Four ideas for hiring on a budget

Does your small business need help? The economic recovery is slowly gaining ground, which means more work for your already overstressed staff. But with consumer confidence still shaky, you may not be ready or able to hire full-time employees yet.

Fortunately, there are several options for small business owners looking for help.

Here are four ways to get some help without breaking the bank.

1.      Part-time employees: Hiring part-timers is a great way to take some of the burden off your current employees without the expense of a full-time salary and benefits. Using part-timers also enables you to staff flexibly, filling only the time slots and hours when you need extra help. When seeking part-timers, consider students, moms and seniors. Often people in these age groups are eager to get into (or back into) the work force and are highly motivated.

2.      Interns: Speaking of students, adding an internship program at your business can provide access to smart, energetic young employees at a fraction of the cost of full-time workers. In some states, interns must be paid; in others, they can work for free in return for college credit (check with your state’s department of labor for the rules and regulations). Contact colleges in your area to see which ones have internship programs. Keep in mind, you must offer interns the chance to learn something of value related to their studies, not just do administrative tasks.

3.      Temporary workers: If your business is seasonal or frequently needs extra help for short-term projects, consider hiring through a temporary help agency. Today, temp agencies aren’t just for office workers – you can find employees in every field, from manual laborers to medical staff to IT specialists and accountants. Using temps lets you staff up or down as needed. The temp agency handles all the paperwork, benefits and payroll for the temp, minimizing hiring hassles. Bonus: Hiring temps offers a way to try out employees on a short-term basis – you just may find someone you want to hire full time.

4.      Outsourcing: Outsourcing work to independent contractors can take a variety of forms, from using overseas solutions to local freelancers. Building a roster of contractors that you use regularly ensures you have trusted workers you can call on as needed, without worrying about keeping them busy during slow times. When using independent contractors, be sure you clearly understand IRSrules governing the distinction between independent contractors and employees; otherwise, you could face steep payroll tax penalties. Also, make sure both you and the contractor clearly understand the terms of service; never hire a contractor without a signed contract. Elance.com, Guru.com and oDesk.com are good places to start looking for freelancers.

Try one of these hiring tactics and you’ll likely find the help you need – without the hiring headaches of full-time workers.