Comments on: Subcontracting Freelance Work

By: allena

allena — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 22:36:52 +0000

‘I think a partnership is similar to a marriage and the business is your kid’

cute. theres a interesting blog post in the pros & cons of an LLP

By: Rachel

Rachel — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 20:24:01 +0000

I WISH I was busy enough to send work your way, ladies In the meantime, if you do find yourself with more writing than you can handle, you know where to look..

Interesting post!

By: James Chartrand - Web Content Writer Tips

James Chartrand - Web Content Writer Tips — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 16:16:18 +0000

@ Allena – Make no mistake that partnerships are *tough* and most fail. I think Lorna and Tamara can attest to how difficult managing a partnership can be. Harry and I certainly can.

Benefits? Definitely. Very, very good ones, too. Drawbacks? Oh yeah.

I think a partnership is similar to a marriage and the business is your kid. You’d better be ready and willing to enjoy the good times together, make the relationship work when you hit conflict, and put your all into growing your business to be the best it can be despite your differences.

By: Allena

Allena — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 16:10:12 +0000

Interesting articles and comments as always– James, Melissa and Berry-Brewer’s comments did make me think about some of the benefits of a partnership: someone to back you up, division of labor, etc.

HOLD THE PHONE someone is writing from Guatemala? I did an alternative spring break in Tacun Hamen (?northern border) years ago.

By: James Chartrand - Web Content Writer Tips

James Chartrand - Web Content Writer Tips — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 12:03:00 +0000

I will give a word of warning: Always advise clients that you are subcontracting.

By: Chad

Chad — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 08:50:52 +0000

Interesting. I haven’t ever even considered sub-contracting before. I thought about hiring a personal assistance on Elance and assigning them to bid like crazy for work all day…but I haven’t gone through with that (or checked to see if that’s okay with Elance).

Nonetheless, this is something I need to check out…

By: Melissa Donovan

Melissa Donovan — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 08:12:57 +0000

I have recently started sub-contracting. I had the same doubts at first, but quickly realized that finding clients, communicating with them, and working out details takes a lot of time. So, why not share the work with other writers, or people who are excellent at marketing and account management?

Plus, one of the things I miss about having a regular job is being part of a team, and sub-contracting is a way to be a team member again. As long as I feel my wage is fair and my work is valued, I’m totally game for trying out different work relationships and business models. I’m also happy to report that I’ve been very pleased so far!

By: Freelance Friday - January 11, 2008 : All Freelance Writing

Freelance Friday - January 11, 2008 : All Freelance Writing — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 08:02:11 +0000

[...] Subcontracting Freelance Work – eMomsAtHome [...]

By: Genesis

Genesis — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 02:01:16 +0000

I have done a lot of subcontracted work, in fact, the majority of my writing work comes from subcontracts.

I suppose you could chock it up to being lazy, but I would rather take the lower pay (which still goes a long way here in Guatemala) and use the time not spent looking for clients on other projects, like building my blogs.

By: Lorna Doone Brewer

Lorna Doone Brewer — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 23:54:47 +0000

James – running a team of writers is definitely something we’re interested in doing . . . down the road. I love organizing and scheduling and all of that stuff. I find it incredibly fun, actually. BUT, it’s not something I’m ready to jump into right now. Honestly, it’s not something that we really need to think about too much just yet, as we’ve sort of set our course for the next several months and are quite content to follow our current plan for growing in different ways.

By: James Chartrand - Web Content Writer Tips

James Chartrand - Web Content Writer Tips — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 23:45:57 +0000

As the manager of a writing team, I know much about everything you’ve mentioned up there. The pros, the cons, the benefits, the drawbacks…

I do agree with Allena. It’s very difficult to be writer *and* manager, which is why Harry and I decided who had the strengths that leaned in that direction and who had strengths that leaned other ways. Each of us make the business stronger as individuals, not as a team. As individuals who work for a common goal, we become a team – and yet are distinct in our function, duties and purposes.

Sure, some stuff overlaps. We back each other up. But we can’t be both Duke and Lord at the same time. (I’d like to be King, but that’s a different story.)

So, certainly, dip your toes in the world of becoming an agency. Figure out how you’ll work the whole scheme. Then scrap that idea and start over, because I guarantee it won’t work. Decide how much time will be spent on the management of other writers and the management of your business and the management of your own writing.

It may end up being a great learning experience, and it may be a great success, but it may also not be for you. (not you specific, you general)

Running a team is tough stuff.

@ Allena -

By: Lorna Doone Brewer

Lorna Doone Brewer — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 23:06:41 +0000

Peggy – You’re right, it is tricky to take a lower pay; but when you really think about it, you’ve saved yourself a lot of time you weren’t technically being paid for in the first place.

Allena – I went back and added a little parenthetical about what we mean by subcontracting for other writers, so hopefully no one else will get too confused!

By: Allena

Allena — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 22:40:31 +0000

oops, sorry, my perspective is from subbing OUT work, not taking ON work.

By: Allena

Allena — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 22:39:05 +0000

Hi guys: You said “freelancers often spend much of their working hours doing everything but practicing their actual craft. Subcontracting has allowed us to spend more time writing because we need to devote less of it to job searching”–

This is the exact reason why I DON’T subcontract anymore (barring emergencies). This adds one more layer to your admin tasks. Finding subs, choosing a sub, approaching the sub, assigning the work, monitoring the work, receiving the work, checking and editing the work, etc…

I’ve JUST learned my fine balance and figured out what I can take on without going bonkers. If I can’t handle it, I don’t apply. If I’m too busy when others approach me, I give them the option of moving their dates or finding someone else.

That’s just my case. Your case, with the pregnancy and all, is pretty normal I would assume.

By: Peggy

Peggy — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 21:56:56 +0000

I frequently subcontract for others. In fact, it’s my goal to get at least five strong subcontracting relationships this year. The key challenge to subcontracting is being willing to take 25 -30% less money than you could charge directly to the cient. But the way I figure it, it’s well worth it because you don’t have as much up front costs.