Launching a startup with a remote team can keep costs down while providing access to top talent worldwide. Having run numerous startups and app teams over the last decade, we’ve experimented with remote work for quite a while. In this post, we’re sharing several benefits we’ve seen from taking the remote route and offering five reasons why going remote will benefit your startup.

Going Remote is More than a Trend

The benefits of working remotely for employees are obvious: the ability to work from anywhere, flexible hours, casual wardrobe, no commute, more time with family, etc. And recent surveys show that more professionals are exploring those benefits. At least one day a week, 70 percent of professionals work remotely, while 53 percent work outside the office for at least half of the week.

Many companies are also realizing the benefits of hiring remote workers — even full teams. In fact, the number of fully remote companies is growing around the globe. The all-remote club includes those like Mozilla, GitHub, Basecamp, Buffer — thriving, successful companies.

1. Larger Talent Pool

It’s a fact of business: good help can be hard to find. But when recruiting remote workers, the talent pool is literally endless. Instead of being limited to the skill sets of local candidates, startups can focus on finding the best, most talented person for the job no matter where they are. Job sites, referral networks, and social media sites like LinkedIn are free or inexpensive ways to find your ideal candidates.

2. Lower Turnover

Once your remote “dream team” has been assembled, you’ll find that they’re less likely to leave. Owl Labs’ State of Remote Work found that companies that support remote work have 25 percent lower turnover than companies that don’t. They also found that most people surveyed who switched to remote positions have no interest in returning to a typical 9-5 desk job.

This trend could be due to the unique characteristics inherent in remote positions. For remote working relationships to be successful, they must include:

• Autonomy — Team members must be self-accountable.
• Trust — Everyone is working together toward a goal and knows that the rest of the team is doing the same.
• Flexibility — One of the major advantages of remote work is flexibility, including the ability to work whenever and wherever needed.
• Productivity — Task completion and results are the standards, not hours.

3. More Productive Employees

Autonomy, trust, flexibility, and productivity are also factors that increase employee satisfaction. Not only will happier employees be less likely to leave a position, but they also typically work harder while they’re there. Making meaningful contributions, being part of a team, and feeling appreciated all create a sense of accomplishment that will, in turn, fuel a greater commitment to the company’s success.

Remote workers have to be organized and self-motivated to be successful, and they’ll bring those skills to any task. In addition, 90% of remote workers say they’re more productive and focused working outside a typical office setup.

4. Around the World and Around the Clock

One of the biggest benefits we’ve seen from having workers around the globe is more productive work hours. While we’re sleeping, project work is happening. When we get to work in the morning, we have deliverables in our inbox that we can then respond to. Meetings are coordinated during the time we’re all in our respective offices.

Companies that have team members in different time zones can also offer more “open” hours to their clients. It’s possible to monitor and respond to more questions, issues, and to support customers when they need it, not just from “9-5 EST”.

Additionally, a diverse team can relate to diverse customers and help the business grow. Global teams will bring in experience with different cultures, languages, events, and viewpoints. Because of this, the business can relate to customers with an understanding of their unique circumstances and meet them where they are in the buyer’s journey.

5. Lower Costs

Hiring on-location can be expensive. If the candidate isn’t local, you may have travel, meals, and lodging costs as part of the interview and hiring process. And don’t forget moving packages or other incentives to entice your ideal candidate. On the other hand, hiring remote employees can happen completely online.

Remote hires also happen about 33 percent faster than traditional methods. And once hired, remote workers won’t require expensive office space or equipment rentals.

Keeping in touch with remote teams is easier and less expensive than ever. Free and low-cost messaging, video, project management, and file sharing apps are everywhere, and the options keep growing. You can share calendars, schedule meetings, collaborate on files, and manage multiple projects without ever being in the same room — or even the same country!

Benefits for Sustainable Growth

Remote work is a win-win for both employees and employers. The benefits that come from going remote give your startup an edge that will help you grow the business in a sustainable way.

Want to learn how we help startups grow their companies with apps and software? Get in touch!