These days, it's becoming much easier to hire and work with an employee or contractor virtually. Outsourcing platforms take the stress out of finding a virtual assistant or employee. But of course, there are an overwhelming number of platforms available. So how do you choose which one to use?
In order to find the best outsourcing site for your needs, there are some important factors to consider:
- Hiring support: A platform that organizes employee’s details and qualifications takes the stress of planning and organization off of you.
- Does the platform screen and pre-vett their talent? If they do, you can be more confident that your new hire will be able to accomplish their tasks.
- Do they make transitioning and hiring a seamless process? The process of outsourcing is tedious enough.
- Do they support your budget? And, how transparent are their total charges?
Now that we've gone over what to look for, let's compare some of the current leading platforms for outsourcing.
FreeUp
FreeUp was established in order to combat the difficulty that startups face when they are trying to hire the right team. They promise to offer you “fast access to top talent.” To get started, all you need to do is create a free account, set your ideal specs, and get matched to a person within one business day. Next, you meet and interview your potential freelancer, complete the hire if they fit your profile, and then you manage every other aspect of the process yourself.
The 4 main areas they support are: business operations, Ecommerce, digital marketing and web development.
FreeUp is discerning, in that it only accepts the top 1% of applicants into their network. According to their site, they receive thousands of applications every week.
A significant benefit of FreeUp is that they perform the entire screening process and read through CV’s and resumes to save you time. If you match with a potential hire, it means they are right for you and specialized for your company’s needs.
Another benefit of FreeUp is that you can have your freelancer working for you within a day of finding them. You won't end up missing your deadline because your freelancer is backlogged with other work.
Pros:
- No monthly fee
- Screening process for freelancers is very thorough.
- You don't have to look through page after page of resumes.
- The transition between two freelancers is relatively seamless.
- They will replace a freelancer and cover any costs if one quits.
- Excellent customer service.
Cons:
- You may have a hard time giving up some control over your hiring process.
- You will be matched with a very small group of candidates (the default is only 1).
Cost: No fee to use the site and post a job. You will have to pay between $5 to $75 per hour, depending on the freelancer's skill level. The basic level is almost always non-US freelancers and virtual assistants from $5- 10 per hour. Experts and agencies cost $25 to $75+.
Fiverr
Fiverr is the world’s largest online marketplace for $5 services. But, long gone are the days when that was the price for everything. Fiverr had grown exponentially, and now boasts a whole world of freelance talent at various price points.
A team of Fiverr Executive Assistants helps match you with the best talent for your gig. You can filter potential workers based on:
- Your selected or defined service
- Turnaround time
- Budget
- Qualifications
Pros:
- If you are not satisfied with the service, you can probably get your money back.
- You can get your work done here cheaper than you could get from an agency.
- Amazing talent to choose from
- Website is easy to navigate, and the staff communicates well.
Cons:
- You may run into some low quality talent if you do not hire an employee with a Pro label.
- Only Fiverr Pro sellers are vetted.
- Some of the top sellers are really backed up and may take weeks to get to your job.
Cost: For up and coming freelancers, you will pay only $5 for a job. For pro freelancers, services can range between $500 to $10,000.
Upwork
Upwork is one of the largest platforms for freelancers, housing over 14 million of them. They remove inactive or spammy users. They gather talent from the USA, Australia, Canada, and the UK, and you can choose between freelancers from these areas to suit your niche. Unlike FreeUp, you will have to sift through quite a few resumes on your own.
First you describe your project to Upwork, then their AI matching technology generates a shortlist based on your project needs.
Pros:
- It is easy to use.
- The payment types are flexible.
- You only pay for the work YOU authorize.
- You have access to individuals and agencies, depending on the nature of your request.
Cons:
- You will be matched by AI, not a person.
- Most of the applicants are not pre-vetted. Only Expert-Vetted freelancers and agencies are fully pre-screened
- The short list can be very long. You will have to wade through pages and pages of freelancers and you never really know if the freelancer you choose can get the job done or not.
Cost: Free!
Onlinejobs.ph
Hiring a virtual assistant is a great way to move some tasks off your plate and get some time back. If you want a hardworking VA based in the Philippines, Onlinejobs.ph can help you find them.
Their process involves posting a job or searching through resumes. Next, workers apply for your job posting. You communicate through email and interview prospective hires. Once you hire someone, you can cancel your account.
You do not need to pay the platform for being middlemen, and they charge only a flat monthly fee. Also, if you want to replace your VA within the first month, it is free.
Pros:
- You can find good talent for low prices
- Money back guarantee
- Free payment tool built in, called EasyPay
Cons:
- There is little mediation between you and your virtual assistant.
- You will have to take time to vet your staff since Onlinejobs.ph doesn’t vet their VAs.
- Your VA may not be able to communicate in English as well as you would hope.
Cost: They offer a free trial, and then there are monthly plans. The Pro plan is $69 and Premium is $99 per month.
Guru
Guru helps you find various freelancers (up to 1.6million) with different skill sets. It has been around for a long time (since 1998) and lets you browse portfolios or search for specific freelancers.
Employers can put up job posts for interested applicants. They group talent into eight categories, which are:
- Legal
- Programming and development
- Engineering and architecture
- Administrative and secretarial
- Writing and translation
- Sales and marketing
- Design and art
- Business and finance
Pros:
- Their interface is easy to use.
- You can hire people with one click.
- They have a vast pool of potential candidates.
Cons:
- They do not do a great job of blocking scammers.
- They have a questionable rating system.
- Their customer service isn’t readily available.
- Their service fee can end up being pricey.
Cost: You can find, hire, and manage freelancers at no cost on Guru. However, they do charge a handling fee of 2.9% for each invoice you pay. But, if you use eCheck or wire transfer you will receive 100% cashback on the handling fee!