Avoid Fixed-Bid Headaches: Why Contractors Are Your Go-To Simple Solution

When it comes to tackling big projects—whether it's launching new software or creating a company-wide training program—companies often face a tough decision: Should you go with a fixed-bid contract, hire a consulting service, or bring on a contractor? While all three options have their merits, there’s a solid case for why contractors offer the best balance of simplicity, flexibility, control, and—most importantly—lower risk.

And because we're all about keeping it light and fun🎉😁 around here, let's dive into why contractors, especially for technical writing and training development, are your best bet.

Flexibility: A Contractor’s Superpower

Contractors are the all-in-one solution, able to flex and adjust to different project needs. They’re flexible, adaptable, and you can engage them as needed. Unlike a fixed-bid contract or consulting service that may lock you into strict terms, payments, and timelines, a contractor gives you the freedom to scale up or down depending on how the project evolves.

Example: Imagine you’ve hired a technical writer to develop a user guide for your latest software product. The project evolves (because they always do!), and suddenly, new features are added that need documentation. If you're working with a contractor, no problem—you can extend their contract or adjust the scope without renegotiating an entire contract from scratch. With fixed-bid it's harder to ramp up or down as needed.

Risk Mitigation: Contractors Help You Stay Nimble

With fixed-bid contracts, you're committing to a set price upfront, often before you know the full scope of work (spoiler: the scope always changes). If things go sideways, you could find yourself stuck with unexpected delays, cost overruns, or even subpar work. Consulting services often operate similarly, charging large fees, and contracts can be padded with lots of overhead to help mitigate their risk.

Contractors, on the other hand, help you avoid these risks. Since contractors typically charge by the hour or on a per-project basis, you have more control over both the cost and quality of work. If something’s not working out, it’s much easier to make adjustments without the bureaucratic nightmare of renegotiating a large contract.

Example: In the world of training development, things can get complicated fast. Maybe the initial curriculum was perfect, but then management decides they want to incorporate a bunch of new interactive elements. A contractor can adjust to these changes and keep the project on track without needing to throw out the entire plan. On a fixed-bid contract, you might find yourself stuck trying to convince the vendor to take on those changes without ballooning costs.

Cost Control: Pay for What You Need (and Nothing More)

Hiring a consulting service can be like buying a luxury car with all the bells and whistles. Sure, you’ll get everything you need (and more), but you’ll also pay for the stuff you didn’t ask for. Fixed-bid contracts can be a little like this too—charging for "just in case" scenarios or padding to cover the unknowns.

Contractors, however, let you pay for exactly what you need—no more, no less. Want a technical writer to update your documentation? You can bring one in just for that, without having to pay for a full team or unnecessary extras. Want a training developer for a few months to help launch your new employee training? Done, without the extra fluff or padded expenditures.

Specialized Expertise: Contractors Are Experts in Their Field

One of the best parts of hiring a contractor is that you're usually bringing on a specialist. Consulting firms may spread their staff across multiple industries and skill sets, contractors tend to focus on specific areas and industries within technical writing or training development. That means you're getting someone who knows the field inside and out, with the expertise needed to hit the ground running.

Example: Need a technical writer who knows the ins and outs of documenting APIs? Contractors can specialize in this niche area, so they’ll be able to deliver exactly what you need without any hand-holding. Similarly, for training development, you can bring on someone who already has experience with the industry, tools and formats your company uses, making the entire process much smoother.

Quick to Start, Quick to Finish

While consulting services and fixed-bid contracts often require extensive negotiation, setup, and onboarding, contractors are much quicker to onboard and can dive right into the work, most often within a couple of days. Their streamlined approach saves valuable time, especially for time-sensitive projects.

Contractors Are the Low-Risk, High-Reward Choice When it comes down to it, contractors offer the best of all worlds: flexibility, control, cost-effectiveness, and specialized expertise. Fixed-bid contracts and consulting services have their place, but for technical writing and training development, a contractor allows you to move quickly, adapt easily, and mitigate risk.

Next time you're facing a big project, consider bringing in a contractor to help get the job done with fewer headaches—and fewer surprises. You’ll thank yourself later.

Ready to lower your project risk with specialized technical writers and training developers? Reach out to us at Writer Resource, where we can match you with the right contractor for your project!