Freelancer vs. Agency – Which One to Choose for Your Next IT Project

Choosing between hiring an agency or a freelancer, for your website design and development projects can be quite a task. It can be challenging to make a decision with such a talent pool of individuals. Agencies and freelancers each have their advantages and ultimately the choice depends on your goals and how you wish to accomplish them.

About Freelancers 

A freelancer is an individual who works independently and possesses expertise in a field. If your organization requires specific skills it's easy to find a freelancer who has developed those skills over time. 

It's worth mentioning that younger generations tend to freelance more, than older generations. The tendency towards freelancing has decreased among age groups with Upwork reporting that 59 million people, accounting for 36% of the US workforce engaged in freelancing during the year. It is estimated to increase to 86.5 million freelancers by 2027, comprising 50.9% of the total U.S. workforce. 

At the same time, Statista's data indicates a trend projecting 70.4 million freelancers in the US by 2022 and 86.5 million by 2027 which would constitute more than half of the total workforce.

McKinsey reports that independent workers now make up 36% of the US workforce up from 27% in 2016. The growth of freelance platforms and solutions such, as Catalant, Malt, Worksome, and Willa is evident.

In the year 2018, nearly half of all businesses opted to hire freelancers indicating a growing trend, towards work and simplified recruitment processes. This trend is predicted to continue in the future.

Advantages of Employing Freelancers

Let's explore the pros and cons of hiring a freelancer compared to working with an agency and the steps you can take to ensure you make the right decision. 

Skills and Expertise

When it comes to completing projects hiring a freelancer can be a choice. They possess skills and expertise that can streamline the process. Recent research reveals that among the 20 in-demand skills for freelancers 12 are related to development.

This implies that companies are actively seeking freelancers with a background in technologies and IT-related skills such as Blockchain, Amazon DynamoDB, React Native, Angular, Computer Vision and Go. By engaging freelancers companies can easily find individuals for tasks like Web Development or Graphic Design.

The sought-after freelance skills today include direct response copywriting, advertising management, SEO consultancy, software development, lead generation and sales.

Cost Efficiency

Freelancers typically charge project-based rates which result in lower overhead expenses compared to professional agencies. Their independent work style also often leads to productivity levels when compared with agency workers.

Versatility

One of the benefits of hiring a freelancer lies in their versatility. These skilled professionals are capable of adapting to your needs and priorities including handling time-sensitive projects. However, it's essential to understand that not all freelancers are the same. Establishing expectations, from the start is crucial for establishing a smooth working relationship.

Quality of Work

As mentioned earlier freelancers are experts in their fields. They prioritize building relationships with their clients and strive to deliver top-quality work. Before hiring a freelancer it is essential to review their past work read reviews from clients and check for recommendations. Due to their experiences and skills, they have a likelihood of delivering exceptional results.

Disadvantages of Hiring a Freelancer

Work Management

Managing freelancers can pose challenges due to their working hours and remote work arrangements. Unlike employees, in agencies, freelancers do not have fixed working hours, which makes supervision more difficult. Additionally, since most freelance work is done remotely verifying the time spent by the freelancer on a project can be challenging. As a client, you may need to take on the role of project manager to ensure that you achieve the desired outcomes.

Limited Growth

Consider employing a freelance worker for tasks or projects? Keep in mind that unforeseen circumstances can have negative effects on both parties. While small changes can be managed significant changes and resolutions should be pursued through an organization that has a team of members.

Reliability

Even though a freelance worker may possess skills and professionalism unexpected events like emergencies or illnesses can disrupt their work and have adverse impacts on your project. Since they work independently without the support of a team this could lead to delays in meeting your project deadline.

About Agency

An agency is a collective of professionals who provide services such as marketing, design and development. Depending on your requirements you can hire an organization to fulfill the services. If your project demands the expertise of individuals hiring an organization or multiple freelancers may be a choice.

Benefits of Hiring an Agency:

Access to Resources

Unlike freelancers' agencies possess a range of resources that can greatly impact the quality and efficiency of your project. By leveraging their team of professionals with expertise agencies can handle complex tasks more swiftly and produce superior results. 

Speed and Timeliness

When collaborating with an agency you can expect your project to be completed promptly and efficiently. Their skilled team members are adept at tackling assignments resulting in turnaround times compared to working with individual freelancers. Moreover, their systematic approach ensures the accurate completion of your project.

Effective Communication

Partnering with an agency offers advantages in terms of communication. You can rely on their support and assistance whenever required, as they are dedicated, to addressing any questions or concerns you may have. Additionally, check-in meetings guarantee updates on the progress of your project—an effective strategy that ensures efficient and accurate completion.

Work Management

It seems like hiring an agency could be a solution, for alleviating the burden of managing tasks. With the agency taking care of assigning professionals and overseeing the work it allows you to concentrate on vital aspects of your project.

Reliability

Employing an agency offers a trustworthy option compared to hiring a freelancer. Your project won't be affected by emergencies. Opting for an agency reflects professionalism as they have dedicated experts and supervision, in place to ensure high-quality work. It relieves you from the concerns of managing individuals and enables you to focus on aspects of your project.

Disadvantages of Hiring an Agency

Costs

The main drawback associated with hiring agencies lies in their costs. It's indisputable that freelancers tend to be more affordable. However, if you conduct research and select the agency for your specific needs it's likely that you'll receive quality service worth the investment.

Response Time 

One important factor to consider is that when dealing with an agency you're not interacting solely with one individual but with the entire corporate administration structure.

Sometimes it can be observed that agencies may not always be quick to react and respond. It's important to note that this doesn't apply to every agency. Their ability to adapt quickly and their methods of communication are two factors that should be taken into consideration. No agency should be excused from these expectations. Offer justifications for any disadvantages.

To Sum Up 

Both freelancers and agencies have their advantages and disadvantages. It's significant to consider your specific projects, requirements, goals and desired outcomes when making a decision. 

The final decision relies on the client's preferences, prior experience and project type. You can explore both verified freelancers and agencies on TechBehemoths, and select from more than 45,000 B2B vendors for your projects.