Whether you’re a small business owner looking for an affordable alternative to a full-time employee or a large enterprise looking for specialized coding help, finding the right web developer can be daunting.
I’ve been in the business of hiring freelance web developers since the early days, and I’ve learned a lot along the way.
Here are my top tips for how to hire a freelance web developer in 2023.
What is a Freelance Web Developer?
A freelance web developer is an individual who specializes in building websites and other applications for clients, working as an independent contractor or consultant.
Through the use of programming languages such as:
- HTML
- CSS
- PHP
- MySQL
- JavaScript
Freelance web developers create sites that are both attractive and functional. These professionals also possess a solid knowledge base of online trends and
They may also be responsible for creating website designs and layouts that are visually pleasing while still fostering user engagement. Additionally, they often offer ongoing maintenance and support services to their clients.
This ensures the website remains up-to-date with current industry standards and performs optimally across all platforms.
Being a freelance web developer can be extremely rewarding due to the ever-changing nature of the digital world; they must remain vigilant in keeping up with new advancements to ensure their work remains competitive.
Why Should You Hire A Freelance Web Developer?
There are many reasons to hire a freelance web developer, including the following:
- Cost savings
- Flexibility
- Expertise
- Time Savings
Cost Savings
Hiring a freelance web developer can provide cost savings compared to using an in-house web development team. One key benefit of freelancing is that businesses don’t need to commit to long-term contracts and can pay for services on a project basis.
This can be especially beneficial for businesses that need website updates or maintenance, as they don’t need to sign a contract with an in-house team that requires payment even when there’s no work to do.
Hiring freelance developers also means avoiding the costs of hiring full-time employees, such as employment taxes, insurance contributions, vacation pay, etc.
Additionally, freelance developers often have a lower rate than full-time web developers because they are self-employed and don’t have any overhead costs.
Furthermore, business owners can save money by being able to choose specific skill sets for their projects rather than hiring an entire development team who may possess skillsets they don’t need.
As freelance web developers usually work remotely, businesses can avoid office space rental fees if they would otherwise have had an in-house team. Overall, by hiring freelance web developers, companies can reduce their labor costs significantly without compromising on quality.
Flexibility
Hiring a freelance web developer offers unparalleled flexibility compared to hiring a permanent employee.
With freelancers, there is no need to worry about commitments such as employee benefits and labor laws as much, as well as the risk and cost of overcommitting to projects that may not turn out to be profitable or successful.
When a project needs more manpower, freelance web developers can be hired quickly without taking the time and resources necessary to recruit an onsite team.
Once the project is complete, freelancers can be released from their contract at any time without having to manage the cost of redundancy or termination of employment.
The savings for companies come from avoiding long-term contracts with full-time employees who may not always be the best fit for their business. Additionally, businesses can access highly skilled and experienced professionals on demand with little to no lead time required.
This allows businesses to stay agile in responding quickly to market changes and customer needs that require fast adaptations of their website design or functionality.
Companies also benefit from having access to talent from all over the world, allowing them to tap into professionals with unique skill sets unavailable locally or regionally.
In summary, when it comes down to it, hiring freelance web developers offers businesses greater flexibility and agility than traditional permanent employees without sacrificing quality or expertise.
Expertise
Freelance web developers are widely considered to be more experts in their field of work than full-time employees. This is because freelance web developers must stay at the top of their game to survive in the gig economy.
This means they spend a great deal of time keeping up with the latest advancements and technologies related to web development.
As such, they can quickly produce highly advanced solutions that would otherwise require an extended development timeline if carried out by an in-house team.
Moreover, freelance web developers tend to have experience working across many different industries, giving them a greater understanding of diverse business needs than employees who only have experience within one industry or sector.
This allows businesses to benefit from new ideas and perspectives that can lead to innovative solutions and strategies. You can learn how to hire the right website development agency here!
Time Savings
One of the primary reasons for hiring a freelance web developer is that it can save you time in the long run. Using a freelance web developer allows for faster execution of projects since they often have more time to focus on the task than if you were to use an in-house team.
A freelance web developer’s sole purpose is to develop websites, so they are often quicker and more knowledgeable in coding and programming than someone who works as part of an internal team.
Additionally, as freelancers may work with multiple clients at once, they are likely to get up-to-date on the latest technologies and development trends, leading to faster implementation cycles than if you had an internal team working on your project.
Using a freelance web developer also saves time regarding hiring costs: due to their limited commitment, they require less negotiation regarding job descriptions and benefits packages.
Moreover, these types of developers are not permanent employees, so you do not have to worry about any additional overhead costs related to payrolls, such as insurance premiums or paid leave.
Another plus for hiring a freelancer is that you don’t need to spend time searching for the perfect candidate; freelancers have already established themselves in their field, so you can be sure that whoever you choose will be able to deliver your project competently and with expertise.
Lastly, having a freelance web designer work on your website will save you considerable amounts of time when it comes to making changes or updates in the future.
As these workers are not officially employed by your company, they can make changes much faster than an internal developer would be able due to their flexibility; they also won’t be bogged down by bureaucracy or conflicts between departments and teams like someone employed within the organization might be.
All this added together, means that you can expect far greater efficiency from a freelancer’s project completion times than if an employee were doing the same job.
Pros and Cons of Freelance Developers
When it comes to hiring a freelance developer, there are both pros and cons that accompany this decision.
Pros
- Times Savings
- Cost Savings
- Technical Expertise
- Expendability
Cons
- Hourly Cost
- Dependability
How to Hire a Freelance Web Developer
These are the following steps you need to take in order to hire a freelance web developer:
- Step 1: Create a Budget
- Step 2: Define the Role
- Step 3: Define the Language
- Step 4: Write the Job Description
- Step 5: Post Your Job
- Step 6: Conduct Phone Call Interviews
- Step 7: Do a Small Project as a Test
- Step 8: Hire the Freelance Developer
Step 1: Create a Budget
Creating a budget is an essential first step in the process of hiring a freelance web developer. Your budget should reflect the scope of work that you need to have accomplished, as well as the timeline for when you would like to have it completed.
For example, if you need a website created from scratch, the budget needs to reflect both the cost of the developer’s time and any additional services such as hosting or domain registration.
Additionally, you should also factor in any extra costs that may be incurred during development, such as purchasing plugins or themes that will help enhance your website’s functionality.
Knowing exactly how much money you can spend on a project will give your freelance web developer a better understanding of what they can do for you within that budget and make sure that there are no surprises when it comes time to review progress and pricing.
It is essential to keep track of all expenses while working with a freelance web developer so that there are no discrepancies come billing time; this includes both upfront payments and final payment amounts.
Finally, review your budget periodically throughout the project timeline to ensure that it still reflects your expectations for service and quality of work.
Step 2: Define the Role
Before you begin to look for a freelance web developer, you should have a clear idea of what it is that you need them to do.
You’ll want to consider the following aspects of development:
- Front end development
- Back end development
- Full stack development
Front End Development
If you are looking to hire front end developers, you should be looking for candidates that are proficient in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
They will also need to have a good understanding of UI/UX design principles so that they can create a website that looks great and is easy to use.
Back End Development
Back end development focuses on the functionality of your website.
This includes the following:
- Setting up databases
- Integrating APIs
- Creating custom server-side logic to power the different features of your website
Full Stack Development
Full stack developers are able to do both front end and back end development work.
They have expertise in both areas and can help you build a complete solution from start to finish.
Step 3: Define the Language
Once you have a clear idea of what type of development you need, the next step is to decide which programming language(s) will be used.
For websites, some popular languages include the following:
- Javascript
- Python
- HTML
- Java
- CSS
Javascript
Javascript is a high-level programming language that is used for web development. It is an interpreted programming language, which means that programs written in this language must be interpreted by a browser in order to execute the instructions.
As a result, it is well suited for developing interactive websites and web pages as it allows developers to create dynamic elements.
This includes functionality such as:
- Animation
- User interaction
- Data manipulation
- Other forms of client-side scripting
Python
Python is a high-level programming language. It is similar to Javascript but with a few key differences.
First, it is an object-oriented language, meaning that code written in Python can be re-used and extended more quickly than in Javascript.
Second, it is well suited for developing larger applications as the language syntax allows developers to rapidly create complex programs without becoming overwhelmed by their complexity.
Finally, Python is platform-independent, which makes it easier for developers to port their projects between different operating systems, such as:
- Windows
- Mac OS X
- Linux
HTML
HTML stands for Hypertext Markup Language. It is used to create the structure of a web page, including text, images, and other content.
It is the most fundamental building block of web development and allows developers to easily create static websites.
Java
Java is an object-oriented programming language that is well-suited for developing large applications.
It can be used to create desktop applications and server-side programs that run on the web.
One of its key advantages is its cross-platform compatibility which allows programs written in Java to run on any operating system without requiring additional software or libraries.
CSS
CSS stands for Cascading Style Sheets.
It is used to style web pages by applying different styles to elements such as text, images, and layout.
It can be used to create unique looks for websites and make them responsive across different devices.
Step 4: Write the Job Description
Now that you know what type of development you need and the language you want to use, it’s time to write your job description.
Be sure to include the following information:
- Expected timeline for completion
- A detailed description of the project
- Type of payment (hourly, fixed-price, or milestone)
- Experience level required (beginner, intermediate or advanced)
- Any other relevant details, such as software licenses or hosting requirements
Step 5: Post Your Job
Once your job description has been written, it’s time to post it on a freelancing website.
This will allow developers from around the world to apply for your position. Be sure to review all applications carefully before making a decision.
It’s also a good idea to ask for references and past work samples before making your final decision.
Some places to post your job include:
- Indeed
- Upwork
- Fiverr
Step 6: Conduct Phone Call Interviews
The sixth step of hiring a freelance web developer is to conduct phone call interviews. Taking the time to conduct interviews will ensure that you can assess each potential candidate’s skills, knowledge, and experience.
Before calling, developing a list of questions, you wish to ask is crucial. These questions should be tailored to the position and cover the technical requirements and any other desired qualifications.
Additionally, have some sample tasks ready that can be used during test calls to evaluate their coding abilities and problem-solving skills.
During each interview, be sure to pay attention to communication style and personality traits, as these could impact your working relationship with them in the future.
You can also use this time to discuss the following:
- Availability
- Deliverables
- Payment terms
- Budget constraints
- Timeline expectations
Step 7: Do a Small Project as a Test
Before committing to a long-term project, it is recommended that you do a small project as a test.
This will allow you to better understand the quality and speed of their work while also allowing them to prove themselves.
If all goes well, you can then move forward with the larger project with peace of mind knowing that they have what it takes to complete the job.
Step 8: Hire the Freelance Developer
Once you have selected the right candidate, it is time to hire.
Be sure to clearly define your expectations in a contract and discuss the following:
- Timeline
- Deliverables
- Payment terms
- Other relevant details
It is also essential to provide them with regular feedback during the development process so that they can adjust as necessary.
Bonus Tip: Find a Dev Mentor
The last tip is to find a dev mentor.
A dev mentor can be someone you already know or an experienced professional who can help guide you through hiring and managing remote developers.
This person will help you understand the capabilities of your new hire and provide advice on how to best manage them so that they can produce quality work in a timely manner.
Check out this guide if you’re interested in setting up your own freelance business.
Wrap Up
Hiring a freelance web developer is a great way to save money and get access to specialized expertise.
Make sure you research and find someone who fits all the requirements before making any decisions. With the right freelancer, you’ll have no problem launching the perfect website!
Do you have any questions? Let us know in the comments below!
Frequently Asked Questions
When hiring a freelance web developer, looking for someone with proven technical expertise is important. Ideally, the individual should have at least several years of professional experience in web development and specific training or certifications in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and other relevant programming languages. Also, consider if they know different aspects of web development, such as UX/UI design, content creation, or server administration. Additionally, you should assess their portfolio to understand the type and quality of work they have done previously.
The cost of hiring a freelance web developer typically depends on their skill level and the complexity of your project. Generally speaking, simple projects may require only a few hundred dollars, while complex projects can range anywhere from $1k-$10k or more. It’s also important to factor in additional expenses, such as hardware costs, software licenses, hosting fees, or ongoing maintenance fees that may be required for specific tasks.
A successful freelance web developer needs to possess several critical skills, including problem-solving skills to identify solutions that meet user requirements; coding proficiency in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript (or other programming languages); strong communication skills; an understanding of UX/UI principles; and the ability to create high-quality visuals that appeal to users. Understanding modern security protocols is crucial since web developers must ensure data privacy and network security when constructing websites and applications.
Finding the right freelancer for your project requires research and due diligence beforehand. Start by looking at online portfolios or profiles on specialized talent marketplaces such as Upwork or Freelancer, where you can search through different kinds of candidates based on their skill set and experience level. Once you’ve narrowed down your list of potential hires, contact them directly with questions about their availability and rate structure before making final decisions about who will work on your project.
