If you’re considering hiring remote workers to support your business, you aren’t alone. Telecommuting has become increasingly accepted, and Reuters reports that the number of permanent remote workers is set to double in 2021. These days, you can collaborate from afar with workers across an array of professions.

Whether you hire individuals on a full-time or a contractor basis, you want to build and nurture a cohesive team that collaborates effectively. This guide explains how it’s done.

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Register a formal business entity with your state.

Whether your remote team is employed or freelance, you need to pay them in line with state and federal requirements. For employees, this may mean withholding the requisite social security taxes, for example. Establishing your business as a formal legal entity will help to clarify your role as an employer. Certain types of entities, like a limited liability company (LLC), further offer tax advantages. A business formation service can help you register your entity with the relevant state.

Get the funding you’ll need to pay your team.

When you’re first starting a business, it may take some time until you’re regularly turning a profit. You will still need money to cover operational costs, however, including employee salaries and freelancer fees. External funding can help. There are a diversity of options available, from private lenders like banks to government lenders. Possibilities include U.S. Small Business Association loans, Main Street Business Lending program, and SBA Express Bridge Loans. You can also consider nontraditional sources. True Merchant suggests crowdfunding and business credit cards as possibilities.

Write clear-cut job postings in terms of required expertise and duties.

Depending on your business and personal expertise, you might need professionals for marketing, accounting, or basic administration. Once you have a position in mind, write a clear job posting specifying the expertise you expect the individual to have and duties they should perform. Better Team provides a step-by-step guide that covers everything from writing a clear job title to crafting a compelling company story.

Complete a thorough interview process.

After you post a job, you will receive numerous applications. Narrow down the options to three to five candidates. You can schedule a more thorough interview process with these individuals. Follow Factorial Blog’s quick tips for conducting an interview. Pointers include studying the individual’s resume, preparing role-specific questions, and preparing a quick intro to your company.

Provide comprehensive onboarding materials.

Once you’ve found the right individuals for your remote team, you can start building a collaborative community of workers. This starts with effective onboarding. Employee Connect lays out ten elements of effective onboarding, including explaining your workplace culture and business mission and providing written documentation of internal policies. This gives your team the tools they need to integrate and thrive within your company.

Maintain regular group and one-on-one communication.

 Managing remote workers presents unique challenges. You can’t rely on casual face-to-face interactions at the coffee machine to build a rapport. Schedule regular team meetings as well as one-on-one video chats to keep up with your team. You should further look into team building beyond work. Schedule non-work-related video sessions for fun activities that will bond your crew. Team Building provides tips like whiteboard games.

Building an effective remote team requires some effort. The investment of time and energy will be well worth it, however. Being able to rely on a well-functioning, efficient team will make your day-to-day life as a business owner that much easier.

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Article Content Writing Credit: Tina Martin