| Operating as a solo professional can be time and | | | | submission. When I wanted to have my library books |
| energy draining. In fact, you may not have the skills or | | | | sorted, categorized, computerized and shelved, I hired |
| ability to operate the business on your own or may | | | | a woman by the hour to do this. |
| decide that it is better for you to focus on earning | | | | Regular Contract Hours - I have tried all types of |
| more money by focusing on your clients and hire | | | | arrangements for office staff and find that hiring for a |
| others to do the rest. There are several options for | | | | flexible number of contracted hours at an hourly rate is |
| you to consider regarding how the administrative part | | | | best for me. This way, I can adjust the hours that I |
| of your business will be run. | | | | need my assistant according to my needs. There are |
| Not having staff means that everything falls in your lap. | | | | no employee benefits so I have slightly increased the |
| You will need to have a myriad of skills and energy in | | | | rate that I would otherwise pay. Also, I save on |
| order to see the clients and also do all the ordering, | | | | paperwork because this is a contract rather than an |
| bookkeeping, scheduling, and what seems like millions | | | | employee payroll case. |
| of others tasks that keep the business running | | | | Part-time Staff - If you are hiring someone as a |
| efficiently. This is especially important if you are ill or | | | | part-time employee you will need to define what |
| away from the office for travel or other reasons. At | | | | part-time means and what, if any benefits are included. |
| one point, I found myself calling clients from Jamaica | | | | It is best to put this in writing and have it available to |
| because I didn't have staff to return telephone calls! | | | | share with the prospective employee at hiring. |
| When you don't have any staff, you risk the chance | | | | Full-time Staff - This is probably the most costly way |
| of losing income because of the time demands or | | | | of hiring and can be the most wasteful - especially if |
| errors. you also probably don't have all the latest | | | | the employee doesn't have enough to do during the |
| information for government payments and income tax | | | | day. S/he would likely expect employee benefits and |
| submission. The biggest risk, is that you will burn out | | | | paid holidays as well as sick leave. If they do not have |
| and then you will either be ill for some time or not be | | | | all the skills you might still need to hire a project |
| able to continue with the practice. | | | | contract person. |
| Project Contracts are a good way to get tasks done | | | | Before you hire anyone, you need to know exactly |
| when specific expertise is required. Asking another | | | | what needs to be done. Then determine what tasks |
| professional to give you a quote for the work will help | | | | you will do yourself. At this point, consider hiring |
| you to decide if you want to invest in this manner and | | | | someone who is best suited to complete the rest of |
| allow you incorporate the costs in your budget. You | | | | the tasks. |
| can arrange an hourly rate or project rate. For | | | | When your business is operating smoothly and the |
| example, I hire an accountant by the hour to do all my | | | | work is getting done in an efficient and timely manner |
| government work (sales tax, payroll submission and | | | | you will enhance the environment and be better able |
| annual Income tax). She charges me by the hour for | | | | to experience each day as a wonderful adventure. |
| the first two and on a set fee schedule for the annual | | | | |