BLOG
6 Tips for Building and Maintaining Client Relationships
By MBO Partners | | How to Manage a Small Business
It’s common for independent professionals to focus their resources on gaining new business. However, new ...
Continue Reading CATEGORIES
How to Stay Productive When Working Remotely
By MBO Partners | | How to Manage a Small Business
Flexibility in where and how you work is one of the major benefits of independent work, but it can also be a challenge. Even if you have a great home ...
Continue Reading Four Benefits to Re-Engaging Independent Professional Talent
By MBO Partners | | Workforce Management
Re-engaging independent talent can save your business both time and money. When independent professionals are satisfied with their client relationship, they are more likely to return to that same client ...
Continue Reading How to Work with a Virtual Assistant
By MBO Partners | | How to Grow a Small Business
As a small business owner, you’ve likely encountered moments when you feel overworked, stressed, or struggle to stay on top of your workload. Trying to grow a business is hard ...
Continue Reading Independent Contractor Misclassification and Compliance News: March, 2020
By Nathan Gibson | | Misclassification and Compliance
As the independent workforce continues to grow, so do the issues of worker compliance and misclassification. It is important for enterprises to remain informed about the latest laws, regulations, and ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: March 30, 2020
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading The CARES Act: What it Means for Self-Employed, Freelancers, and Independent Workers
By MBO Partners | | Independent Workforce Trends, MBO Partners, Self-Employed Benefits
The information provided in the MBO Blog does not constitute legal, tax or financial advice. It does not take into account your particular circumstances, objectives, legal and financial situation or ...
Continue Reading Webinar Recap “MBO Manager Hack: An Interactive Session”
By MBO Partners | | Direct Sourcing
Direct Sourcing Hacks MBO Partners is hosting a monthly “quick hit” webinar series for engagement managers about how to hack the direct sourcing process to make it easier and faster for them to ...
Continue Reading 3 Ways to Incorporate Direct Sourcing in Your Workforce Management Strategy
By MBO Partners | | Direct Sourcing
If recruiters and enterprise managers at your organization are having a hard time finding talent with the skills they need, you are not alone. Well over half of large organizations ...
Continue Reading How to Build Strong Relationships When Managing Remote Workers
By MBO Partners | | Workforce Management
Most independent professionals work remotely—it’s part of the appeal of pursuing an independent career. But managing remote workers isn’t always easy to do. Tracking deliverables, building teams, and forming relationships ...
Continue Reading 3 Client Retention Strategies
By MBO Partners | | How to Grow a Small Business
When you run your own company, you are the face of your business on a daily basis. That require finding ways to keep your clients coming back so you maintain ...
Continue Reading How to Set Your Small Business up for Success
By MBO Partners | | How to Start a Small Business
Embarking on a career as an independent professional can be equal parts excitement and nerves. Starting your own business requires a lot of planning and forethought—and those requirements do not ...
Continue Reading 5 Results an Executive Career Coach Can Help You Achieve
By Melisa Liberman | | How to Manage a Small Business
In today’s post, Melisa Liberman, host of upcoming MBO webinar “Using an Executive Coach to Accelerate Your Career Revenue” and an executive coach specializing in tech leaders, offers actionable tips ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: March 23, 2020
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading 3 Ways to Analyze Small Business Performance
By MBO Partners | | How to Grow a Small Business
The future of your business and its level of success comes down to each of the decisions you make, both large and small. To help ensure you’re making the right ...
Continue Reading How to Boost the ROI of Your Meetings with a Proven Follow-Up Strategy
By MBO Partners | | How to Manage a Small Business
As a self-employed professional, the right relationships can make or break your business. Not knowing where your next project or client is coming from can be a source of stress ...
Continue Reading 5 Tips for Marketing Your Small Business
By MBO Partners | | How to Market a Small Business
As a small business owner, you’re in charge of selling your services to the world. Investing in marketing your company ensures that services will be front and center when people ...
Continue Reading How to Retain Top Independent Talent
By MBO Partners | | Workforce Management
Skilled talent is in short demand these days. That means organizations are turning to external talent to fill skills gaps. Independent professionals bring flexibility, lower employment costs, and a cadre ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: March 16, 2020
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading Independent Work: One Size Does Not Fit All, and Now, More than Ever, It’s Time This is Understood
By Gene Zaino | | Independent Workforce Trends
To say a lot has changed in the world of work in the past week would be an understatement. Nearly every major organization in the U.S. has taken a critical ...
Continue Reading Tips for Managing Remote Teams
By MBO Partners | | Workforce Management
This week, MBO Partners will feature content focused on working remotely. As COVID-19 (coronavirus) spreads, many people are working from home as a precaution. Stay safe while keeping your business ...
Continue Reading Modernizing Business Models to Manage Risk is as Old as The Dutch East India Company
By Miles Everson | | Workforce Management
Uncertainty causing boards and managements to change the business is as old as the public company itself. If we look to history as an example, the creation of the first ...
Continue Reading How to Work Effectively with Remote Independent Professionals
By MBO Partners | | Workforce Management
This week, MBO Partners will feature content focused on working remotely. As COVID-19 (coronavirus) spreads, many people are working from home as a precaution. Stay safe while keeping your business ...
Continue Reading How to Work with Clients Remotely
By MBO Partners | | How to Manage a Small Business
This week, MBO Partners will feature content focused on working remotely. As COVID-19 (coronavirus) spreads, many people are working from home as a precaution. Stay safe while keeping your business ...
Continue Reading Virtual Meeting Tools for Independent Contractors
By MBO Partners | | How to Manage a Small Business
This week, MBO Partners will feature content focused on working remotely. As COVID-19 (coronavirus) spreads, many people are working from home as a precaution. Stay safe while keeping your business ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: March 9, 2020
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading Coronavirus and the Independent Workforce: Tips, Strategies & Tools for Successful Remote Work, Safety, and Preparedness
By McLean Robbins | | How to Manage a Small Business, Independent Workforce Trends, Uncategorized
MBO Partners recognizes the growing concern about the possible spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus). We’d like to take this time to address some additional risk mitigation activities that independent professionals can ...
Continue Reading How to Avoid an Independent Contractor Misclassification Audit
By MBO Partners | | Misclassification and Compliance
Today, there is a growing awareness of independent contractor rights, high-profile employee misclassification lawsuits, heightened scrutiny from government agencies, and more frequent use of independent contractors. These changes have led to an increase ...
Continue Reading How to Achieve Work-Life Balance When You’re Self-Employed
By MBO Partners | | How to Manage a Small Business
Achieving work-life balance is hard for anyone, but it can be particularly difficult for independent professionals. When you run your own business, you have to balance the demands of multiple clients ...
Continue Reading How to Find the Right Consulting Project
By MBO Partners | | How to Grow a Small Business
As more people turn to independent work, there are an increasing number of resources available to find work. While it can be great to have a lot of options to ...
Continue Reading What is the Difference Between Hourly and Fixed-Price Billing?
By MBO Partners | | How to Manage a Small Business
Deciding what to charge for your services can have a big impact on how you structure and build your business. You don’t want to charge too much, in order to ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: March 2, 2020
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading Independent Contractor Misclassification and Compliance News: February, 2020
By Nathan Gibson | | Misclassification and Compliance
As the independent workforce continues to grow, so do the issues of worker compliance and misclassification. It is important for enterprises to remain informed about the latest laws, regulations, and ...
Continue Reading How to Sell Your Consulting Services
By MBO Partners | | How to Start a Small Business
Selling your consulting services is a big part of your job as an independent professional. If that sounds like something that doesn’t come naturally to you, don’t worry. Finding work ...
Continue Reading Small Business Marketing Strategies
By MBO Partners | | How to Grow a Small Business
Operating as an independent professional means you are in the business of marketing yourself. As a business of one, you’ll face a lot of competition, and time and resources aren’t ...
Continue Reading How to Take Your Small Business to the Next Level
By MBO Partners | | How to Grow a Small Business
All small businesses go through a startup phase. This point in your business growth is important; it gives you the opportunity to develop an idea or passion into a functioning ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: February 24, 2020
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading Benefits as a Self-Employed Professional
By MBO Partners | | Self-Employed Benefits
One of the big differences between being an employee and an independent contractor is managing your own benefits. As an independent, there’s no employer to provide you with benefit options ...
Continue Reading Back Office Management for Independent Contractors
By MBO Partners | | How to Grow a Small Business
On your journey to becoming an independent contractor, you’ll quickly learn that there’s a lot of planning involved. Initially, this planning will focus on choosing the services you will offer, ...
Continue Reading How to Land Your Next Consulting Contract
By MBO Partners | | How to Grow a Small Business
If you’ve taken the leap and launched your independent career, congratulations! You’re on your way to big things, and millions of independent contractors, consultants, and freelancers are right there with you. ...
Continue Reading How to Grow Your Independent Business
By MBO Partners | | How to Grow a Small Business
The independent workforce is growing both in size and ambition. The majority of independents say they plan to remain independent or even build a bigger business. Whether you’re among those planning to ...
Continue Reading Tools You Need to Build a Successful Relationship with Clients
By MBO Partners | | How to Grow a Small Business
Strong client relationships are the foundation of every successful small business. When you have a good connection with your clients, there is more opportunity for future work as well as ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: February 17, 2020
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading 10 Things to Love About Being an Independent Professional
By MBO Partners | | How to Start a Small Business
There are plenty of perks to working as an independent professional: freedom, flexibility, control over your work, the ability to pursue your passion, and the option to work from anywhere ...
Continue Reading How to Start a Small Business
By MBO Partners | | How to Start a Small Business
Deciding to go out on your own and start a business is both an exciting and scary time. Going independent is a big shift from a career, financial, and mental ...
Continue Reading 3 HR Trends Impacting Businesses Today
By MBO Partners | | Workforce Management
Traditional hiring models are shifting—that comes as no surprise to savvy businesses. More and more, organizations are taking an integrated approach to talent management. By 2020, the number of self-employed ...
Continue Reading How to Develop Thought Leadership as an Independent Professional
By MBO Partners | | How to Manage a Small Business
To be seen as a trusted leader in your industry, it is important to cultivate thought leadership. Creating content and finding your own voice are good first steps. However, a ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: February 10, 2020
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading Financial Management Terms You Need to Know for Your Small Business
By MBO Partners | | How to Manage a Small Business
Managing the financial side of your business can be intimidating at first, but understanding the basics of what’s going on when it comes to your income, profit, and expenses—even if ...
Continue Reading 6 Ways to Build Better Relationships with Independent Talent
By MBO Partners | | Workforce Management
If you’ve incorporated independent talent into your workforce—or if you’re considering doing so—you’ve probably discovered the importance of building a strong foundation that supports these types of workers. Independent contractors ...
Continue Reading Personal Branding: 5 Steps to Effectively Build Your Brand
By MBO Partners | | How to Market a Small Business
Coca-Cola, Nike, Disney. What do these names have in common? They are some of the world’s most iconic brands. In fact, you probably have some sort of emotional attachment or ...
Continue Reading How to Build Your Small Business Pipeline
By MBO Partners | | How to Grow a Small Business
As an independent professional, you’re always thinking ahead to the future. Whether you’re planning how to meet your next deadline, successfully complete a deliverable, or land your next project, it ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: February 3, 2020
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading Independent Contractor Misclassification and Compliance News: January, 2020
By Nathan Gibson | | Misclassification and Compliance
As the independent workforce continues to grow, so do the issues of worker compliance and misclassification. It is important for enterprises to remain informed about the latest laws, regulations, and ...
Continue Reading Starting a Small Business: Financial Management
By MBO Partners | | How to Start a Small Business
When starting a small business, there are many financial considerations to take into account. Yes, defining and marketing your services is a big piece of the puzzle but in order ...
Continue Reading 3 Reasons Independent Contractors Are Cost-Effective
By MBO Partners | | Workforce Management
There are many benefits to incorporating independent professionals into your workforce strategy—many of which center around cost savings. Independent talent, for example, can offer staffing flexibility and access to skills ...
Continue Reading 5 Things You Should Know Before Starting a Freelance Career
By MBO Partners | | How to Start a Small Business
If you’re considering going independent and starting your own business, you’re not alone. More than 41 million Americans currently work as freelancers, consultants, temporary or on-call workers and the trend ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: January 27, 2020
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading How to Start a Small Business: 6 Legal Requirements
By MBO Partners | | How to Start a Small Business
Starting a small business is both exciting and challenging. After doing your research, writing a business plan or roadmap, and deciding on a business structure, you’ll want to consider the other ...
Continue Reading Small Business Management Strategies
By MBO Partners | | How to Manage a Small Business
As an independent professional, successfully managing a small business begins and ends with you. There are many aspects to managing your own company, from back-office tasks like handling finances, paying ...
Continue Reading Consulting Terms Glossary: Definitions You Need to Know
By MBO Partners | | How to Start a Small Business
As the independent workforce continues to grow and evolve, so does the vocabulary of terminology that surrounds it. Here are a few of the most commonly used and confused terms ...
Continue Reading 5 In-Demand Consulting Jobs
By MBO Partners | | How to Start a Small Business
The decision to pursue independent work as a consultant, freelancer, contractor, temporary, or on-call worker is no longer a novel concept. Today, 41 million Americans pursue this type of work, ...
Continue Reading 4 Ways the Independent Workforce Can Help Grow your Business in 2020
By MBO Partners | | Independent Workforce Trends
Today, 41 million Americans work as consultants, freelancers, contractors, temporary, or on-call workers. This independent workforce is a growing and powerful economic force that is shaping the way organizations accomplish ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: January 20, 2020
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading 3 Things to Consider When Implementing a Direct Sourcing Strategy
By MBO Partners | | Direct Sourcing
As more organizations incorporate contingent talent into their workforce, direct sourcing is becoming a popular way to engage these workers. Direct sourcing enables access to and connection with top independent ...
Continue Reading 5 Things You Need to Know about IR35
By MBO Partners | | Misclassification and Compliance
IR35 refers to a set of UK legislation designed to combat tax avoidance by independent contractors and the businesses that engage them. This shifts the responsibility of worker classification, as ...
Continue Reading Looking Ahead in 2020: Independent Contractor Compliance
By Nathan Gibson | | Misclassification and Compliance
As the independent workforce continues to grow, so do the issues of worker compliance and misclassification. It is important for enterprises to remain informed about the latest laws, regulations, and ...
Continue Reading Independent Contractor Engagement Risk: What You Need to Know
By MBO Partners | | Misclassification and Compliance
Companies today are realizing that independent talent can play a vital role in their workforce strategies. In fact, nearly 64% of senior executives say their external workforce is important or ...
Continue Reading How to Network with Your Peers
By MBO Partners | | How to Grow a Small Business
There are many advantages to networking with your peers—hearing a new perspective, gaining industry advice, or obtaining an outside opinion about an idea you have, just to name a few. ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: January 13, 2020
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading Should Independent Professionals Use Promotional Products?
By MBO Partners | | How to Market a Small Business
Online marketing through social media is free—and effective—which means that many cost-conscious independent professionals use platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn as their primary method of reaching out to ...
Continue Reading Creating an Independent Workforce Management Strategy
By MBO Partners | | Workforce Management
There are many factors involved in managing your independent workforce. Whether you work with independent contractors, freelancers or consultants, contingent workers must be engaged and managed differently than traditional employees. ...
Continue Reading Improve Your Email Etiquette By Getting Rid of These Three Bad Habits
By MBO Partners | | How to Manage a Small Business
More than 124 billion business emails are sent and received each day. As a small business, how do you stand out from the crowd and deliver value in the emails ...
Continue Reading How to Attract and Retain Great Independent Talent
By MBO Partners | | Workforce Management
The independent workforce is a growing and vital source of talent in today’s project-based economy. Independent professionals provide access to in-demand skills without adding to company payroll, they offer staffing ...
Continue Reading 4 Ways AI Services Can Make Your Life Easier an Independent Professional
By MBO Partners | | How to Manage a Small Business
Artificial intelligence, or AI, has been growing buzzword over the past few years. And, with its promises of a more innovative and growth-spurred future, it’ no wonder that so many ...
Continue Reading 8 Productivity Apps for 2020
By MBO Partners | | How to Manage a Small Business
Each day as an independent professional is chock-full of things to do. From client meetings and project pitches to account management and brand marketing, it’s not always easy to know ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: January 6, 2020
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading 3 Creative Business Growth Strategies That Work
By MBO Partners | | How to Grow a Small Business
There are a seemingly endless number of tasks associated with independent work. From maintaining a pipeline of projects, running your back office, and drafting proposals, to holding client meetings and ...
Continue Reading How to Create a Talent Ecosystem as Part of Your Direct Sourcing Strategy
By Dawnette Cooke | | Direct Sourcing
Leadership and executive teams from all industries have faced the same pressing question year after year: how do you source skilled talent? When seeking highly-skilled specialists and subject-matter experts, the ...
Continue Reading How to Start 2020 Right as an Independent Professional
By MBO Partners | | How to Grow a Small Business
For many, the new year is a time to reflect on the past and look forward to the future. This is true for freelancers and independent professionals as well—taking the ...
Continue Reading Building Your Network as an Independent Professional
By MBO Partners | | How to Market a Small Business
When you run your own business, most of the work you do is done on your own. Being your own boss, setting your own hours, and setting your own goals ...
Continue Reading Top Independent Contractor Compliance Stories from 2019
By Nathan Gibson | | Misclassification and Compliance
As the independent workforce continues to grow, so do the issues of worker compliance and misclassification. It is important for enterprises to remain informed about the latest laws, regulations, and ...
Continue Reading Planning for Parental Leave as an Independent Contractor
By MBO Partners | | Self-Employed Benefits
Taking parental leave when you run your own business can be scary. Without set guidelines or a reliable paycheck, the prospect of having to budget for time off, set expectations ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: December 30, 2019
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading How to Make Difficult Business Decisions as an Independent Contractor
By MBO Partners | | How to Manage a Small Business
In the majority of traditional jobs, managers have the final word when it comes to making important business decisions and there are always coworkers to bounce ideas off of or ...
Continue Reading 5 Things Independent Professionals Value in a Client Relationship
By MBO Partners | | Workforce Management
With each passing year, the nature and culture of independent work is growing more complex and sophisticated. Today, more than 41 million Americans work outside of traditional employment as independent ...
Continue Reading Look Back, Look Forward: The Independent Workforce Year in Review 2019
By MBO Partners | | Independent Workforce Trends
As 2019 winds to a close, we at MBO Partners like to take the time to reflect in preparation for the year ahead. As is common in any fast-growing industry, ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: December 23, 2019
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading 5 Habits of the Highly Effective Entrepreneur
By MBO Partners | | How to Manage a Small Business
There are many paths to become a successful independent professional, but there are several key stepping stones that can put you on the path to success. Here are five habits ...
Continue Reading 12 Business Books to Read in 2020
By MBO Partners | | Independent Workforce Trends
When you run your own business, you also run your own professional development. Certifications or continuing education programs can be great ways to learn new skills and improve on weak ...
Continue Reading Independent Contractor vs Employee: 10 Differences
By MBO Partners | | Misclassification and Compliance
There are many nuances and exceptions in the laws, tests, and definitions of what differentiates independent contractors from employees. With the constant small tweaks and adjustments to laws and varying ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: December 16, 2019
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading How to Find and Keep Top Independent Professional Talent
By MBO Partners | | Workforce Management
Independent professionals are a growing part of the workforce for many leading organizations. They offer companies the ability to bring a valuable set of skills to a project for a ...
Continue Reading 13 Books for Workforce Management Executives
By MBO Partners | | Independent Workforce Trends
No matter what stage you’re at in your career, experienced leaders know that there’s always more out there to learn. Books are a great way to expand your knowledge—even if ...
Continue Reading 10 Home Office Gifts for the Independent Professional
By MBO Partners | | How to Manage a Small Business
Many freelancers, entrepreneurs, and small business owners call their home office—or wherever their workplace may be—their sanctuary. An office is a place that should generate creativity, promote health and well-being, ...
Continue Reading More Clients vs. Better Clients: How to Find Your Ideal Partnership
By MBO Partners | | How to Grow a Small Business
When you’re just starting out your independent career, there’s an initial push to land as many clients as you can to jump start your business. While it is of course ...
Continue Reading 3 Reasons to Use a Written Consulting Agreement
By MBO Partners | | Workforce Management
Why You Need a Written Contract When engaging independent contractors, it can be tempting to review the work you need done, come to an understanding, and get started as quickly ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: December 9, 2019
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading 9 Events for Freelancers in 2020
By MBO Partners | | How to Grow a Small Business
As an independent professional, keeping your skills and knowledge current is part of the job. But as a company of one, you may often feel isolated or out of the ...
Continue Reading Managed Service Provider vs. Vendor Management System
By MBO Partners | | Workforce Management
Today’s business leaders are experiencing pressure to improve service, move faster, and find new skills in their workforce. With a need to shift strategies to better meet business goals, enterprises ...
Continue Reading How to Conduct a Year-End Business Review
By MBO Partners | | How to Grow a Small Business
Conducting an end-of-year review isn’t a practice that just applies to bigger businesses—it’s a process that is valuable to freelancers and independent professionals as well. A business review gives you ...
Continue Reading 10 Great Holiday Gifts Independent Professionals Can Give to Their Clients
By MBO Partners | | How to Manage a Small Business
The holiday season is always one of the busiest times of year, and taking time to find the perfect little something for your client can be an added stress. Rather ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: December 2, 2019
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading 6 Personality Traits of Successful Independent Consultants
By MBO Partners | | How to Manage a Small Business
When pursuing a new career, it can be helpful to see if your personality matches the path you want to go down. For example, networking, running a business, and managing ...
Continue Reading Independent Contractor Misclassification and Compliance News: November, 2019
By Nathan Gibson | | Misclassification and Compliance
As the independent workforce continues to grow, so do the issues of worker compliance and misclassification. It is important for enterprises to remain informed about the latest laws, regulations, and ...
Continue Reading 4 Professional Partners Small Business Owners Need
By MBO Partners | | How to Start a Small Business
If you're considering starting your own business, you probably have done some research and have a checklist of what you need to have in place to start off on the ...
Continue Reading 5 Questions to Ask Before Becoming Self Employed
By MBO Partners | | How to Start a Small Business
If you’re considering self-employment, there has never been a better time to make the leap to independence. Today, many individuals are pursuing an independent careers and companies are increasingly engaging ...
Continue Reading How to Make the Most of Black Friday as an Independent Contractor
By MBO Partners | | How to Market a Small Business
Tis the season… for holiday shopping, that is. The holidays are prime season for consumer spending, and there’s no reason why independent contractors can’t capitalize on Black Friday spending just ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: November 25, 2019
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading Employee vs. Contractor: Worker Classification and the IRS
By MBO Partners | | Misclassification and Compliance
Contingent workers are a growing and increasingly prominent part of our workforce today. As more people choose independent work as a career path, the issue of worker misclassification is growing ...
Continue Reading Top 5 Things to Include in an Online Job-Seeking Profile
By MBO Partners | | How to Grow a Small Business
When building an online job-seeking profile as an independent professional, you want to put your best foot forward and show prospective clients who you are and what you have to ...
Continue Reading 6 Ways to Build and Manage Your Talent Pool
By MBO Partners | | Workforce Management
Best-in-class organizations thrive from building a deep bench of talent. Yet many companies today continue to rely on traditional methods without taking the current workforce landscape into account. Work arrangements ...
Continue Reading Why You Should Network with Your Peers
By MBO Partners | | How to Grow a Small Business
Networking is an incredibly important part of any independent professionals’ job. When you run your own business and are responsible for securing your own work, the more high-quality connections you ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: November 18, 2019
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading How to Reduce the Risk of Worker Misclassification
By MBO Partners | | Misclassification and Compliance
Worker misclassification is a complex topic that does not have a straightforward solution. Often, misclassification can be unintentional because businesses simply do not have a full understanding of the laws ...
Continue Reading 5 Ways to Improve Contingent Workforce Program Adoption
By MBO Partners | | Workforce Management
The modern workforce includes 41 million independent professionals—contractors, freelancers, consultants, and more who work with small, medium, and large organizations. Including these contingent workers as part of your workforce strategy ...
Continue Reading How to Implement a Direct Sourcing Strategy
By MBO Partners | | Direct Sourcing
By engaging independent professional talent on a project-basis business today can realize significant cost savings as well as increased output and efficiency. Nearly 64% of senior executives say their external ...
Continue Reading How to Become a Freelancer for Big Companies: 4 Steps
By MBO Partners | | How to Manage a Small Business
As an independent professional, there are many benefits to working with large enterprises. Higher-value contracts, bigger budgets, and the opportunity to gain credibility with a recognizable name, just to name ...
Continue Reading Make the Most of your Transportation Tax Deduction in 2020
By MBO Partners | | Contracts and Finance
Beyond the daily hustle and bustle of grocery store trips and errand runs, many independent consultants depend on their car as a means to get from project to project, or ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: November 11, 2019
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading Top 10 Content Marketing Tools for Small Businesses
By MBO Partners | | How to Market a Small Business
Effectively marketing your business is important to create a brand identity, drive a steady flow of projects, and spread the word about your services. As a small business owner, not only ...
Continue Reading Why Attracting Independent Talent is Different Than Recruiting Employees
By MBO Partners | | Misclassification and Compliance
The independent workforce is a different pool of talent than traditional employees. In order to successfully attract, retain, and re-engage independent workers, companies must focus on building a recruiting strategy ...
Continue Reading How to Write and Negotiate a Consultant Contract
By MBO Partners | | Contracts and Finance
Why a consultant contract is important It is important for the modern independent consultant to realize that we live in an age where people within client organizations change quickly. Without ...
Continue Reading How a Chief Freelance Officer Can Improve Your Workforce Management Program
By MBO Partners | | Workforce Management
The independent workforce—freelancers, independent contractors, gig workers, statement-of-work based laborers, etc.—are changing the way we view and understand work. Today, 7.4 million Americans report working full-time providing professional services to ...
Continue Reading How Much to Charge as a Consultant?
By MBO Partners | | Contracts and Finance
Deciding how much to charge is a challenge for independent consultants and contractors. Your rate can be as high as what a client is willing to pay -- but finding ...
Continue Reading Employment Types: Independent Contractor, Temp, Employee
By MBO Partners | | Workforce Management
Companies today can build their workforce in a variety of ways. Increasingly, businesses are relying on the independent workforce—the 41 million Americans who work as contractors, consultants, freelancers, side-giggers, and ...
Continue Reading 3 Thought Leadership Strategies for Consultants
By MBO Partners | | How to Manage a Small Business
You're already an expert in your field, but are you a thought leader? That's a question every successful or aspiring small business should ask. Marketing is changing along with the ...
Continue Reading Five Traits of the Modern Independent Workforce
By MBO Partners | | Workforce Management
The modern independent workforce embraces technology, works from anywhere in the world, and finds satisfaction in building a career out of their passion. These workers are finding their place in ...
Continue Reading Transition from a Full Time Job to Self-Employment: 9 Steps
By MBO Partners | | How to Start a Small Business
Why become self-employed? There has never been a better time to become self employed. In fact, more than 32 million U.S. workers have embarked upon the path to date. It ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: November 4, 2019
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading How to Get Your First Client: 6 Steps
By MBO Partners | | How to Start a Small Business
If you have decided to start an independent consulting business, the most important first step is finding and getting clients. That starts with knowing how to promote and grow your ...
Continue Reading 5 Reasons to Join the Gig Economy in 2020
By MBO Partners | | How to Start a Small Business
The United States currently boasts 41.1 million independent workers—a tally that is expected to rise despite record low unemployment and some of the strongest jobs numbers in more than nearly ...
Continue Reading Top 7 Productivity Apps for the Self-Employed
By MBO Partners | | How to Manage a Small Business
While many people’s favorite apps involve matching sets of candies, launching birds at unstable structures, or chasing around lovable pocket monsters, as an independent contractor you don’t always have the ...
Continue Reading Hiring Independent Contractors: 5 Common Concerns and How to Overcome Them
By MBO Partners | | Misclassification and Compliance
It’s not uncommon to experience some nervousness when engaging an independent professional for the first time. Whether you have fears about the quality of the final product, what it’ll cost, ...
Continue Reading Independent Contractor vs Employee: Which Should I Hire?
By MBO Partners | | Workforce Management
Today, there are many options for finding and engaging talent for your workplace. You can hire temporary workers to fill a seasonal or short-term need, full-time employees to support core organizational goals, ...
Continue Reading Independent Contractor Misclassification and Compliance News: October, 2019
By Nathan Gibson | | Misclassification and Compliance
As the independent workforce continues to grow, so do the issues of worker compliance and misclassification. It is important for enterprises to remain informed about the latest laws, regulations, and ...
Continue Reading 5 Ways to Communicate Effectively with Large Clients
By MBO Partners | | How to Manage a Small Business
Working with a large enterprise client offers the potential for higher-value contracts, name recognition, and steady work. Once you land that coveted contract, client relationship management will become a part ...
Continue Reading 3 Cost Savings of Direct Sourcing
By MBO Partners | | Direct Sourcing
Today’s workforce ecosystem is more diverse than ever before. Companies are increasingly shaping their workforce strategy around the expanding independent workforce, finding not only financial benefits, but also value in ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: October 28, 2019
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading What is Co-Employment and How to Avoid Co-Employment Risk
By MBO Partners | | Misclassification and Compliance
Co-employment is an important type of work arrangement for enterprises to understand as independent contractors become an increasingly integral part of the workforce. Companies need to be aware of independent ...
Continue Reading 4 Steps to Take in a Worker Classification Audit
By MBO Partners | | Misclassification and Compliance
Even if you’ve done everything you can to minimize the risk of a misclassification audit, you may find yourself with an IRS audit letter. So, now what? Because audits can ...
Continue Reading How to Evaluate the Right Independent Contractor Engagement Solution for Your Organization
By MBO Partners | | Workforce Management
Independent professionals are a steady economic force, bringing in-demand skills, staffing flexibility, and cost control to many enterprises worldwide. As more businesses incorporate independents as part of their full-time workforce, ...
Continue Reading Why and When to Partner With Other Consultants
By MBO Partners | | How to Manage a Small Business
As an independent professional, your job involves it all—from running errands and scheduling meetings to engaging with new clients and attending networking events. All of these responsibilities can quickly overshadow your work-life ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: October 21, 2019
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading 3 Tips for Presenting a Winning Business Proposal
By MBO Partners | | How to Grow a Small Business
One of the key roles for independent consultants is business development—and often the road to new business goes through the C-suite. Presenting proposals to a new client or to an executive ...
Continue Reading 5 Risks of Hiring Independent Contractors
By MBO Partners | | Misclassification and Compliance
By 2027, we predict that more than 40 million Americans will be independent, or will have worked independently. This growing trend of independent work is not only a valuable source ...
Continue Reading How to Create a Professional Profile for an Independent Consulting Job Marketplace
By MBO Partners | | How to Manage a Small Business
As an independent professional, growing your consulting business by securing new projects with top clients requires networking, marketing, and salesmanship. But here's some good news on that front: Today, you may not have to hustle ...
Continue Reading When Can I Classify a Worker as an Independent Contractor?
By MBO Partners | | Misclassification and Compliance
The modern workforce is composed of a variety of workers including full-time employees, temporary workers who may fill seasonal or short-term needs, and contingent workers such as freelancers, independent contractors, ...
Continue Reading What are Soft Skills and Why Are They Important?
By MBO Partners | | How to Manage a Small Business
Well-rounded, highly-developed soft skills can be invaluable to business success but what are they and why are they important? While soft skills can at times be more difficult to develop ...
Continue Reading How to Write a Great Consulting RFP
By MBO Partners | | Workforce Management
Requests for Proposal (RFP) and contracts are vital communication tools widely used to find and engage independent professionals. Often, these documents are created as standardized templates that have already been ...
Continue Reading 6 Rights of Independent Contractors
By MBO Partners | | How to Start a Small Business
As the independent workforce continues to increase in number, you may have noticed that worker misclassification is a frequent topic in the headlines—lawsuits involving Uber, FedEx, Grubhub, and Citigroup, just ...
Continue Reading What is an LLC: 5 Advantages to Forming an LLC Today
By MBO Partners | | How to Start a Small Business
When you first make the choice to become self-employed, there are a number of resulting decisions to work thorough. Some choices are easy and others are more complicated, but navigating ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: October 14, 2019
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading How Misclassification Impacts Independent Contractors and How to Avoid It
By MBO Partners | | Misclassification and Compliance
As the 41-million-strong independent workforce continues to grow, so does the issue of employee misclassification. The IRS estimates that millions of workers have been misclassified, and according to state-level studies, 10-20% of employers misclassify at ...
Continue Reading Best Business Books Consultants Should Read in 2019
By MBO Partners | | How to Grow a Small Business
One of the challenges of being an independent contractor is that you don't have an employer offering regular professional development opportunities. But that's okay, because you can be proactive in ...
Continue Reading SOW: What to Include in a Project Scope of Work
By MBO Partners | | Contracts and Finance
Being tasked with writing and delivering a Scope of Work (SOW) can at first seem like a daunting task. However, once you understand what goes into the various parts of ...
Continue Reading Building a Workforce Strategy that Includes Independent Talent
By MBO Partners | | Workforce Management
The ability to work independently has become a reality for a significant number of Americans in recent years. Today, 41 million people work independently as consultants, freelancers, contractors, solopreneurs, temporary, ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: October 7, 2019
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading 6 Ways to Manage Project Scope Creep
By MBO Partners | | How to Grow a Small Business
When requests for additions or changes to a project come up, saying ‘yes’ can be an automatic reaction. However, that extra work can quickly add up and lead your project ...
Continue Reading Calculating the ROI of Independent Professional Talent
By MBO Partners | | Workforce Management
An increasing number of companies today are relying on independent professional talent for their skilled expertise and on-demand availability. Independent professionals bring many benefits to the table including an effective ...
Continue Reading 1099 vs W2: What’s the Difference?
By MBO Partners | | Misclassification and Compliance
Technological innovations, the evolution of the employer relationship, and the rise of independent workers are just a few key elements contributing to the evolving workforce landscape. Today, human resources professionals, ...
Continue Reading How to Build a Budget for Independent Workforce Management
By MBO Partners | | Workforce Management
Independent professionals provide in-demand skill sets, specialized expertise, and valuable external perspectives, all while allowing enterprises to keep their set base of employees focused on their core business. But what ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: September 30, 2019
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading Independent Contractor Misclassification and Compliance News: September, 2019
By Nathan Gibson | | Misclassification and Compliance
As the independent workforce continues to grow, so do the issues of worker compliance and misclassification. It is important for enterprises to remain informed about the latest laws, regulations, and ...
Continue Reading 5 Ways to Find Top Independent Talent
By MBO Partners | | Workforce Management
Today, independent talent plays an important role in rounding out the workforce of many organizations. Independents offer numerous benefits such as helping companies minimize employment costs through staffing flexibility. Rather ...
Continue Reading How to Stay Competitive as an Independent Contractor
By MBO Partners | | How to Grow a Small Business
One of the most common fears as an independent contractor is the constant uncertainty of industry competition and how you are faring compared to other businesses. This is a legitimate ...
Continue Reading How to Become a Digital Nomad
By MBO Partners | | How to Start a Small Business
You've probably heard the term "digital nomad" tossed around in conversation, but what does it mean, exactly? A digital nomad is someone who embraces technology and location independence, traveling to ...
Continue Reading Three Trends Changing the Way We Work
By MBO Partners | | Independent Workforce Trends
Today’s work environment is an evolving landscape. The convergence of emerging technologies, changing worker preferences, and a strong economy and tight job market make it harder for companies to find ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: September 23, 2019
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading Minimizing Independent Contractor Engagement Risk: A Compliance Checklist
By MBO Partners | | Workforce Management
When engaging independent contractors, it is important to consider how your organization will comply with relevant laws, policies, and regulations. Engaging an independent contractor is different than hiring an employee ...
Continue Reading 5 Employee Misclassification Penalties to Avoid
By MBO Partners | | Misclassification and Compliance
Independent professionals provide organizations with access to high-quality talent, staffing flexibility, and cost savings, so it’s no surprise that the use of this talent pool has become more common in ...
Continue Reading How to Target Your Ideal Client
By MBO Partners | | How to Grow a Small Business
Landing new clients isn’t easy, but finding a new client who doesn’t quite match the type person you’re looking to work with can complicate business down the road and take ...
Continue Reading Four Things You Should Know About Compliance for the Independent Workforce
By MBO Partners | | Misclassification and Compliance
Independent workforce compliance is important for any business that currently uses or is considering using independent talent. In order to operate legally, companies must take steps to comply with relevant ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: September 16, 2019
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading Is Consulting Right for You? 9 Questions to Ask Yourself
By MBO Partners | | How to Start a Small Business
Why become an independent consultant? If you're considering going solo and becoming an independent consultant, you are not alone. But what is independent consulting and is it right for you? Independence resonates ...
Continue Reading 3 Ways Millennial Consultants are Driving the Independent Economy
By MBO Partners | | Workforce Management
There are a number of factors that contribute to the growing independent workforce—the 41 million adult Americans who work as freelancers, consultants, contractors, solopreneurs and more. For many, independence offers ...
Continue Reading How to Avoid a Tax Audit as a Self-Employed Professional
By MBO Partners | | Contracts and Finance
Independent professionals have additional tax responsibilities above and beyond those of conventional employees. With extra forms and numerous potential deductions, it can be easy to overlook small details or miscalculate. ...
Continue Reading Determining the Cost of Your Independent Contractor Engagement Program
By MBO Partners | | Workforce Management
Independent professionals help organizations realize a competitive advantage among their peers by providing access to specialized, in-demand talent, staffing flexibility, and better control over employment costs. In fact, in today’s ...
Continue Reading Scope of Work Template for Consulting Services
By MBO Partners | | Contracts and Finance
What is a Scope of Work (SOW)? A Scope of Work (SOW) is a formal document that captures and defines the tasks, activities, deliverables, and timeline an independent professional will execute ...
Continue Reading Direct Sourcing: Four Tips to Grow a Successful Program
By MBO Partners | | Direct Sourcing
Direct sourcing is a strategy many organizations today are incorporating to engage top independent talent without having to go through a third-party staffing agency or consulting firm. With direct sourcing, ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: September 9, 2019
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading 10 Strategies to Reduce Contractor Compliance Risk
By MBO Partners | | Misclassification and Compliance
As businesses move into the project economy, proper use of independent contractors is critical. If you suspect that your business may be using independent contractor engagement practices that heighten your risk ...
Continue Reading The Value of Mentors in Independent Consulting
By MBO Partners | | How to Manage a Small Business
Now a practice relegated to specific industries, apprenticeships were once the norm in the business and professional world. Internships, which have largely taken their place, are designed for the purpose ...
Continue Reading 5 Ways to Build a Strong Client-Contractor Relationship
By MBO Partners | | Workforce Management
Successful projects stem from communication, clarity, and honesty. These important qualities build respect, trust, and confidence between employers and employees, and the same principles can be applied to developing a ...
Continue Reading What to Expect from MBO at CWS
By MBO Partners | | Independent Workforce Trends
On September 10th, the MBO Partners team will travel to San Diego, CA for two workforce solutions events hosted by Staffing Industry Analysts: Contingent Workforce Strategies (CWS) Summit and Collaboration ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: September 3, 2019
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading Independent Contractor Misclassification and Compliance News: August, 2019
By Nathan Gibson | | Misclassification and Compliance
As the independent workforce continues to grow, so do the issues of worker compliance and misclassification. It is important for enterprises to remain informed about the latest laws, regulations, and ...
Continue Reading 6 Things to do When Business is Slow
By MBO Partners | | How to Grow a Small Business
As an independent professional, work can ebb and flow from month to month. One day you may be swamped with projects, meetings, or events, and the next you may not ...
Continue Reading 3 Business Benefits of a Contractor Compliance Program
By MBO Partners | | Misclassification and Compliance
Any business that uses independent contractor talent will benefit from a compliance program, which serves to minimize the company’s exposure to misclassification liability. By law, independent contractors represent a different ...
Continue Reading The Financial Well-Being of Independent Workers
By MBO Partners | | Independent Workforce Trends
Many people today are pursuing independent work—freelancing, self-employment, and independent contracting—to develop their careers, build businesses, or pursue what they are passionate about. There are certainly many benefits to working ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: August 26, 2019
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading How to Create a Business Plan for Your Small Business
By MBO Partners | | How to Start a Small Business
Creating a business plan is a key part of the extensive planning and preparation required to become a successful independent professional. According to our State of Independence research, the independent ...
Continue Reading Direct Sourcing: Four Benefits for Your Organization
By MBO Partners | | Direct Sourcing
Direct sourcing is a talent engagement strategy that allows companies to match highly-skilled candidates with open project opportunities using their own internal resources, bypassing the use of third-party staffing agencies ...
Continue Reading 3 Ways to Retain High-Quality Independent Consultants
By MBO Partners | | Workforce Management
Why Businesses Rely on Independent Consultants On-demand expertise, staffing flexibility, and better control over employment costs are just a few of the many benefits independent talent offer enterprises. Today, an ...
Continue Reading What Does Independent Contractor Compliance Mean?
By MBO Partners | | Misclassification and Compliance
In order to operate legally, businesses must take steps to comply with relevant laws, policies, and regulations. Compliance takes many forms, from preventing harassment and discrimination, to safeguarding sensitive data ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: August 19, 2019
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading Hiring Help for Your Small Business: 4 Ways to Know You’re Ready
By MBO Partners | | How to Grow a Small Business
When you set up shop as an independent consultant, you’re immediately faced with a number of questions. Will you be able to bring in enough clients to make a solid income? ...
Continue Reading Top 2 Challenges Independent Consultants Face
By MBO Partners | | Contracts and Finance, Self-Employed Benefits
Working as an independent consultant and being your own boss offer a number of benefits including setting your own hours, determining your specialties, and choosing your clients. However, independent consulting ...
Continue Reading The Difference Between an Independent Contractor, Employee and Temp
By MBO Partners | | Workforce Management
When it comes to filling talent needs, organizations today have many different options. Temporary employees can fill seasonal or short-term needs, full-time employees support core business functions, and independent contractors ...
Continue Reading 4 Engagement Strategies that Reduce Misclassification Risk
By MBO Partners | | Misclassification and Compliance
The Benefits of Engaging Independent Professionals As traditional employment changes and independent work becomes part of the normal career portfolio, organizations will look for ways to incorporate independent professional talent ...
Continue Reading How Much Does It Cost to Run a Small Business?
By MBO Partners | | How to Start a Small Business
The many administrative and support tasks that must be done to effectively run a business is a big part of every independent contractor’s job. Without an organized and well-managed back office, ...
Continue Reading Direct Sourcing: Incorporating a New Strategy for Talent Acquisition
By MBO Partners | | Direct Sourcing
In today’s tight labor market, businesses are having a difficult time finding skilled talent. There are more job openings that job seekers, and it has been hard for companies to ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: August 12, 2019
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading 6 Ways to Get More Consulting Clients
By MBO Partners | | How to Market a Small Business
Independent workers bear additional responsibility; they not only must perform their work, but find work as well. Winning new contracts takes more than luck and a good body of work. ...
Continue Reading Contractor vs Consultant: What’s the difference?
By MBO Partners | | How to Start a Small Business
There are 41 million self-employed Americans today working as consultants, freelancers, contractors and more. By 2024, we anticipate that this total number of independent workers will rise to more than ...
Continue Reading How to Turn Your Independent Workforce into a Competitive Advantage
By MBO Partners | | Workforce Management
As the independent workforce continues to grow, more organizations are realizing the vital part this pool of talent can play in their workforce strategies. According to recent research from Deloitte, ...
Continue Reading Four Tips to Secure Buy-In for Your Independent Contractor Program
By MBO Partners | | Workforce Management
Forward-thinking companies understand that incorporating independent professionals as part of their workforce is a strategy that can increase organizational agility and give them a leg up in today’s competitive market ...
Continue Reading Independent Professionals: Who They Are and What is Important to Them
By MBO Partners | | Workforce Management
The independent workforce is comprised of 41 million people who work as contractors, consultants, freelancers, entrepreneurs, and more. This fast-growing population includes all age ranges, genders, skill sets, and income levels, and ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: August 5, 2019
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading What to Include in a Project Scope of Work
By MBO Partners | | Contracts and Finance
What is a Scope of Work? Before starting a new project, independent professionals are often asked to prepare a Scope of Work (SOW) document that outlines the terms of their project and ...
Continue Reading How to Negotiate a Consultant Contract
By MBO Partners | | Contracts and Finance
In any business agreement, it is highly recommended to use a well-written contract. Contracts provide clarity, establish a relationship, and offer protection to all parties involved. For these reasons, many ...
Continue Reading 3 Things You Should Know About Classification Compliance
By MBO Partners | | Misclassification and Compliance
Independent work is now a viable career option for more people than ever before. At the same time, employers are facing low unemployment rate, which leads to a candidate-driven market ...
Continue Reading Independent Contractor Misclassification and Compliance News: July, 2019
By Nathan Gibson | | Misclassification and Compliance
As the independent workforce continues to grow, so do the issues of worker compliance and misclassification. It is important for enterprises to remain informed about the latest laws, regulations, and ...
Continue Reading 4 Steps to Hiring the Right Independent Professional
By MBO Partners | | Workforce Management
You need to find a savvy, highly-skilled independent professional who respects a strict budget and has the specific expertise you're looking for. Work needs to get done, and there’s no ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: July 29, 2019
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading How to Create a Reputation Management Strategy for a Small Business
By MBO Partners | | How to Market a Small Business
Why reputation is important Reputation matters. For the solo entrepreneur, this statement is more than a mere suggestion. It is a mantra that drives all that you do. The stakes ...
Continue Reading When is an Independent Contractor an Employee?
By MBO Partners | | Misclassification and Compliance
Organizations today have many different approaches to building their workforce. Traditionally, businesses relied on a base of full-time employees, perhaps supplemented by temporary workers to fill seasonal or short-term needs. ...
Continue Reading Independent Workforce Management: 5 Trends Impacting Workforce Strategies
By MBO Partners | | Workforce Management
The independent workforce is a valuable pool of talent, offering great benefits to businesses including in-demand skillsets, staffing flexibility, and access to knowledgeable experts without adding to company payroll. But ...
Continue Reading Contractor Engagement: 3 Strategies for Risk Management
By MBO Partners | | Misclassification and Compliance
Independent contractor compliance is important to be aware of whether your business is currently using or considering using independent talent. Properly managing independent contractors is quite different than maintaining a ...
Continue Reading How to Build a Million-Dollar Small Business: 4 Steps
By MBO Partners | | How to Start a Small Business
Whether your goals for pursuing self-employment are financial, lifestyle, or interest based, choosing to go independent means just that—you have the choice to build a business that allows you to ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: July 22, 2019
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading Direct Sourcing: How to Get Organizational Buy-In
By MBO Partners | | Direct Sourcing
Many enterprises today are talking about how to use direct sourcing as a way to find and engage contingent workers of all types. Direct sourcing allows managers to source talent ...
Continue Reading How to Successfully Manage Client Expectations: 4 Tips
By MBO Partners | | How to Manage a Small Business
When working with a new client or starting a new project, it can be dangerous to assume that everything is clear and that everyone is on the same page with ...
Continue Reading Should I Hire an Independent Contractor or Employee? 6 Questions to Ask
By MBO Partners | | Misclassification and Compliance
Organizations can realize many benefits from engaging independent contractors including significant financial savings, access to specialized skills and expertise, and staffing flexibility. Independent talent can be a great way to ...
Continue Reading Top 4 Reasons Companies Use Independent Professionals
By MBO Partners | | Workforce Management
Today’s workforce ecosystem is more diverse than ever before. Enterprises are building a more dynamic workforce with a mix of salaried employees and contract or freelance talent. And the contingent ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: July 15, 2019
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading 3 Ways to Mitigate Compliance Risk When Hiring Independent Contractors
By MBO Partners | | Misclassification and Compliance
The independent workforce is here to stay. More than 41 million Americans are currently working independently on a full- or part-time basis and we predict that by 2027, more than ...
Continue Reading 4 Tips for Successful Independent Contractor Management
By MBO Partners | | Workforce Management
Once you have identified and engaged an independent contractor, ensuring a successful working relationship is the next important step. Managing an independent professional is significantly different than supervising a workforce ...
Continue Reading How to Market Your Skills in a Job Marketplace
By MBO Partners | | How to Grow a Small Business
Today, many independent professionals use online marketplaces as a way to find work. Marketplaces enable a transaction between a client and a contractor directly online, allowing independents to highlight their ...
Continue Reading 3 Best Practices to Avoid and Prevent Independent Contractor Reclassification
By MBO Partners | | Misclassification and Compliance
As the workforce landscape continues to evolve, enterprise managers are increasingly called on to manage traditional on-site workers, remote workers, temporary workers, and independent contractors. Due to the wide variety ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: July 8, 2019
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading 10 Self-Employment Myths You Should Know
By MBO Partners | | How to Start a Small Business
Being your own boss, working when and where you like, and turning your passion into a career make self-employment appealing. But people are often hesitant to make the leap due ...
Continue Reading Four Ways to Minimize Worker Misclassification
By MBO Partners | | Misclassification and Compliance
Worker misclassification is an inherent risk when engaging independent contractors. Businesses today must decide how to handle differing worker classification laws from federal, state, and local government agencies. Because laws ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: July 1, 2019
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading Independent Contractor Misclassification and Compliance News: June, 2019
By Nathan Gibson | | Misclassification and Compliance
As the independent workforce continues to grow, so do the issues of worker compliance and misclassification. It is important for enterprises to remain informed about the latest laws, regulations, and ...
Continue Reading Why the Risk of Misclassification Can’t Be Ignored
By MBO Partners | | Misclassification and Compliance
As the 41-million-strong independent workforce continues to grow, so does the issue of employee misclassification. The IRS estimates that millions of workers have been misclassified, and according to state-level studies, 10-20% of employers misclassify ...
Continue Reading 8 Ways to Simplify How You Engage Independent Contractors
By MBO Partners | | Workforce Management
Independent contractor engagement doesn’t have to be complicated. Yes, navigating the risk of misclassification can be daunting, but as the use of independent talent becomes more mainstream, so has the ...
Continue Reading How to Manage Work Overload as an Independent Contractor
By MBO Partners | | How to Manage a Small Business
Clients are a crucial part of your business success as an independent professional. Without clients, you would have no work, and therefore no income. Sounds like you should work with ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: June 24, 2019
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading 3 Key Steps to Take Before Starting a Consulting Business
By MBO Partners | | How to Start a Small Business
More than ever before, the ability to be self-employed is on a lot of people’s minds. Independent work is or has been a part of nearly 48% of American's careers, ...
Continue Reading How to Create a Centralized Engagement Program for Independent Professionals: Best Practices
By MBO Partners | | Direct Sourcing
What Does a Centralized Engagement Program Include? As the demand for independent talent grows, many organizations are using their own resources to directly source top independent professionals without engaging third-party ...
Continue Reading 5 Reasons to Hire Independent Contractors
By MBO Partners | | Workforce Management
There are more than 41 million independent workers in America today. This growing workforce has increasingly become a vital source of talent for businesses. The shift to a project-based economy, ...
Continue Reading The Independent Workforce is Confident, Stable, and Tech-Savvy: A Look Into the 9th Annual State of Independence in America Report
By MBO Partners | | Independent Workforce Trends
Today’s independent workforce is strong and confident, finds MBO Partners’ 9th annual State of Independence in America Report, the longest-running, comprehensive look at the independent workforce. Independents—the 41 million adult ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: June 17, 2019
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading What is a Talent Network and How do I Build One?
By Dustin Talley | | Direct Sourcing
As demand for independent professional talent grows, companies are increasingly turning to online marketplaces as a way to directly access talent. Independent talent themselves are also utilizing these platforms, with ...
Continue Reading 4 Proven Ways to Avoid Burnout and Stay Motivated at Work
By MBO Partners | | How to Manage a Small Business
It’s a feeling most working adults have experienced at some point in their lives: the career that was once exciting and invigorating has become a source of exhaustion, apathy, or ...
Continue Reading 3 Best Practices to Follow When Engaging Independent Professionals
By MBO Partners | | Workforce Management
Why Should You Engage Independent Professionals? More than ever before organizations are turning to independent contractors as valuable talent to supplement their workforce and achieve business objectives. More than 41 ...
Continue Reading What is Worker Misclassification?
By MBO Partners | | Misclassification and Compliance
As more companies begin to incorporate independent professional talent into their workforce, more high-profile lawsuits have been in the news—throwing the issue of worker misclassification into the spotlight. But what ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: June 10, 2019
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading 10 Tips for Increasing Adoption of Contingent Workforce Management Policies
By MBO Partners | | Workforce Management
Independent professionals are a valuable resource to many organizations. This component of your total workforce can bring in much-needed expertise, best practices, and delivery capabilities. However, that value can be ...
Continue Reading When to Create an Independent Contractor Compliance Program
By MBO Partners | | Misclassification and Compliance
Organizations are increasingly recognizing the competitive advantage, reduced cost, and unique skills on-demand talent bring to the market. Independent professionals are an economic force that will continue to grow and ...
Continue Reading How to Define Your Expertise and Communicate Your Value
By MBO Partners | | How to Market a Small Business
When first starting out as an independent professional, you may have taken a broad approach to creating your business plan, tried to cover a wide range of services, or revised ...
Continue Reading What is Direct Sourcing and Its Benefits?
By MBO Partners | | Direct Sourcing
The modern workforce is an evolving landscape that is moving away from the conventional 9-to-5 employee model and towards more agile, project-based talent strategy. “The traditional employer-employee relationship is being ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: June 3, 2019
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading Independent Contractor Misclassification and Compliance News: May, 2019
By Nathan Gibson | | Misclassification and Compliance
As the independent workforce continues to grow, so do the issues of worker compliance and misclassification. It is important for enterprises to remain informed about the latest laws, regulations, and ...
Continue Reading Building the A-List: What to Think About When Re-Engaging Independent Contractors
By Bunker | | Workforce Management
Have you ever worker with an independent professional that you wished you could hire on the spot and have around full-time? It’s a blessing and a curse when truly exceptional ...
Continue Reading 5 Ways to Use Client Testimonials in Marketing Your Business
By MBO Partners | | How to Manage a Small Business
Client referrals and recommendations are a great marketing tool for independent professionals. Testimonials give your business credibility and are particularly helpful for prospective clients who may be considering your services. ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: May 28, 2019
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading How to Write an Independent Contractor Agreement: 7 Terms to Include
By MBO Partners | | Contracts and Finance
Contracts are a must in any business relationship, but they’re particularly important for independent contractors to provide: legal protection, establish roles and responsibilities, and outline services to be performed The content ...
Continue Reading 4 Self-Employed Tax Advantages
By Taxfyle | | Contracts and Finance
Being self-employed may not always be simple, but it definitely has its rewards. Doing what you love and having the flexibility that comes with being your own boss can certainly ...
Continue Reading 3 Ways Employee Misclassification Can Impact Your Business
By MBO Partners | | Misclassification and Compliance
As more companies begin to integrate independent professional talent into their fulltime workforce, the risk of worker misclassification increases. Whether your business has been engaging independent contractors for years or ...
Continue Reading 5 Benefits of Contractor Management Outsourcing
By MBO Partners | | Workforce Management
As today’s workforce continues to move away from traditional employment and towards an independent contracting model, your company is likely to tap into this valuable talent resource soon—if it hasn’t ...
Continue Reading How to Be Your Own Boss
By MBO Partners | | How to Grow a Small Business
One of the biggest perks of becoming an independent professional is getting to be your own boss. While there are a lot of rewards that come with this power, being ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: May 20, 2019
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading 10 Skills You Need to Succeed as a Consultant
By MBO Partners | | How to Manage a Small Business
Keeping your skills and knowledge current is important to remain competitive as an independent professional. As the workforce landscape continues to evolve, your skills will need to do so as ...
Continue Reading How to Write a Consultant Job Description: 4 Tips
By MBO Partners | | Workforce Management
When looking for independent professional talent to incorporate into your workforce, there are many factors to consider. If you are engaging independent contractors for the first time, you may be ...
Continue Reading Five Reasons to Outsource Independent Workforce Management
By MBO Partners | | Workforce Management
The talent management landscape is changing. More and more companies today are turning to flexible workforce models, incorporating independent professional talent to supplement their full-time workforce with specialized skills and ...
Continue Reading 4 Ways Companies Can Attract Top Independent Professionals & Become a Client of Choice
By MBO Partners | | Workforce Management
Today more than ever, businesses must compete in a War for Talent that is not just about finding and retaining full-time employees, but also involves engaging and re-engaging top independent ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: May 13, 2019
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading Top 7 Self Employed Jobs that Pay Well
By MBO Partners | | How to Start a Small Business
If you are contemplating a move to self-employment but aren’t sure if your work experience is suited to an independent career, taking a look at high-demand jobs within your industry can help ...
Continue Reading Time Management Strategies for Independent Contractors
By MBO Partners | | How to Manage a Small Business
Some of the biggest perks of independent work are freedom from corporate nine-to-five days and the ability to create your own schedule. Without a set routine, however, time management can ...
Continue Reading 5 Effective Strategies to Attract the Best Talent
By MBO Partners | | Workforce Management
In today’s project-based economy, the independent workforce is a growing and vital source of talent. Independent contractors provide access to in-demand skills without adding to company payroll, they offer staffing ...
Continue Reading How Technology is Changing Workforce Management and Increasing the Use of Independent Contractors
By MBO Partners | | Workforce Management
Why More Companies are Using Independent Workers There have been dramatic changes in the workforce landscape since the Great Recession ended in 2009. In order to embrace the new normal ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: May 6, 2019
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading How to Overcome Barriers to Implementing an Independent Workforce Engagement Program
By MBO Partners | | Workforce Management
Companies that engage independent professionals to incorporate needed skills, specialized expertise, and on-demand talent as part of their workforce strategy stand to greatly benefit from a centralized program that is ...
Continue Reading How Much Does it Cost to Start a Consulting Business?
By MBO Partners | | How to Start a Small Business
Whether you’re tired of a corporate work environment, eager to launch an innovative business venture, or simply ready to be your own boss, there are many attractive benefits to starting ...
Continue Reading Independent Contractor Misclassification and Compliance News: April, 2019
By Nathan Gibson | | Misclassification and Compliance
As the independent workforce continues to grow, so do the issues of worker compliance and misclassification. It is important for enterprises to remain informed about the latest laws, regulations, and ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: April 29, 2019
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading 5 Ways to Refresh Your Brand as an Independent Consultant
By MBO Partners | | How to Market a Small Business
Building a brand, standing out from your competition, and communicating a unique value proposition are all challenges of being an independent professional, but can be some of your biggest opportunities ...
Continue Reading 4 Steps to Reducing Compliance Risk
By Bunker | | Workforce Management
The modern workforce has seen a dramatic shift away from the salaried 9-5 employee, and towards a mosaic of independent contractors engaged by enterprises for specific projects. While the gig ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: April 22, 2019
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading 6 Tips for Building and Maintaining Client Relationships
By MBO Partners | | How to Manage a Small Business
It’s common for independent professionals to focus their resources on gaining new business. However, new projects don’t always mean new clients. Building and maintaining strong relationships with existing clients can ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: April 15, 2019
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading How to File Self-Employment Taxes: 5 Ways to Be Compliant
By MBO Partners | | Contracts and Finance
Life as an independent professional involves a different approach than that of a full-time employee, and the same can be said for independents come tax time. Since many independents receive ...
Continue Reading Business Insurance Requirements: Coverages, Exclusions, and Endorsements
By Bunker | | Contracts and Finance
If you’re an independent professional, you’ve likely gotten a contract that required business insurance. While the flexibility and autonomy of working independently are a large part of what draws so ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: April 8, 2019
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading How to Give Yourself a Performance Review
By MBO Partners | | How to Manage a Small Business
Many traditional employees associate the words “performance review” with dread or anxiety. This is because performance reviews are often time-consuming sessions where employees feel scrutinized or criticized. So, why should ...
Continue Reading 4 Ways to Build a Talent Network
By Dustin Talley | | Direct Sourcing
Before we dig in, let’s talk about quality, quantity, and size of your talent network. If you’ve ever posted an opening to a job board, then you’re aware of the ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: April 1, 2019
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading Independent Contractor Misclassification and Compliance News: March, 2019
By Nathan Gibson | | Misclassification and Compliance
As the independent workforce continues to grow, so do the issues of worker compliance and misclassification. It is important for enterprises to remain informed about the latest laws, regulations, and ...
Continue Reading The Difference Between Gross Income vs. Net Income
By MBO Partners | | Contracts and Finance
Understanding the difference between gross income and net income is important when it comes to evaluating your financial status on a personal level or how your business is doing if ...
Continue Reading 3 Challenges of Creating a Successful Workforce Management Program
By MBO Partners | | Misclassification and Compliance
Self-employment is not only a growing career choice for 42 million Americans, but companies on the whole are also increasingly recognizing the many benefits independent professionals provide and are incorporating ...
Continue Reading 6 Benefits to Creating a Direct Sourcing Strategy
By MBO Partners | | Direct Sourcing
Today, organizations have unprecedented access to a 42 million strong pool of independent professional talent. And that talent comes in more shapes and sizes than ever before—contractors, consultants, freelancers, side giggers, and ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: March 25, 2019
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: March 18, 2019
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading 4 Ways to Get Your Small Business Ready For Tax Season
By MBO Partners | | Contracts and Finance
Whether you go it alone, hire a tax preparation professional, or take advantage of MBO’s tax preparation and filing assistance, tax season doesn’t have to be a daunting day on your ...
Continue Reading 5 Tips for Leading an Effective Project Kickoff Meeting
By MBO Partners | | How to Grow a Small Business
The contracts are signed and the budget is approved. You’re now officially on board and it is time to get to work! Starting your project with a kickoff meeting is a great ...
Continue Reading 6 Steps to Successfully Build a Small Business Brand
By MBO Partners | | How to Market a Small Business
Why is branding important? Marketing is the engine that drives a steady flow of opportunities into an independent professional's project pipeline. It is essential for independents to create a strong ...
Continue Reading The Weekly Independent: March 11, 2019
By MBO Partners | | Weekly Independent
Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of ...
Continue Reading How to Create a Small Business Website: 5 Simple Steps
By McLean Robbins | | How to Market a Small Business
A website is not only a powerful markting tool for small business owners, it is essential in today's world in order to build your brand, establish credibility, and generate leads. ...
Continue Reading