Why Freelance PMP®s Are Game Changers

Your to-do list is growing faster than you can keep up. Maybe your team’s getting bogged down by shifting priorities, new tools, and increasing demands. Hiring will increase your burn rate. Slowing things down might save some cash (and temporarily manage the chaos), but it could also stall your momentum just when you need to be pushing ahead.

If this sounds familiar, it’s definitely time to bring in a project manager. But before committing to a full-time hire, there’s another option worth considering — outsourcing to a freelance PMP® (Project Management Professional).

Project managers play a strategic leadership role, especially for growing companies that need high-performing teams. As the business landscape continues to evolve post-pandemic, more companies are turning to tactical project management to drive growth. According to PMI’s 2021 Talent Gap: Ten-Year Employment Trends, Costs, and Global Implications, the global economy will need 25 million new project professionals by 2030.

With project managers in such high demand, it’s easy to see why their expertise is so valuable. Case studies consistently show that a PMP® (certified Project Management Professional) can significantly boost project efficiency and outcomes. Yet for startups running lean, the cost-benefit equation can seem daunting.

Rather than viewing project management as an all-or-nothing decision, consider the advantages of a freelance (or fractional) PMP®. Here are seven reasons why outsourcing project management to a freelance PMP® is often a better choice than hiring a full-time project manager.

Not entirely sold on hiring a project manager full-time? Bringing on a freelance PMP® gives you the freedom to test the waters without jumping in headfirst. For instance, maybe you have a standout team member who is a potential fit for a project management role. A freelance PMP® can help set up a best practice guide and mentor that individual to evaluate whether they have the right skills for the job. If the match isn’t quite right, you can easily pivot to another solution without the costs and hassle of an in-house hire.

Start by hiring a freelancer for a specific project or a short-term engagement. It could be anything from developing an RFP to creating a client onboarding process to managing an R&D proof of concept project. If it doesn’t work out, you can simply adjust your approach without dealing with the headaches of hiring and offboarding a full-time employee. It’s a low-risk opportunity to get a taste of what it’s like to work with a professional project manager.

When you’re running lean, there aren’t always enough resources (i.e., team members) to go around. A freelance PMP® can step in to help with the parts of your projects that are most critical. That could be developing a detailed project plan for a new initiative or conducting a thorough gap analysis around why a product isn’t achieving market adoption. Or maybe you’re having trouble keeping the team on track. It’s a common challenge. Use a freelancer to facilitate weekly or bi-weekly progress meetings to improve team accountability, focus, and productivity.

Think of a freelance project manager as an extra pair of hands (and a sharp mind) that can help pull all the pieces together. They’re experts at seeing the big picture while also focusing on the details that matter. They can work closely with you to establish project timelines, coordinate resources, and ensure everything stays on track. And with this kind of targeted assistance, you can make significant progress without hiring someone full-time.

One of the biggest barriers to team productivity is often the hidden culture of office politics. Internal power dynamics and competing priorities can easily derail a project. A freelance PMP®, on the other hand, brings an outsider’s perspective, helping to neutralize tensions and keep everyone focused on the end goal.

Since freelance project managers aren’t part of the everyday office environment, they can assign tasks objectively, set clear expectations, and foster accountability without getting caught up in internal politics. Their goal is not to advance within your organization. It’s to help grow your team’s functionality and deliver a successful project. That’s it. This neutral stance has a big impact on improving team morale and collaboration, which ultimately leads to better results.

Let’s talk numbers. When you hire in-house, you’re not just paying a salary. You’re also covering costs like office space, equipment, and other office perks. Freelance PMP®s, however, typically work remotely. That means there’s no need for a designated workspace, extra computer, or ongoing expenses for onboarding a full-time employee.

With remote work now a proven alternative, especially post-pandemic, freelance project managers can seamlessly manage teams across different locations. This makes them a great fit for businesses that don’t have a physical office or have dispersed teams. By avoiding the additional overhead costs, you can keep your budget in check while still getting the high-quality project management support you need.

The freelance market is booming, and it’s not just for basic tasks anymore. According to the Freelance Forward: 2021 report, 59 million Americans freelanced in 2021, making up 36% of the U.S. workforce. And this trend isn’t slowing down, especially in industries that require higher skill levels and specialized expertise.

What does this mean for your business? More options and flexibility. Freelance project managers, especially PMP®s, bring a wide range of experiences from working with various companies, industries, and project types. This diversity of experience allows them to adapt quickly to new challenges and offer unique insights that a traditional hire might not bring to the table. Whether you need someone with a tech background, an expert in marketing projects, or a pro in product development, chances are there’s a freelance project manager who fits the bill.

As nearly any entrepreneur can tell you, in a startup or small business, team members often wear multiple hats. While many find this exciting, it can also lead to burnout and productivity bottlenecks. When everyone is spread too thin, projects suffer from recurring delays, miscommunication, and unclear priorities. A freelance project manager can step in to provide structure, keep the team aligned, and redistribute workloads in a way that makes sense.

Freelance PMP®s are skilled at assessing who’s doing what, identifying areas where tasks are duplicated, and reassigning responsibilities based on expertise and project priority. This kind of support not only alleviates pressure from overburdened team members but also ensures that everyone can focus on what they do best, leading to better project outcomes and a more motivated team.

Let’s be honest: hiring a full-time project manager, especially a well-qualified PMP®, can be expensive. According to O*NET OnLine, a career exploration tool backed by the U.S. Department of Labor, the median salary for a non-certified Project Management Specialist is $98,580 annually¹. For a certified project manager (PMP®), it’s an average of 20% more, at $118,280 — before factoring in benefits, taxes, and other employee costs. Adding all costs together can easily bump the total up to over $156,700.

Contrast that with a freelance PMP® who charges roughly $125 per hour² and works 10 hours (average) per week, and you’re looking at substantial savings—$8,060 per MONTH. With freelancers, you only pay for the hours worked, and there are no extra costs for benefits, equipment, or other overhead. The money you save (nearly $100,000 annually) extends your runway and allows you to apply those savings across additional priorities. For startups and small businesses working with limited budgets, these savings are not just appealing — they can be the difference between staying afloat and thriving.

Now, look at a fractional or freelance PMP®. A typical freelance PMP® might average 6-10 hours weekly at approximately $100/hour*. The average hourly rate of a freelancer may indeed be higher than a full-time employee. But remember, you’re not paying for 40 hours/week on an unlimited, ongoing basis. Nor are you paying for space and equipment for an extra employee. Nor are you paying benefits like vacation/sick time, health insurance, 401K, or taxes.

The benefits of hiring a freelance PMP® are hard to ignore. Flexibility, cost savings, and access to diverse talent are just a few reasons why it’s a smart choice for startups and small businesses. Trying it out is low risk and gives you the opportunity to see firsthand how a freelance project manager can help improve your operations without the commitment of a full-time hire.

If freelance project management works for you, it could even pave the way for adopting a similar approach for other roles within your organization. The key is to stay flexible and open to new ways of managing resources, projects, and growth. Because, in today’s fast-paced world, adaptability is the name of the game.