--- title: Get an estimate before staffing description: Get an estimate for your professional services needs before staffing. image: https://blog.sourcepanel.com/hubfs/profservneed2.png --- - [503-894-6700](tel:1-503-894-6700) - [info@sourcepanel.com](mailto:info@sourcepanel.com) - [Sign Up](https://my.sourcepanel.com/spauth/register) - [Login](https://my.sourcepanel.com/spauth/login) - [Become a Provider](http://www.sourcepanel.com/provider-application) [![On-Demand IT Projects](https://blog.sourcepanel.com/hubfs/Sourcepanel_Oct2016/Images/logo-color.png)](http://www.sourcepanel.com) - [Home](http://www.sourcepanel.com/) - [How it Works](http://www.sourcepanel.com/how-it-works) - [Pricing](http://www.sourcepanel.com/pricing) - [Areas of Expertise](http://www.sourcepanel.com/areas-of-expertise) - [About](http://www.sourcepanel.com/about) - [Contact](http://www.sourcepanel.com/contact) - [Blog](https://blog.sourcepanel.com) # Latest news about SourcePanel VPMS and Vendor Management practices # Get an estimate before staffing Posted by [John Robb](https://blog.sourcepanel.com/author/john-robb) on Jan 17, 2017 2:15:40 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) --- **A better way to handle professional services needs** For decades, the contingent staffing industry has thrived on businesses’ inability to use remote workers.  This is changing due to the tremendous technology advances in workflow automation, task management, and online collaboration.  On-site and remote workers are now working together with minimal friction, with systems-based collaboration driving improved project efficiency and results. Contingent staffing firms have responded by creating customer interfaces which make requesting a resource easier, and by using tools to improve their recruitment initiatives, but the industry is still based largely on the following model: 1) Tell us what you think you need 2) We’ll find you someone who does that (for a  premium) 3) You agree to pay this person for a period of time (the contract) One thing these staffing firms do not do is provide you with an estimate to accomplish your goals.  This leaves the your company responsible for all costs associated with project downtime and mistakes, and there is no real financial incentive for the contractor to complete the project quickly.  To avoid this scenario and help your company capitalize on advances in technology,  ***turn your professional services needs into defined projects** **and get estimates:*** **![profservneed3.png](https://blog.sourcepanel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/profservneed3.png?width=765&name=profservneed3.png)** Look for online project outsourcing firms like SourcePanel, which combine resource recruitment and vetting, free project estimates, project management automation, and collaboration technology. By using a platform like SourcePanel for your professional services need, you end up with one of two results: - You run your project on the platform and it is completed faster at a lower cost with less risk.                or - Your project requirements become more defined, which ensures more contractor accountability in your staffing engagements. Unless you have absolute on-site requirements, why not take advantage of these new, technology-enabled work platforms before posting a contract position? Speaking to a subject matter expert and receiving an estimate bears little risk and offers a huge upside. Schedule a meeting with SourcePanel for a personalized tour: [![Schedule a Meeting](https://hubspot-no-cache-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/2548494/046a1d80-5354-4369-be7d-94507db4067d.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/2548494/046a1d80-5354-4369-be7d-94507db4067d) By John Robb, CEO, SourcePanel.com jrobb@sourcepanel.com ---   Topics: [Project Outsourcing vs. Contingent Staffing](https://blog.sourcepanel.com/topic/project-outsourcing-vs-contingent-staffing) ### Subscribe to SourcePanel updates ## SourcePanel VPMS **SourcePanel’s “VPMS” (Vendor Project Management System) is the first all-in-one vendor management software that combines traditional vendor management tools with project collaboration software.**   ### Recent Posts ### Posts by Topic - [Project Outsourcing vs. Contingent Staffing (1)](https://blog.sourcepanel.com/topic/project-outsourcing-vs-contingent-staffing) # Ready to Sign Up? 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