From engaging with customers to help maintain a positive reputation, marketing is responsible for building relationships, growing your business and boosting sales. If you’re not making a strong investment in marketing your company, you neglect the opportunity to reach your business’s full potential. 

But when it comes time to hire marketing support, many business owners need help with the decision to hire a full-time marketing role or opt for a freelance position. While both positions have their benefits, they are also both costly investments to make in your marketing efforts. 

Here are some considerations when making the decision of whether to hire a freelance or full-time marketer. Plus, as an added bonus, we’ll give you a valuable tip on how to free up cash flow so you have more funds to invest in marketing. 

Why marketing is important for businesses

If you’re just starting out or haven’t yet ventured into the world of marketing, you might not realize how your business can benefit from consistent, high-quality marketing efforts. Consistent and regular marketing efforts can help you increase brand awareness and sales and gather information about your target customers to serve them better. As you consider increasing your marketing efforts, it can be helpful to differentiate between traditional and digital marketing efforts and how they play a role in your business. 

Traditional marketing includes anything that is non-digital, like direct mail, print advertisements, billboards or posters and events, to name a few. These tactics are crucial to connecting with your local customers, establishing credibility and improving your brand awareness. 

Digital marketing, on the other hand, can help you gather valuable insights into your customers and track your marketing’s effectiveness. Strategies like social media, blog posts, digital ads and search engine optimization allow you to target potential customers based on their online behavior, giving you a premium opportunity to introduce your brand to a new audience. Technology and AI has taken marketing to a whole new level. When ready, explore the crosswalks between digital marketing and things like omni-channel marketing. As you evaluate marketing options, consider long-term goals as ideally you can partner with a marketer that can get you where you want to go and beyond. The attitude of just hiring what you can afford at the time can be costly, especially with marketing. 

The secret to successful marketing is to tactfully combine traditional marketing efforts with digital marketing to both increase your brand awareness and better understand your target customer. When you start to invest in these strategies, you’ll notice your business grow, and you’ll increase engagement with customers. 

Pros and cons of hiring a full-time marketer

PROS

• Brand expert: When you hire a full-time marketer, you’re adding a person to your team that will be solely dedicated to your marketing efforts. They’ll learn your company’s voice and become an expert in your brand. 

• Consistency: The key to marketing is consistency. Having a full-time marketer gives you a consistent and stable person who can establish campaigns for days, weeks and months in advance. 

• Valuable resource for marketing verticals: Most marketers have skills across several marketing areas like social media, email marketing, event planning and more. By hiring a dedicated marketing team member, you’ll have one team member that can handle it all. 
  

CONS

• Full-time employees can be expensive: When you add a full-time employee to your team, you’ll likely have to offer benefits, provide equipment and offer a competitive salary. These costs are usually more than just hiring a freelance marketer. 

• You will have to manage an employee on a daily basis: Some business owners have no desire to manage an employee or train them.
• Finding a replacement can put you back at square one if they leave the company: While more stable than a freelancer, if your full-time marketer leaves the company, you’ll have to rehire and retrain a new employee, which can disrupt your ongoing marketing efforts. 

Pros and cons of hiring a freelance marketer

PROS

• More flexibility: If your business is more seasonal, or you don’t want to make the commitment to hiring a full-time marketer, a freelance marketer can help you fill the gaps on an as-needed basis.

• Less investment: Since you’ll only hire a freelance marketer for the work you need to complete, you’ll likely save money without offering benefits and equipment and can pay  by the hour or on retainer.
• Hire for a specific need vs. a generalist: Hiring a freelance marketer gives you the option to pick a specific skill or area you need help in, like social media or email marketing.

CONS

• You won’t get full-time dedicated support: A freelancer will only likely only work part-time or hourly for you, leaving you without full-time marketing support.

• There is usually a ramp-up period to get a freelancer or agency onboarded and familiar with your company: Freelancers won’t have the same knowledge of your company as an internal hire. You’ll need to familiarize them with your business.

• You will be sharing their time with other clients: Your freelance hire will likely be taking on other clients, which can limit the attention and focus they’re able to provide your business.
  

What to consider when making your decision

Adding marketing support to your team is a big decision! Before you choose between  a freelance marketer or a full-time marketing role, make sure you consider the following things:

#1. Budget

How much are you willing to spend to get marketing help? Both freelance and full-time marketing hires require an investment from your business, so it’s important to understand how much you have to spend before you start the hiring process. As you evaluate the budget, consider the projected return and future goals as you may have to shell out more than you want to get some momentum. Furthermore, you’ll want to pay the employee or freelancer a rate that makes them want to stay with you. Replacing an individual can cost time and money. 

#2. Marketing goals

What are you looking to achieve? Do you want to get more customers in your store? Or expand your customer database? Think about what type of goals you have set for your business and how marketing can help you get there. 

#3. Demand

A lot of business owners forget to ask themselves, “am I ready to grow my business?” If you grow too fast or at the wrong time, you could risk running out of inventory or failing to keep up with demand. Plus, with more money going toward marketing, cash flow may be tight. Inventory financing can help business owners have more cash to allocate toward marketing while allowing them to stock enough inventory. If you’re thinking of getting funding for your inventory, Kickfurther can help. Our funding platform allows business owners to be in control while accessing the funds they need with no immediate repayment. We can help you fund up to 100% of inventory, with no immediate repayments. Activate growth mode when you partner with Kickfurther. 

Tips for making your hire

Whether you decide to hire a full-time employee or opt to go the freelance route, you want to find someone that fits your team and your vision. The right hire can make all the difference, so ensure you spend the time interviewing and searching for the perfect fit.  Take time to review their previous work projects and understand how their skills translate to the goals you have. 

Closing thoughts

If you’re worried about how increased marketing will affect your business, Kickfurther can help ease your stress and put you in control with inventory funding. You can get funding for up to 100% of your inventory without taking on debt or giving up equity. Take advantage of our platform to get funding for inventory and free up cash flow to invest in marketing and operations to maximize growth potential.

Grants for small businesses can provide funding to help cover a variety of your businesses needs, such as equipment purchases, marketing, training, and expansion. However, grants can be competitive and not all businesses may be eligible to receive them. If you’re seeking information about how to get a small business grant, you’re in the right place. Grants can help small businesses grow, but more funding may be necessary for a business to maximize opportunity. In such cases, inventory financing can be a helpful alternative funding option. 

The bottom line for small businesses is critical, therefore, financing needs to be affordable to make sense. As you may know, financing options are not always designed for CPG small businesses. From strict requirements to high costs you may be wondering how to reach the next level as a small business owner. While grants can help, Kickfurther can too. At Kickfurther, you can access funding up to 100% of your inventory costs at flexible payment terms that YOU control. Plus, we’d never ask you to give up equity or take on debt in exchange for help. To our fellow entrepreneurs we see you and relate. At Kickfurther take advantage of the following benefits:

• No immediate repayments
• Non-dilutive
• Not a debt
• Upfront capital 

Consider the possibility of accessing a small business grant combined with funding for inventory – thus allowing you to free up cash flow for other activities. New business owners, keep reading to learn more about how to access grants and funding to grow your business.

What is a small business grant?

Grants are available for small businesses, and are generally offered exclusively for certain types of businesses. For example, a grant may be exclusive for small businesses in the sports, specifically baseball industry. Grants are offered by government agencies, non-profit organizations, and some private entities. In summary, they are a financial award that does not require repayment, separating it from a loan. Some grants may be funded as a lump sum for any business related activities while others may specify uses. 

Small business grants are usually competitive, and the application process may require detailed information about the business and its operations. Who can apply for grants can get pretty specific as well so make sure it’s worth your time before applying. Funding amounts can vary depending on the program, but typically ranges from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars.

Small business grants are intended to support the growth and development of small businesses, particularly those that are underrepresented or facing significant challenges. If you can qualify for a grant, it can be a valuable resource, but it’s likely not the only funding solution your business will need. Getting a grant can require patience, so breathe and enjoy the process. 

How small business grants work

Small business grants work by providing financial support to small businesses that meet certain criteria, such as being a certain size, belonging to a particular industry, or serving a specific community. The specific requirements and application process for small business grants can vary depending on the organization offering the grant.

Typically, a small business grant application will require detailed information about the business, its operations, and its financial needs. The application may also require the submission of a business plan or other documentation to demonstrate the feasibility and impact of the business.

Common uses of small business grants

Small business grants can be used for a variety of purposes depending on the specific requirements of the grant and the needs of the business. Here are some common uses of small business grants:

• Funding business operations: Small business grants can be used to cover general business expenses, such as rent, utilities, and payroll.
• Purchasing equipment: Grants can be used to purchase equipment or technology that is necessary for the business operations, such as machinery, computers, or software.
• Inventory or supplies: Small business grants can help finance the purchase of inventory or supplies needed to produce or sell products or services.
• Marketing and advertising: Grants can be used to finance marketing and advertising campaigns to promote the business, its products or services.
• Research and development: Small business grants can be used to fund research and development activities, such as new product or service development, market research, or prototyping.
• Hiring and training Employees: Grants can be used to fund employee training programs or to hire new employees to support business growth.
• Business expansion: Small business grants can help finance expansion efforts, such as opening a new location or expanding the current space.

It’s important to note that the specific use of small business grants can depend on the requirements and restrictions of the grant program. Before applying for a grant, business owners should carefully review the guidelines and ensure that they can meet the eligibility criteria and use the funding in accordance with the terms of the grant.

Types of government small business grants

There are various types of government small business grants available at the federal, state, and local levels, including:  

• Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grants: Funded by the federal government, these grants are designed to support small businesses in conducting research and development activities. As with most grants, businesses will need to meet the requirements, such as having fewer than 500 employees and conducting research in specific areas.
• Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program: Funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), these grants are exclusively available to businesses located in low-to-moderate income areas. These grants aim to help businesses succeed while helping communities grow. Business owners can use funds for a  range of business activities, such as real estate development, infrastructure improvements, and job creation.
• Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG) program: Funded by the Department of Agriculture (USDA), these grants are designed to support small businesses located in rural areas. Funds can be used to support a range of business operations.
• Economic Development Administration (EDA) grants: Funded by the federal government, these grants are designed to support economic development activities in distressed communities. Similar to CDBG grants, these grants aim to improve businesses and communities. Funds should be used for activities such as infrastructure improvements, workforce development, and business planning.
• Small Business Administration (SBA) grants: The SBA offers several grant programs for small businesses, including the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program and the Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Program. These programs have specific eligibility requirements and guidelines.

Types of corporate small business grants

Corporate small business grants are offered by private corporations and can vary widely in their focus areas and eligibility requirements. Here are some of the most common types of corporate small business grants:

• Small Business Grants for Women and Minorities
• Environmental and Sustainability Grants
• Community Development Grants
• Education and Workforce Development Grants:
• Innovation and Technology Grants
• Social Impact Grants
• Grants that support diversity in small business

Some grants may require applicants to meet certain diversity criteria in order to be considered for funding. In a world that embraces diversity, there are a number of grants that support diversity in small businesses, such as: 

• Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Grants: The MBDA offers grants to support minority-owned small businesses. These grants can be used for a range of activities, such as business development, marketing, and training.
• National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) Growth Grants: The NASE offers grants to support small businesses owned by women, minorities, and veterans. These grants can be used to support a range of business activities, such as marketing, hiring, and equipment purchases.
• Small Business Administration (SBA) Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs): SBDCs provide resources and support for small businesses, including those owned by women and minorities. They offer training, counseling, and access to funding opportunities.
• Business for All Grants: Business for All is a program that offers grants to small businesses owned by women, people of color, and members of the LGBTQ+ community. These grants can be used for a range of business activities, such as equipment purchases, marketing, and hiring.
• Rise of the Rest Grants: The Rise of the Rest Seed Fund offers grants to small businesses located in cities outside of traditional startup hubs. They aim to support businesses that are owned by women, minorities, and veterans.

How to qualify for a small business grant

Qualifying for a small business grant can vary depending on the specific grant program and the funding organization’s requirements. However, here are some general steps that may help you qualify for a small business grant: 

• Identify grant opportunities
• Determine eligibility
• Gather required documentation
• Create a strong grant proposal
• Submit your application

Competition for small business grants can be fierce, and not all applicants will be successful in receiving funding. As a business owner you should  also consider alternative funding options, such as small business inventory financing to support your immediate business needs. 

What to do when you can’t qualify for a grant

If your small business can’t qualify for a grant (or doesn’t have the time), there are other funding options you can explore. Here are some alternative funding options:

• Small business loans
• Crowdfunding
• Small business credit cards
• Angel investors and venture capitalists.
• Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs).
• Small business inventory financing

Each funding option has its own set pros and cons, and may not be suitable for every business. We encourage you to indulge in learning about all options available. The Kickfurther community has a series of blogs that can help educate small business owners on how to grow their business. 

Closing thoughts

Small business grants offer businesses funds that don’t need to be repaid. This is a dream for most business owners, and for some becomes a reality if selected for a grant. However, the reality is that grants can take time to apply for and more time to be selected for. Time is one of the most valuable resources for business owners so while you should explore small business grants, you may want to explore other options simultaneously. 

How Kickfurther can help

Offering inventory on consignment, Kickfurther can cover your largest expense – inventory. Kickfurther funds up to 100% of your inventory costs on flexible payment terms that you control. Kickfurther’s unique funding platform can fund your entire order(s) each time you need more inventory, so you can put your capital on hand to work growing your business without adding debt or giving up equity.

Interested in getting funded at Kickfurther? Here are 3 easy steps to get started:

#1. Create a free business account

#2. Complete the online application 

#3. Review a potential deal with one of our account reps & get funded in minutes