The perennial dilemma for brand managers and business owners
To work with a freelancer or partner with an agency? This must have been on your mind every time you had a new project or campaign to execute. Here you'll find a useful comparison for easy reference. Keep reading to make an informed choice.
| Factors | Freelancer | Agency |
| Team | Independent specialist who works with others on ad hoc basis to support projects | Organized group of professionals with diverse skills who work together seamlessly |
| Accountability | Finding a replacement can prove challenging if they are unavailable | Concerned about reputation apart from the contractual safeguards that are in place |
| Cost | While hourly rates are low, higher chances of cost escalation due to poor estimation | While there are certain overheads, price reflects the quality of service delivered |
| Timelines | Flexible to stretch beyond business hours, but deadlines may clash with other projects | Work during regular business hours, but have enough resources to meet emergency needs |
| Management | Requires oversight and quality checks as processes are not in place | Provide end-to-end project management, with assured outcomes |
| Relationship | Focus is on short-term assignments; usually difficult to contact once the project is completed | Interested in long-term partnership; provide professional tech support and maintenance |
| Tax & Legal | May not always have compliance and tax registration in place | Registered legal entity with compliance and tax structure in place |
| Security | Data may not be secure on the development server | Guarantee secure data management as part of the contract |
| Technology | Less likely to be abreast of the latest trends and technology | Have access to latest technology and keep knowledge base up to date |
| Consulting | Project scope needs to be as detailed and clear as possible | Open to discuss the scope and come up with insights and suggestions |
Team
Freelancer
To work with a freelancer or partner with an agency? This must have been on your mind every time you had a new project or campaign to execute. Here you'll find a useful comparison for easy reference. Keep reading to make an informed choice.
Agency
To work with a freelancer or partner with an agency? This must have been on your mind every time you had a new project or campaign to execute. Here you'll find a useful comparison for easy reference. Keep reading to make an informed choice.
Accountability
Freelancer
Finding a replacement can prove challenging if they are unavailable
Agency
Concerned about reputation apart from the contractual safeguards that are in place
Cost
Freelancer
While hourly rates are low, higher chances of cost escalation due to poor estimation
Agency
While there are certain overheads, price reflects the quality of service delivered
Timelines
Freelancer
Flexible to stretch beyond business hours, but deadlines may clash with other projects
Agency
Work during regular business hours, but have enough resources to meet emergency needs
Management
Freelancer
Requires oversight and quality checks as processes are not in place
Agency
Provide end-to-end project management, with assured outcomes
Relationship
Freelancer
Focus is on short-term assignments; usually difficult to contact once the project is completed
Agency
Interested in long-term partnership; provide professional tech support and maintenance
Tax & Legal
Freelancer
May not always have compliance and tax registration in place
Agency
Registered legal entity with compliance and tax structure in place
Security
Freelancer
Data may not be secure on the development server
Agency
Guarantee secure data management as part of the contract
Technology
Freelancer
Less likely to be abreast of the latest trends and technology
Agency
Have access to latest technology and keep knowledge base up to date
Consulting
Freelancer
Project scope needs to be as detailed and clear as possible
Agency
Open to discuss the scope and come up with insights and suggestions