Working with Contractors in a Startup

Contractors are an important part of the startup world. Some people really enjoy the variety and nomadic aspect of being a contractor. Some people seek the higher pay and time-frame driven approach to a project or company. Contractors also work well when there are specific skills that are needed for a short period of time, making the hiring of a full-time person not available or not affordable. Whatever the case, contractors should be considered part of the startup mix.

Here are a few recommendations when working with contractors in a startup:

• Set clear expectations if this is a temporary-to-permanent type opportunity or purely temporary as well as responsibilities, goals, and desired results
• Ensure that the contractor is putting in enough hours per week over enough months to be worthwhile due to time necessary to ramp up and become productive (e.g. you might want at least 15 hours per week for three months)
• Incorporate tools like Google+ Hangout or Meetings.io into the process, especially if the contractor is working remotely (which is often the case with contractors)
• Recruit and interview contractors in the same manner as team members so that there’s continued corporate culture alignment

Contractors are an important part of the startup world and entrepreneurs would do well to learn how to incorporate them into the mix.

What else? What are some other recommendations when working with contractors in a startup?