| "The 4-Hour Workweek" is a book that made a big | | | | service are not considered to be employees of a |
| splash recently. It had a message that resonated with | | | | company but instead they operate as independent |
| many small business owners and entrepreneurs | | | | contractors. In most cases, the outsourced workers will |
| because the book explains how to outsource projects | | | | carry out the work from their own facilities and use |
| and daily tasks that need to be done, in order to run a | | | | their own equipment, such as computers, internet |
| business. This outsourcing would then free them up to | | | | connections and whatever else is needed for the |
| put their skills to better use, while using the skills and | | | | tasks at hand. |
| talents of others. | | | | There are also many large companies that provide |
| The basic idea behind outsourced projects is to line up | | | | outsourcing services for smaller companies and for |
| other people to handle some of the daily work that | | | | individual entrepreneurs. These outsource companies |
| needs to be done, in order to be sure the business is | | | | will often have quite a large staff of employees who |
| growing and staying current in the marketplace. In | | | | have been specially trained to provide the specific |
| some ways, this is almost like taking on a partner in | | | | services that their clients need. |
| your business. Ideally, partnerships are developed | | | | The advantage to contracting an outsource service |
| because each partner brings a different strength to | | | | through one of these companies, as opposed to finding |
| the organization and each person can focus on their | | | | and hiring freelance workers directly, is that these |
| strength and specialty rather than feeling the need to | | | | companies take responsibility for screening the |
| be an expert in all aspects of the business. | | | | workers. In many instances, this means that the |
| However, when it comes to outsourcing, the control of | | | | company runs background checks on them and the |
| the business is not shared as it is in partnership | | | | workers often do the actual work in the facilities of the |
| arrangements. Those who are contracted to do | | | | company rather than from a home office setting. This |
| outsource work for a company are either individuals or | | | | allows for better quality control and assurance that the |
| companies that specialize in providing outsourced | | | | requested tasks are being done as expected. |
| services. | | | | Another reason why many entrepreneurs are more |
| While it seems to be similar to simply hiring employees, | | | | comfortable outsourcing their work through an |
| an outsourced service is actually a different type of | | | | outsourced services company is in order to be sure |
| arrangement. Typically, an employment arrangement is | | | | the work is completed before payment is made. In |
| considered to be a long-term or permanent position, | | | | many cases, to protect themselves, a freelancer |
| while outsourced projects are only contracted for a | | | | requires that they be paid 50% upfront before they |
| very specific task and might be for a very short period | | | | start working on an outsourced project. However, |
| of time. | | | | many freelancers disappear after the deposit is made |
| Also, those workers who provide the outsource | | | | and never do any of the work. |