How to Effectively Use Subcontractors in Your Bootstrapped or Solopreneur Business (Without Losing Control)
Running a business solo—or with a small, scrappy team—means wearing a dozen hats. From marketing to tech, admin to analytics, there’s never enough time to do it all. But you don’t need to hire a full-time staff to scale. The secret weapon? Subcontractors.
Smart solopreneurs and bootstrapped founders are turning to subcontractors to fill skill gaps, save money, and move faster. In this guide, you’ll learn how to effectively use subcontractors across key areas of your business—marketing, tech, operations, and beyond—without losing your edge or blowing your budget.
Why Subcontractors Are a Game-Changer for Solopreneurs
Hiring subcontractors gives you:
- Specialized skills without committing to a full-time salary
- Speed and agility, especially when you need something done yesterday
- Cost savings, especially in early stages when cash flow is tight
- Flexibility, so you can scale up or down as needed
Whether you’re building a SaaS startup or launching an online coaching business, subcontractors allow you to stay lean and get high-quality results.
Where to Use Subcontractors: Key Areas for Bootstrapped Businesses
Here are the most high-impact places to plug subcontractors into your solo or small business setup:
1. Marketing: Amplify Without Burnout
Outsourcing marketing is often the fastest way to see ROI. Key roles to subcontract:
- Content Writers for blog posts, newsletters, case studies, SEO pages
- Paid Ad Specialists for Google, Facebook, or LinkedIn campaigns
- Social Media Managers for engagement and growth
- SEO Consultants for technical audits and keyword strategies
- Video Editors for short-form video content
Example:
You’re running an online productivity tool. Hire a content writer to create SEO blog posts and a part-time media buyer to manage your LinkedIn Ads. You provide direction—they execute.
Pro tip: Use tools like Trello or Notion to assign content calendars and track deliverables.
2. Tech & Development: Build Smart, Not Big
Need to launch a landing page or app but not a full dev team? Subcontract.
- Web Developers for one-off builds or feature upgrades
- No-Code Developers (using Webflow, Bubble, or Glide) to ship faster
- Data Analysts for setting up dashboards or tagging events
- Tech Support Contractors to manage automations, integrations, or Zapier flows
Example:
Your site needs a custom booking form that integrates with Stripe and Google Calendar. Hire a freelancer on Upwork to build it in Webflow + Zapier. Done in 3 days for $200.
Pro tip: Ask for Loom videos explaining what they did so you’re not left in the dark.
3. Design: Create a Visual Brand Without an In-House Team
Branding matters—but it doesn’t require a full-time designer.
- Brand Designers to create a logo and color palette
- UI/UX Designers for app mockups or website refreshes
- Presentation Designers for pitch decks and lead magnets
- Canva Pros for templates and content visuals
Example:
Launching an ebook? Hire a designer to lay it out in Canva and create 10 promo graphics you can reuse across channels.
Pro tip: Build a library of templates so future designers can plug-and-play.
4. Operations & Admin: Delegate the Grind
You shouldn’t be scheduling meetings or formatting invoices at 10 PM. Subcontract:
- Virtual Assistants (VAs) for inbox, calendar, customer support
- Bookkeepers to manage monthly financials
- CRM Experts to automate sales follow-ups
- SOP Writers to document your workflows
Example:
Hire a VA to handle email follow-ups for leads who downloaded your free checklist. Bonus: they can help qualify leads and tag them in your CRM.
Pro tip: Record yourself doing a task once with Loom. Hand it off forever.
How to Manage Subcontractors Like a Pro
Getting great results from subcontractors isn’t just about hiring the right people—it’s about managing them well. Here’s how:
1. Start with a Clear Scope
Define exactly what you want done, when, and how. Use brief templates and visual examples.
2. Set Up a Simple Project Management System
Use Trello, ClickUp, or Notion to organize tasks, deadlines, and reference files.
3. Communicate Asynchronously
Weekly check-ins via Slack, Loom, or email can keep things moving—without endless meetings.
4. Document and Repeat
Anytime a subcontractor delivers something great, document how it was done. That way you can delegate it again later.
Where to Find Great Subcontractors
Top platforms to find skilled freelancers and subcontractors:
- Upwork
- Fiverr Pro
- Toptal (for elite tech and finance)
- Contra (great for creative freelancers)
- OnlineJobs.ph (for VAs in the Philippines)
- Referrals from communities like Indie Hackers, Twitter, or Slack groups
Budgeting Tips: How to Use Subcontractors Without Breaking the Bank
- Start with project-based pricing (instead of hourly)
- Use smaller pilot projects before committing to long-term engagements
- Set a monthly “contractor budget” tied to revenue goals
- Track cost per output (e.g. cost per blog post, cost per lead) to evaluate ROI
Final Thoughts: Grow Without Growing Too Fast
You don’t need a big team to build a big business. By strategically using subcontractors, solopreneurs can:
- Operate like a full agency
- Scale output without scaling overhead
- Focus on high-leverage work while others handle the details
Use this approach to stay nimble, sane, and profitable while you grow.
