Freelancer Subcontracting Ethics
If you are a freelancer subcontractor then it is important to brush up on
the right ways to do business. Throughout the last several years, many contractors
are outlining specific ways of doing business for the subcontractors that
they hire for a specific job.
Many subcontractors can be the cause of huge overruns, misappropriation of funds and shotty work that can cost larger contractors and developers huge amounts of money to rectify. If you are a small business subcontracting then here are some tips to doing business the proper way.
Most projects have a main contractor that may subcontract out smaller jobs to save costs or to get specialized labor. For the vast majority of these projects, subcontractors are extremely valuable and deliver high quality work and products, however you may once in a while find a subcontractor that is unreliable, charges you with lots of cost overruns and doesn’t deliver in quantity or workmanship.
As in all business arrangements, you must be aware of the contracts that you enter into. Small business subcontracting is no different. Many subcontractor management teams may promise you a set level of work, but fail to deliver. You must make sure that you have resources available such as a subcontractor warranty agreement to make sure that your subcontractors will complete the job in a timely manner and with quality workmanship.
While nobody wants litigation or a court battle, make sure that you have an iron clad agreement with your subcontractor in order that you and he know what is exactly expected and at what time frame. If you plan out a timeline and project correctly, you and the subcontractor can know what to expect during the project. This will decrease countless problems moving forward.
Many people think of subcontractors for large projects or tangible objects such as real estate or commercial property. The fact of the matter is that many industries employ subcontractors such as the IT industry, freelance industries and small manufacturing operations.
For instance, a web designer that is contracted out to create a ecommerce site with inventory functions and shopping carts, may subcontract out a computer programmer that helps build code into the web site. While the subcontractor never has any contact with the client, the contractors reputation depends on the subcontractors quality work. If you are a contractor then you must make sure that the subcontractors that you pick are trustworthy and will shed a positive light on your business reputation.
There are many subcontracting ethics that should be observed by your subcontracting, including not contacting the client directly unless specified by the contractor, making sure that all work that is undertaken is guaranteed and will be modified quickly if there is a problem and that work will be completed on a timely basis and with the materials or specifications spelled out in the project or contract. By being aware of some of the pitfalls associated with subcontractor ethics, it is easier to prepare contracts and projects that will run smoother and fit your project specifications.
