identity.

Using project management platforms and analytics tools such as Asana, Trello or Active Collab will help you to keep track of progress, share files and communicate with your teams.

Hiring graphic designers as contractors offers businesses flexibility, access to a wider and more specialist talent pool whilst also delivering cost savings. Whether you are scaling a specific project or want to bring in niche experts, contractors can be a valuable resource. Managing these contractors, especially those in different countries, can be challenging. This is where an Employer of Record can help by removing this administrative burden, helping you to maximise creativity while managing costs effectively.
 

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