5 Ways to Build a Successful Remote Company

If you want to build a remote business, you’re in good company. More and more businesses around the globe are going remote. They’re no longer the way of the future. They’re a reality of today. In 2016, almost half of employed Americans spent at least some time working remotely. With numbers like that, it’s easy to see why this trend is catching on.

There are a lot of perks of going remote with your company. You can skip the expensive office space, limited hiring options, and long commutes. Instead, you can recruit top talent from around the globe and work wherever you want. However, it’s not as easy as it sounds. Remote work is just that: work. You’ll need to learn new skills that aren’t always needed in a brick-and-mortar office space.

Are you ready to build a successful remote company? You’ll need to follow these 5 tips below. As much as we wish it would, our companies don’t run themselves. A remote business is no different.

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1. Choose the right remote employees.

First, you need the right team to work under you if you want your business to be a success. As we said, these businesses won’t run themselves. It’s easy to overlook the hiring process when you’re hiring remote workers, especially since you’re not meeting them in person. Depending on your communication strategy, you might not even have direct communication with these individuals on a daily basis which might lead you to make a rush decision.

Because you have such a large pool of remote candidates, you have the opportunity to choose top talent. Realize that quality candidates come from all corners of the globe, so try not to limit yourself to only those from your own country if you have the flexibility to recruit a variety of workers. Go through the same steps you would when hiring anyone in-person, including reviewing resumes, performing interviews, and conducting background checks. Pay particular attention to qualities that matter in remote work like motivation, self-starting, and responsible.

2. Determine your schedule.

Remote work doesn’t have to stick to the traditional 9-5 schedule we’re so used to. While you definitely can choose a traditional workweek if that makes sense for your business needs, don’t feel limited to this alone. Research suggests that employees work better when they’re free to work at times in which they’re most productive. For some, that might be early in the morning. For others, it might be a split day.

Use a tool like Humanity to keep track of your scheduling. Click here to learn more about keeping track of remote time. Your schedule doesn’t need to be set in stone. Consider trying a few different things to see what works best for you and your team.

3. Stay organized with communications.

When you’re managing projects remotely, a lot of things can get lost in translation. Communication doesn’t have to be complicated even if you’re not in the same physical space. Because you probably won’t need to Skype call or email over small things, consider using an organizational communication platform like Slack or Asana to keep track of daily tasks, deadlines, and small questions.

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4. Be clear with goal setting.

Your remote employees will rely on you for clear guidance. Your communication skills need to be top-notch here so there’s no confusion. Your employees might struggle more to stay on track when they’re working from their own corner of the globe, so that means you need to make it obvious what you need from them.

Be clear with your goals for individual remote workers. What are they helping you accomplish? What are your goals? Share your company vision and how they’re contributing to the success of the organization. These things bond everyone together as a digital team.

5. Practice strong business sense.

Finally, you’ll need to be a savvy entrepreneur to make your remote business a success. Like any business, you’ll need to invest both money and time to see growth. Read through this must-have guide for more ideas: How to Start a Business: A Complete Playbook.

Many new remote business owners make the mistake of thinking their remote business is different from other businesses. While it’s true you’ll have unique challenges and advantages, your daily operations will nonetheless be the same. In this competitive market today, you need to be smart with every step you take.

Are you ready to see your business succeed? Remote work is here to stay. Now’s the time to jump into the remote workplace with your own company. Not only do you have the best possible group of international candidates, but you have full flexibility. Make your first steps count with these tips above.