Most small businesses hire an employee for work that is really twenty tasks a month. Here is how to decide.
Freelancer (per task or retainer)
Pay for output, not hours; escrow protects you; scale up or down monthly. Weakness: needs a clear brief.
Agency
Strategy, a team, accountability — at a price. Right when marketing is a growth engine, not a chore.
Employee
Right when the work is daily and on-site; a real cost with statutory deductions, leave and management time.
The rule
Count the hours per month you would actually give the person. Under 40: tasks. 40–120: retainer freelancer. Over 120 and on-site: employee.
Examples
- Flyers, menus, social templates → task freelancer
- Bookkeeping → monthly retainer
- Front desk → employee (or an AI receptionist for after-hours)
- Website fixes → task freelancer; new site → developer on a plan
- Post a task — free quote
- Hire by skill — 30 skills with prices
- After-hours receptionist — from J$12,500/mo
Frequently asked
Is a freelancer reliable?
On Ezy Tasks they are rated and tiered on delivered work, and you pay on approval.
Do I need a contract?
The task brief and escrow act as one; retainers get a simple written scope.
What about a VA?
A retainer freelancer — the middle option.