Building a full-time creative team can be a great investment for businesses that need continuous, in-house support. However, there are several common pitfalls that companies should watch out for to avoid unnecessary costs and inefficiencies. Understanding these challenges can help businesses decide whether hiring full-time employees is the right move, or if a more flexible, cost-effective solution—like Fractional Creative services—is better suited to their needs. Here are the top 5 mistakes to be aware of and how fractional services can help you avoid them.
1. Underestimating the Total Cost of Hiring
Many businesses only consider the base salary when calculating the cost of a full-time hire. However, the total cost is much higher once you factor in benefits, training, equipment, office space, and other related expenses. For example, hiring a senior designer in Canada might have a base salary of $100,051 CAD per year, but with benefits and overhead, the true cost could easily reach $130,650 CAD annually. You can learn more about your potential savings between a full-time designer and a fractional designer with our helpful savings calculator.
Fractional services, on the other hand, offer predictable monthly costs that include everything you need. This means you can access expert design and development talent for a fraction of the cost of a full-time hire. Check out our Fractional Design & Development services to see how much your business can save.
2. Hiring for Short-Term Needs
Another common mistake is hiring full-time staff for projects that are short-term or seasonal. This can result in employees being underutilized once the project is completed, leading to wasted resources. For example, a company might hire a full-time developer for a website overhaul that takes six months to complete, but then struggle to find enough work to justify the position afterward.
With Fractional Creative, you have the flexibility and option to pause or cancel anytime depending on your business needs. If you only need design support for a limited time, or you’re launching a marketing campaign, you can subscribe to our Fractional Webflow Development service without the long-term commitment of hiring a full-time developer.
3. Focusing on a Single Skill Set
When hiring full-time staff, businesses often look for a single, specialized skill set. For example, a company might hire a talented designer who excels at visual branding but lacks web development skills. This can create gaps in expertise, especially for projects that require a blend of talents, such as a new website that needs both design and development.
By choosing a Fractional Design & Development service, businesses can access a wide range of skills through one subscription. Instead of hiring separate employees for design and development - bloating your overhead expenses - you get a cohesive team that can handle your design and webflow development needs. This ensures your projects are completed faster, with fewer headaches, and higher quality results.
4. Long Hiring and Onboarding Processes
The process of recruiting, interviewing, and onboarding full-time employees can take months, causing delays and putting projects on hold. During this period, companies often miss out on business opportunities or struggle to complete projects on time. For example, a company may spend weeks trying to hire the right web developer, only to lose momentum on a key project in the process.
With Fractional Creative, there is no need for a lengthy onboarding process. Our team is ready to integrate with your business immediately, allowing you to start projects without delays. You’ll have access to experienced professionals who can hit the ground running, providing the support you need when you need it.
5. Overcommitting to Long-Term Contracts
Full-time employees and traditional agencies often require long-term contracts, which can limit a company’s ability to adapt. Businesses can find themselves locked into agreements that no longer align with their goals or workload, wasting both time and money. If market conditions change or a project is completed sooner than expected, those contracts can become a costly burden.
Fractional services eliminate this issue by offering flexible, monthly subscriptions. You can pause or cancel your plan at any time, ensuring you’re only paying for what your business needs at any given moment. This flexibility is especially valuable for startups and growing businesses that need to be agile.
Conclusion
While hiring a full-time creative team can work well for businesses with consistent, long-term projects, there are many challenges to consider. For companies looking to save time and money while maintaining high-quality work, Fractional Creative services provide a scalable, adaptable solution. By avoiding these common pitfalls, businesses can streamline their creative processes and focus on growth. Explore our services or book a demo today to learn more.
