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What Is a Free Agent?


The latest trend in staffing is to hire a very special contractor, the free agent. This term refers to managers who, rather than staying with one company for their entire careers, lease out their management skills to clients such as your company. Typically,

a free agent's fee arrangement is a combination of cash and stock options. Most often, these managers have expertise in strategic planning, marketing planning, business development, and product development.

There are several advantages to working with free agents:

  • Because free agents are willing to take part of their compensation in stock options, your company can preserve its cash.
  • Your company can often get deep experience when it needs it most, which means that you don't have to wait and screen candidates to find the ideal employee.
  • Your company can "try before you buy." Many free agents will convert to full-time employees if they find the right match.

Free agents should not be confused with venture catalysts, managers who frequently provide both consulting and capital, or act as agents to help startup companies find investors.

In addition, make sure to read these articles:

  • How to Choose an IT Consultant
    • Hiring an IT consultant can be a daunting task. Here is how to ensure you end up with a trusted consultant who fits your project ......
  • Local company offers computer software
    • Aug. 16--Barrington Consulting Group Inc. is a company directing its energy toward enhancing the growth of existing businesses. BCG, an Aiken-based company, is offering products ......
  • CCG Catalyst Hires Tom Stoker as New Vice...
    • Industry veteran to tackle new business development, sales generation PHOENIX -- Phoenix-based CCG Catalyst, which provides strategic guidance for banks, credit unions, mortgage lenders and ......
  • Free Agents Suits Short Pump Mall
    • Free Agents Marketing has added Short Pump Town Center to its client roster, according to the shop. The Richmond, Va., agency said it would develop ......
  • The Engaging Leader.
    • Business leaders can learn a vital lesson from successful sports teams, including how to engage people, get their best performance and keep their loyalty. Employees ......
  • The POWER of Positive Pricing
    • What is positive pricing? Positive pricing is understanding your true costs and charges, pricing economics, and consumer psychology. It is setting some prices high and ......
  • ``Shifting Economy May Be Bad for Employees, But...
    • Business Editors DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 8, 2001 One of the trends in today's economy is an apparent paradox. While jobs are disappearing, work for highly skilled ......
  • Gartner Institute and Opus360 Sign FreeAgent.
    • Business Editors EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 18, 2000 Gartner Institute research to appear on leading Web site for independent IT workers seeking information on how ......
  • Retention Getter
    • Bruce Tulgan saw bad management first hand, and he didn't like it. After graduating from law school in 1992, Tulgan went to work at a ......
  • Opus360 and Hire.com Partner to Offer Clients...
    • Business & Technology Editors NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 22, 2000 Leaders in Free Agent and Full-Time e-Recruiting Announce Joint Sales & Marketing Relationship Opus360 Corporation (Nasdaq: ......
  • Power staffing 101.
    • IN A RECENT INFORMAL POLL, WE ASKED SEVERAL INTERNAL AUDIT EXECUTIVES TO SHARE THEIR MOST SUCCESSFUL STRATEGIES FOR FINDING AND RETAINING THE BEST WORKERS. TEN ......
  • Free-agent foofaraw
    • THE EDITOR'S PAGE * Pardon me for being a bit skeptical about many of the claims in Free Agent Nation (2001, Warner Books) by Daniel ......
  • Monster Talent Market Enhances...
    • Business/Technology Editors MAYNARD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 26, 2000 Monster.com, the leading global online careers site and flagship brand of the Interactive Division of TMP Worldwide (NASDAQ: ......
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