When you’re starting a new business, you don’t have the means to hire a team of developers or content writers. Thankfully, there are heaps of freelancers out there waiting for work. It’s just a matter of finding them.

When our co-founders were building Grasshopper, they sought out freelancers to create videos, illustrations, blog posts, and more. Despite the fact that we've been around for a while, we continue to hire freelancers all the time.

This puts me in a unique position. Not only do I write and manage this blog (hiring freelancers for it), but I also do freelance work myself from time to time. On top of that, I have my own small business that's hard to manage on my own. I know what it's like to be a small business owner looking to find an affordable photographer, and I also know what it's like to be a freelancer looking for that work.

It just seems right that I help entrepreneurs sort out where they can find the best freelancers, and what better way to do that than in a blog post!

Find The Freelancers You Need

I've divided this post into categories to make it easy to find the type of freelancer you're looking for:

• Hire Freelance Writers

• Find Freelance Designers

• Hire Freelance Developers

• Find All Types of Freelancers

• For Random Tasks

Find Freelance Writers

Contently (Our Top Pick)

What it is: If you’re looking to find freelance writers alongside a refined editorial process complete with editors, Contently is the platform for you. It can also be used as an editing platform if you’ve already got writers you like.

Hire freelance writers here if:

• You want prevetted writers that have proven their ability.

• You want a platform where you can edit and review a writer’s work.

• You have a decent budget and are willing to pay a premium. Contently’s writers are good, but they’re not cheap.

• You’re comfortable doing a little editing and proofing. Contently’s editorial team is expensive and, in my opinion, not worth the cost.

Don’t pick this if:

• You’re on a tight budget.

• You already have writers you like. Bringing them onto Contently’s platform will cost you more.

WriterAccess

What it is: Writer Access can easily hook you up with professional writers, complete with ratings. They also provide analytics and you only have to pay if you’re 100% satisfied.

Hire freelance writers here if:

• You want to see a writer’s bio, along with their face, and you’re invested in their industry experience.

• You want prevetted writers that have proven their ability.

• You need a lot of content written in a short amount of time.

• Your budget is tight and you can’t pay premium fees. Prices start with a $50 deposit + .$02 to $1.00 per word based on quality of writer selected.

Don’t pick this if:

• You want control and visibility. WriterAccess’ algorithm pigeon-holes writers based on their rating algorithm system. Sometimes writers get stuck.

• You want to communicate with the writer outside of WriterAccess’ limited interface. This is breaking one of WriterAccess’ big rules.

Problogger Job Board

What it is: ProBlogger is a site laden with info for freelance writers, so it's ripe with writers reading up on best practices and looking for jobs. The site is run by Darren Rowse, a guru for writers and bloggers. You can post a job for 30 days for $50.

Hire freelance writers here if:

• You're willing to wait for the right writer.

• You're looking for a 'set it and go' solution.

• You want a bunch of different writers to apply.

Don’t pick this if:

• You've got time to wade through different sites and different writers.

Find Freelance Designers

dribbble (Our Top Pick)

What it is: If you’re in need of a graphic designer or illustrator, dribbble is the place to go. The platform allows you to easily find talent based on the style you’re going for. You’re guaranteed to find good designers on dribbble as it is invite only. Check out what you get when you search for “modern animals.”

Find freelancers here if:

• You want to find the best designers out there.

• You're willing to pay a premium price.

• You're looking for a particular type of style.

Don’t pick this if:

• Your budget is tight.

• You don't want to spec out a project.

Behance

What it is: Behance is a platform for showing and discovering all sorts of creative works. You can search the platform’s Joblist and sort by individual fields, or post your own job. Our CEO turns to Behance to find the latest and most cutting-edge designs, dipping in to an international pool of talent (his favorites are the designers in Japan).

Find freelancers here if:

• You want to find the best designers out there, regardless of nationality and experience.

• You're willing to pay a premium price. You can post a single job on Behance for $199, which will last 60 days.

• You're looking for a particular type of style.

Don’t pick this if:

• Your budget is tight.

• You have no idea what you're looking for.

Forrst

What it is: Forrst is a designer’s enclave for inspiration and support. Top designers post their stuff for feedback and advice. Snag someone you like off the site.

Find freelancers here if:

• You want to find designers hanging out in their natural environment & build community.

• You're willing to dig around to make some long-lasting relationships.

• You're looking for top designers.

Don’t pick this if:

• You have a one-off project that you need done fast.

• You have a tight budget.

LogoBids

What it is: LogoBids allows you to crowdsource your logo. That is, you say what you want and how much you'll pay, and designers compete to create the best design. When you choose a logo, the designer who created it gets paid.

Find freelancers here if:

• You're on a super tight budget.

• You're at the beginning stages of building your company and just need a logo.

• You don't know what you want and would like to see a ton of options.

Don't pick this if:

• You want the best of the best.

• You want to build a long-term relationship with a freelancer.

Find Freelance Developers

Stack Exchange

What it is: StackExchange is part of a broader network called Stack Overflow. This is where the best developers 'hang out,' so to speak. It might take a little digging, but you can find the best of the best on StackExchange.

Find freelancers here if:

• You want the best of the best.

• You're looking for someone you can work with for a long time and are willing to build a relationship.

• You're willing to dive deep into the intricate world of the StackExchange community.

Don't pick this if:

• You want something done quickly and fast.

• You're on a tight budget.

Guru (Our Top Pick)

What it is: Guru allows you to post your projects, along with your budget, to help you streamline the process of finding a freelancer. The interface is intuitive and easy-to-use. There are tons of great developers on the site waiting for work. Guru is a budget option — you'll be able to find someone who's relatively inexpensive.

Find freelancers here if:

• You have a limited budget.

• You want an easy-to-use interface that helps you post the job terms.

• You want to find someone fast.

Don't pick this if:

• You're crunched for time.

• You want a beautiful interface. Guru is functional, but a little clunky.

Toptal

What it is: Toptal is a relatively newer freelance site that matches developers with clients for remote freelance work. Toptal prioritizes talent and only accepts the 3 percent of the developers who apply.

Find freelancers here if:

• You want to find a freelancer quickly, since Toptal’s process for placing developers with clients moves very fast.

• You are looking for high quality work and see things turning into a long-term project.

Don’t pick this if:

• You have a very small ask. Toptal only accepts the top 3% of developers, so it’s best for clients who need top talent for big projects.

• You're on a tight budget.

Find All Types of Freelancers

Coworks (Our Top Pick)

What it is: You can use Coworks to find freelancers for design, writing, photo, and web projects. Unlike many other freelancing sites, Coworks doesn’t charge commission. That means you can bring freelancers you already work with on to the site with no charge. Additionally, Coworks is relatively new, and the team will help you find exactly what you're looking for.

Find freelancers here if:

• You already have freelancers you like and just need a platform for managing them.

• You care about support — the CEO emailed me personally asking for my feedback and if he could help in any way.

Don’t pick this if:

• You want a vast array of freelancers. Because Coworks is relatively new, there aren't as many freelancers as on other sites.

Upwork

What it is: Upwork is the ultimate platform for finding all types of freelancers at all kinds of prices and they’ve recently merged with Elance. Put your funds into an Escrow to protect yourself from paying for so-so work. Like Craigslist, Upwork requires wading through the muck, but prices are reasonable and there’s a wide range of talent.

Find freelancers here if:

• You're looking for all types of freelancers and want to manage them all in one place.

• You need something done inexpensively and quickly.

Don’t pick this if:

• You're crunched for time and can't dedicate a few hours to sifting through the options.

• You want a longterm relationship with a freelancer.

LinkedIn

What it is: LinkedIn is the professional social media site, basically Facebook for businesspeople. The professional networking site is popular for a reason. Visit freelance groups, make searches, and see who your connections know.

Find freelancers here if:

• You're looking to see if your connections have any 'ins.'

• You're looking for someone with a particular skill that you haven't been able to find on other freelancing sites.

Don’t pick this if:

• You're looking for any kind of web development or technical work. Most web developers, for example, get hundreds of messages on LinkedIn.

For Random Tasks

Amazon Mechanical Turk

What it is: Get your tasks done easily and quickly with on-demand scalable work done by people. This is especially good for menial tasks such as compiling lists. For example, you can use Amazon Turk to compile people's addresses for a mailing list if you already have their names.

Find freelancers here if:

• Your budget is small. Amazon Mechanical Turk is inexpensive.

• You have a time consuming task.

• You don't have the human resources to get the task done.

Don’t pick this if:

• Everything has to be perfect. This is a quick and dirty tool-- you can't expect perfect results.

PeoplePerHour (Our Top Pick)

What it is: If you’re looking to complete a specific task—whether it be menial or sophisticated-- post it on PeoplePerHour. You can probably find someone to do it. Even though PeoplePerHour is best for random tasks, it can also be used to find illustrators and writers. I found Livia Tostado, the freelancer who created the images in this post, on PeoplePerHour.

Find freelancers here if:

• There's a particular task you need done.

• Your task is odd and unconventional.

• You don't think you can find someone on a regular freelancing site.

Don’t pick this if:

• You want to build a longterm relationship with a freelancer.

• You care about customer service. PeoplePerHour's is slow and insufficient.

Craigslist

What it is: Craiglist is an online classified system for everything — used furniture, jobs, childcare, and much more. It might take you a while, but many freelancers can be found on Craigslist at inexpensive prices. They're not always the best of the best, but you can find decent freelancers if you dig around.

Find freelancers here if:

• You have a small budget.

• You have tons of time.

• You want to see a wide array of options, including a few surprises.

• You don't think you can find someone on a regular freelancing site.

Don’t pick this if:

• You want to find the right person fast.

• You're afraid of scams.

Wrapping Things Up

There you have it-- a list of places to find freelancers. If none of these options suit you, check out Freelancer.com, Smashing Jobs, Demand Studios, or iFreelance.

Your Turn: Is your favorite place to find freelancers on this list? Any tips for other entrepreneurs who are on the freelance prowl? What did I miss?