Hiring an outsourcing company vs a freelancer 

Not sure whether to hire a freelancer or outsource? The choice can be confusing, so let’s break down how and why companies are choosing Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) services to meet their needs. 

Freelancer vs. BPO: what’s the difference?

A freelancer is a self-employed worker whose specialist services are typically employed temporarily (short-term work). A freelancer may often be based in the same country as the hirer; meaning costs are commonly relative to the local economy.  

Business Process Outsourcing involves contracting another company to provide business process services (typically long-term) that could be performed in-house, such as Human Resources, accounting, payroll and customer service. Business Process Outsourcing is a service able to be rendered from overseas, meaning many cost efficiencies can be achieved by working with a BPO service in a country with a contrasting economy.  

Do you need a freelancer or BPO?

Choosing a freelancer vs. outsourcing depends on the requirements of your business. Freelancers can be a great choice for businesses that require: 

• Short-term/temporary assistance  
• Specialist expertise  
• One-off counsel rather than ongoing support 

Business Process Outsourcing can be a great choice for businesses that are looking to allocate entire non-core business processes (accounting, customer service, etc) for the long-term to a qualified, professional taskforce that can provide: 

• Major cost savings and efficiencies 
• Opportunities to reallocate/rearrange local resources 
• Greater operational flexibility 

How do I get started with freelancing or BPO?

If you’re interested in hiring freelancers, we recommend that you seek specialist advice and hire qualified professionals. 

 If outsourcing is the right option for you, let us help! At The Back Room, our model is Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) which means we set up your remote workforce in the Philippines as if they were working in your own office. Here’s how it works: 

Your own dedicated account manager

You will be assigned an Account Manager to help you along the way. Your Account Manager is on hand to help you any time during your work with the team at The Back Room. 

Establishing your needs

We will work closely with you to find out what you need. This helps us to match the most appropriate staff to your requirements. We also want to make sure that your firm is ready to manage an external work force. In order to integrate workflow, streamline processes and manage your staff effectively, we get all the right tools in place. 

The 0n-boarding process 

Our finely-tuned on-boarding process helps your internal staff work effectively with your outsourced professionals. We help you set up communication tools, workflow management systems and implement a step-by-step approach to monitoring performance. We provide training, including Xero certification for accounting staff, and on-hand assistance for on-going success. 

Workflow management

We have perfected the process of workflow management. We use smart tools and checklists to seamlessly manage tasks and deadlines. Clever workflow management is the key to successful outsourcing. Our systems are world class! 

Monitoring for success

When you are set up and work is underway, we have checks and balances in place. Our monthly reports – HR management reports, performance reviews and productivity reports – and our feedback help you monitor your progress. 

More information

Learn more about how it works and pricing, or get in touch.  

Check to see if your accounting firm is ready for outsourcing using our outsourcing readiness tool.