Subcontracting and Referrals for Writers
Elisabeth Fredrickson asks:
I have reached the point in my freelance writing business where I can’t keep up and am turning down work. I’d like to establish some sort of partnership with another writer so that I can keep my clients happy, but I’m not sure what makes sense. Is it legal/ethical for me to sub out work that’s been assigned to me to another writer, and take a percentage by paying that person slightly less that I’d earn for the work? Or does it make more sense to form a loose partnership based on mutual referrals?
Interesting – I may actually be in the same position shortly so I’ve been thinking about this. First, I think it’s both legal and ethical to take a percentage of work you sub out, provided everyone knows exactly what the terms are.
The real question seems to me finding a writer or two or three you know you can work with and can duplicate you, more or less. Once you have that, I suspect there are at least the following concerns:
- What will you tell the client? Is the client expecting you to do the writing? Or will they be happy if you supervise and edit?
- How much editing and writing time are you willing to spend on the work you contract out? A lot? None? Only if needed?
- Do you want to subcontract or collect a referral fee… I think subcontracting would, at least in theory give you access to future work by the client, where a referral fee would mean you’d collect only once.
- If it’s a referral only, what do you do if a wheel comes off the project?
- If it’s subcontracting, what do you do if a wheel comes off?
I’m sure there are more questions… I’m just getting started thinking about this.
Lori Widmer of Words On The Page sent me these links which provide more food for thought:
I’m still thinking this through and would love input from anyone, particularly writers and editors about this.
Write well and often,
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POSTED IN: Ask Anne, the Pro Writer, Business of Freelance Writing
8 opinions for Subcontracting and Referrals for Writers
Tom Chandler
Jan 5, 2007 at 3:03 pm
I subcontracted a handful of times. The issues you raised are very real, but the real pain (in my case) had to do with retaining talent.
If they were good enough to trust with a project, they were probably good enough to build up a full calendar of projects fairly quickly.
The search would begin again. [sigh]
Kelly Boyer Sagert
Jan 5, 2007 at 9:33 pm
In December 2006, for the first time ever, I subcontracted out some work. It’s been working out well — although, since this writer is new to encyclopedia formats, I do have to edit more than I will, later on.
That said, Tom has a very good point. By the time that she reaches this point, she’ll probably have established her own career and not need my subcontracted work.
Irreverent Freelancer
Jan 6, 2007 at 9:08 am
I’ve struggled with this idea for over a year. My problem is I’m a perfectionist and I just don’t trust anyone else to meet the standards I set for myself (and thus my clients), even though I’m sure there are many who could. So for the time being, I continue to turn down work or ask clients if they can wait a week, or two, or three. I’m not sure there is a “right” answer to this question. Although I see nothing inherently wrong with subcontracting work, I think it really depends on the individual.
Kelly Boyer Sagert
Jan 7, 2007 at 9:45 pm
What I’ve discovered is that much of the time that I save is spent fact checking material that will be submitted under my name. Although the material provided has been quite accurate, I still checked all, and that was time consuming.
Anne Wayman
Jan 8, 2007 at 9:08 am
That also makes sense… it’s a puzzle for sure… referral fees or finders fees may be the easiest way to go.
alicia
Jan 8, 2007 at 9:29 am
I agree with Kathy - it would be hard for me to let someone else do it, simply because of this OCD perfectionism, haha.
However, I don’t have the exact situation as this person. I have a couple of steady jobs, one semi-steady, and only when I have some extra time on my hands or find something particularly interesting will I take on additional-short term or one-time projects. In other words, I’m not turning things down because I’m cozy in the steady jobs - there’s nothing for me to turn down.
Sharon Hurley Hall
Mar 29, 2007 at 4:18 am
I started subcontracting this year and it’s both a blessing and a pain. A blessing because it allows me to retain the link with clients who might give me work when I have time (instead of turning it down) and a pain because it’s difficult to find the additional time to manage writers’ work. Since it’s ultimately my responsibility, I have to check it all. Three months on, though, I have several writers who are reliable and do good work. As Tom suggests, they might move on once they’ve gained some experience.
Anne Wayman
Mar 29, 2007 at 11:05 am
Yeah, I expect the blessing and pain part… I guess I’ll just have to try it and see how it goes.
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