Like any small business owner, when Phil launched as a freelance designer in 2018, he looked forward to watching his venture grow.
His dream? A full-service branding agency capable of delivering high-end concepts and websites to his clients around the world.
Achieving this transformation posed a real challenge for the founder… until he discovered remote staffing solutions.
And he’s not looked back. Until now.
Running a business as a solo graphic designer meant Phil’s primary focus was on day-to-day operations.
While he remained committed to growth, he recognized that making this a reality would only be possible if he could find the time to focus on making it happen.
He knew he needed someone experienced and capable enough of taking on some – if not most – of his client-facing work.
Hiring a new staff member in-house can be risky for businesses looking to scale up operations in a number of ways.
There are lots of considerations for founders to think about, such as:
With limited time and funds available, Phil quickly realised that – with an expected salary of up to 4K per month – he needed an alternative to hiring in the US.
The lower costs offered by remote staffing solutions appealed to Phil. Entrepreneurs choose this route for the following reasons:
Initially, he wanted to take on a graphic designer and a web designer. However, with so many aspects to consider – from finding the right candidate to complying with local rules and regulations, he knew he needed a knowledgeable partner to guide him.
In 2018, he discovered Quard Intel,a remote staffing specialist based in Lisbon, Portugal. While the business is located in the EU, many of Quard Intel’s clients can be found in the US.
With more than 20 years experience of the remote staffing space, Quard Intel knows how to assemble a high-performing team quickly – while keeping payroll expenses to a minimum.
Quard Intel, for example, do not wait for clients to tell them about what type of candidates they’re looking for. Instead, its clients benefit from a pool of pre-vetted, qualified candidates which are readily available.
Phil was impressed by the business’ groundbreaking capabilities that help entrepreneurs like him to:
The solution, which simultaneously cuts costs while boosting revenue, benefits from active team monitoring – ensuring employees are always striving for peak performance.
While Quard Intel staff closely monitor performance and productivity, clients also have an opportunity to view screenshots of their team workstations.
Quard Intel utilizes teams to track progress, identify bottlenecks and celebrate successes in real-time. Importantly, remote teams work for businesses during their actual opening hours – ensuring seamless operations.
Remote teams work solely for the business that created them – ensuring employers always benefit from instant and direct access without a gatekeeper.
Quard Intel is what’s known as a PEO, an organization that offers professional services and acts as the official employer for employees. Unlike a traditional employer-employee relationship,a PEO hires and leases back employees – allowing operators to manage day-to-day operations.
For many businesses, PEOs help businesses achieve substantial time, costs and resources by managing all of the activities that are part of setting up a remote workforce. Their management responsibilities include:
After learning more about Phil, his business, its goals and its challenges, Quard Intel’s remote staffing experts shared their recommendations.
Discussions with Phil led to his decision to employ one web designer remotely via Quard Intel in 2018.
As the business has grown, so has Phil’s reliance on Quard Intel to meet his remote staffing needs. In 2024, for example, Phil employed 12 remote staff members from Quard International. Positions include:
Since he began working with Quard Intel in 2018, Phil now has the time and focus necessary to keep his business moving forward. It’s generated a range of significant achievements for the business, including:
Access the top 5% of Web Designers & Developers. Slash traditional hiring costs in half, bring fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to your projects, and start delivering exceptional results for your clients.
No need for office space, utilities, or physical infrastructure.
Savings on office supplies, equipment, and maintenance.
Hire skilled professionals from anywhere in the world.
Find specialized skills that might be scarce locally.
No need for office space, utilities, or physical infrastructure
Savings on office supplies, equipment, and maintenance
Hire skilled professionals from anywhere in the world
Find specialized skills that might be scarce locally
Attract top talent by offering remote work options.
Remote workers often demonstrate increased focus and efficiency.
Quickly adjust workforce size based on business needs.
Operate without limitations of physical location.
Attract top talent by offering remote work options
Remote workers often demonstrate increased focus and efficiency
Quickly adjust workforce size based on business needs
Operate without limitations of physical location