We are often asked a number of core questions when speaking with clients. So we thought we’d take the opportunity to share these with you:
1. How do we know the quality of the freelancers on &FRIENDS?
The community team vet freelancers into the &FRIENDS community only once a full profile has been inputted via our proprietary platform tools. This is the first filter, whilst we also conduct spot checks on the profile details – followed up with individual calls if we feel necessary. The community team will only mark joiners as ‘recommended’ when they meet our quality standards.
In addition we ask our customers to carry out a freelancer review once an &FRIENDS gig is completed, giving them the opportunity to highlight both potential areas for improvement, and areas of strength.
Meanwhile, freelancers are able to get referrals from past clients, highlighting gigs completed and have them displayed against their profile.
2. What does it cost to use &FRIENDS?
Starting at 15% fees, we’re half the standard industry cost, and we only charge you if we successfully book a freelancer through &FRIENDS.
We offer multiple payment options. You can choose to have freelancers invoice you directly, or alternatively you can look to employ the freelancer through PAYG for the duration of the project. We also offer a full payroll solution through our partner entity where you are looking to outsource all payroll, compliance and insurances.
For more information on our &FRIENDS payment options please click here:
https://cavalry-freelancing.helpscoutdocs.com/article/64-cavalry-payment-options
3. What happens if a freelancer goes full time after a freelance engagement?
Even though many of our members our seasoned freelancers, some may be open to full time opportunities from time to time. So if a two month gig, for example, goes really well, and both the freelancer and the company build a strong and positive relationship, they may choose to take that freelancer on full time.
&FRIENDS does not want to lose members from its community, and understands that this may sometimes happen. If it does we will charge a one-off 15% commission based on the full time contract that is agreed.
4. Can I manage my own freelancers within &FRIENDS?
The &FRIENDS service allows you to add your own freelancers to your &FRIENDS Freelance Management System (FMS). Allowing you to manage both your existing freelance relationships, and extend them by building out your team using candidates sourced through &FRIENDS.
5. What happens if I don’t use the freelancer for the full duration of their agreed booking?
If you book a freelancer through &FRIENDS for a four week engagement and the work ends up being completed in three weeks, you are only charged for the time that the freelancer has been engaged. We just ask that you keep the freelancer informed on upcoming bookings and keep them actively informed on gig time frames, so they can plan for other work. You can also look to extend a booking if a project gets extended, or you want to engage the freelancer for a longer period.
6. How do I know how much each freelancer will cost?
&FRIENDS is transparent from start to finish. We do not show a freelancer’s rate but give a guide to indicate their price level showing a ‘$’ or ‘£’ symbol from 1-3 to show how they compare to others in your search. As soon as you engage a freelancer through a gig they have to confirm their day rate when they apply and express interest. It also gives the freelancer the opportunity to read the gig brief and put a price forward that they feel is appropriate for the work requested.
For example an Art Director may wish to apply for a Graphic Design role and in this case they would not charge their Art Director day rate. Instead they may put in a day rate offer which reflects the work required. (tip: It’s sometimes worth considering more experienced, and therefore more expensive freelancers for gigs, as often they will get the work done in a shorter time).
7. What companies are using &FRIENDS?
&FRIENDS helps many companies gain access to a large and diverse community of local freelance specialists in the advertising, digital and communications space. We have now built a company base of more than 350 companies across digital agencies, publishers and brands.
We work with companies big and small, as all companies can benefit from using &FRIENDS as a flexible freelance model to to scale up when things get busy.
We are working with the likes of Dentsu, Skynews and M&C Saatchi on the agency side and with brands like Aperol and Revlon.
8. What specialisms does &FRIENDS have on its platform?
Our marketplace gives you easy access to a large and diverse community of local freelance specialists from Design, Creative, Technology, Client Services, Media, Film, Content, and Strategy. Click here to see a full list of specialisms we can help you with at &FRIENDS.
