Freelance writing is a topic that I cover here on a fairly regular basis, but I usually talk about it from the point of view of the writer. For example, I posed five questions you should ask before you consider a career in freelance writing. Other posts have covered things like the importance of organization and how to improve your writing ability. Today’s post is a little different, because I’m approaching the freelance writing industry from the point of view of the potential client.

Some people may wonder why you should hire a freelancer in the first place, because it seems so much easier to make use of existing resources. Below are five key reasons why you should hire a freelancer — be it a writer, web designer, or whatever — instead of considering an in-house solution.

1. More Cost Effective
Unless you have a rather sizable company, it’s unlikely that you have an appropriate in-house solution for everything. It would not make good business sense to have a professional writer on your payroll all the time if you only need him or her to produce something once in a blue moon. By contrast, when you consider freelance writing rates, it works out much cheaper for your computer to hire on an as-needed basis. There’s no commitment on your part to provide a certain amount of work each month; just call up a writer when you need him.

2. Expertise When You Need It
Even if you hire a writer (or designer, etc.) on a full-time basis, they probably only have one or two areas of expertise. For example, they may be particularly good at writing press releases, but they may not be as skilled in producing technical documentation. The same can be said about their level of knowledge in certain areas. On the flip side, there are freelance writers for just about every niche. As with point #1, you can hire them on an as-needed basis and get the best work possible.

3. Simpler Accounting
Full-time employees come with full-time accounting. This means that you have deal with income tax, other deductions, benefits, and so on. By contrast, freelance writers will provide you with an invoice when the work is completed and you pay it like how you would pay the electricity bill. Accounting for the cost of a writer is much easier than a full-time employee. You also don’t have to pay them for sick days.

4. Save Resources
When you hire an in-house writer, you’ll need to provide him with a computer and a workstation. These are precious (and potentially expensive) resources. A freelance writer, on the other hand, brings everything that they need to the job, typically working from home and taking up zero space in your office. When you think about designers and artists, they usually make use of (expensive) specialized software too. There’s no sense in you buying a full corporate version of specialized software for a single project.

5. Motivated to Meet Deadlines
Employees that are paid hourly or by salary get paid no matter what. It’s the law. If they’re ineffective at their jobs, you can fire them, but you must also pay for that time that they have already put in. A freelancer only gets paid if the job is done and is done to your satisfaction. In this way, they are very motivated to meet your needs and meet your deadlines.

So, hire a freelancer today. I happen to know at least a couple of freelance writers who are more than happy to entertain your potential business.