Remote Staff vs Local Staff: What’s Better for Small Teams?
Thinking of Hiring? Here’s What to Consider
If you're a founder or nonprofit leader trying to grow with limited resources, you’re probably asking:
Should I hire someone locally, or can I build a remote team?
It’s a fair question. And with today’s tech, you’ve got more options than ever before. But choosing between a local hire and remote support isn’t just about location—it’s about flexibility, cost, and how fast you want to move.
Let’s break it down.
Cost Comparison: Local vs Remote
Hiring locally often means:
- Full-time salary (with benefits)
- Equipment, office space, utilities
- Taxes and compliance overhead
Remote staffing often means:
- Pay-as-you-go flexibility (hourly, part-time, project-based)
- No office expenses
- Access to global talent for a fraction of the cost
Bottom line: Remote staff cost significantly less without sacrificing quality—especially for admin, marketing, and support roles.
Time to Hire and Train
Hiring local usually involves:
- Weeks of job ads and interviews
- Onboarding in person
- Longer ramp-up time
Hiring remote through RSS?
- Pre-vetted, trained remote staff ready to plug in
- Faster onboarding with clear SOPs
- Get started in days, not weeks
Flexibility and Scalability
Remote teams give you:
- The ability to scale up/down based on workload
- Access to niche talent for specific projects
- Global time zone coverage if needed
With local hires:
- You’re locked into hours, salary, and contracts
- Scaling means more overhead, more management
If your business is in a growth or pivot phase, remote wins every time.
Culture and Communication
Worried about culture with a remote team?
Here’s the truth: Culture isn’t built by location. It’s built by intention.
Remote teams can be deeply connected with the right tools:
- Async communication (Slack, Loom)
- Weekly check-ins and wins
- Shared values and clear goals
Plus, remote talent is often more outcome-focused—they care about delivering, not just clocking in.
Which Roles Work Best Remotely?
Here are some roles we commonly place for clients:
- Executive Assistants
- Operations Support
- Social Media and Content
- Customer Support
- CRM and Admin
Unless the job physically requires being in your office (e.g., retail, front desk), it can usually be done remotely with the right setup.
RSS: Helping You Build the Right Team for Right Now
At RSS, we help small teams, nonprofits, and founders buy back their time without the overhead.
We don’t just connect you with a VA. We partner with you to:
- Identify your true staffing needs
- Match you with trained, aligned remote professionals
- Support the transition so you can focus on growing, not managing
Whether you’re hiring your first assistant or building out a lean support team, we’ve got you.
Ready to Scale Smart?
Don’t let hiring become a roadblock. Get remote talent that moves with your business.
