When you’re a U.S.-based startup trying to move fast, shipping product and hiring talent often go hand in hand. And for many founders, freelancers feel like the obvious solution: quick, flexible, and budget-friendly. But here’s the reality — what looks like a shortcut can end up costing you more in the long run.
At Nefter, we’ve worked with dozens of companies who came to us after struggling with freelancers. They didn’t need “help.” They needed committed engineers — the kind who stick around, think critically, and grow with the product.
Here’s why freelancers aren’t the answer for high-performing teams — and what to do instead.
First, freelancers lack long-term alignment. Most freelance developers are juggling multiple projects. Their priority is delivery, not depth. That might work for a one-off landing page, but not for core product development. When you’re building something real, you need someone who understands the product, the business goals, and the why behind every decision. Freelancers are rarely incentivized to think beyond the immediate task.
Second, there’s no ownership or accountability. Freelancers work for you, not with you. They don’t join standups. They don’t offer architecture suggestions. They aren’t around in three months when a bug resurfaces or a feature needs to be iterated. And when they move on (and they will), you’re left filling gaps — both in code and in context.
Third, it kills team velocity. Freelancers are unpredictable. They might disappear for a better gig, miss a deadline, or go radio silent mid-sprint. That lack of continuity breaks your product rhythm. Your team spends time onboarding, re-explaining, cleaning up — and eventually restarting the hiring process. You lose time, morale, and trust in your dev pipeline.
So what’s the alternative?
The answer isn’t going back to a long, expensive local hiring process. It’s nearshoring full-time developers in LATAM through a partner like Nefter. These are engineers who are fully committed to your product, work in your time zone, speak your language (literally and figuratively), and stick around.
At Nefter, we don’t just place engineers — we embed teammates. Every developer is technically vetted, English-proficient, and selected for culture fit. We handle contracts, payroll, and compliance so you can scale quickly without the friction of global hiring logistics.
Freelancers may feel fast, but they’re rarely the foundation for sustainable growth. If you’re serious about building — and scaling — your product, what you need is commitment, not just code.
Let us help you find an engineer who’s in it for the long haul. Book a call and meet candidates who are ready to join your team full-time.