As most small business owners know there is a difference between the average employee and true talent. The problem for small business owners is how to attract talent to their business, when so often large businesses are able to outbid and out-perk them, which gives them a decided advantage when it comes to attracting talent. However, there are ways that small business owners can overcome such obstacles and find truly talented applicants anxious to put their skills to work to make that small business successful.

Often, talented people are motivated by more than money. Money matters, of course, but for many of the best and brightest, they are seeking something more. As the Wall Street Journal pointed out in “How to Attract Talent to a Small Company,” the more personal atmosphere of a newer business may very well be more attractive to certain types of talented people. The anti- corporate sentiment that is on the rise throughout the nation can serve as a real advantage to a company.

A small business may not have the financial ability to offer more money or costly benefits to potential employees. However, flexibility in scheduling, such as the ability to telecommute part time, may mean a lot more to people. Get creative with what can be offered, such as a child care co-op or participation in an organic food buying cooperative. Think about the personal needs of the types of talent that you hope to attract to your organization and how they could be met.

Don’t automatically rule out potential employees with a record that demonstrates a bit of a rebellious spirit. They may be just the sort of forward thinking people a small business needs on staff. Diversity should be cultivated, not because employment law encourages it, but because that is the best way to develop a talented workforce and original thinking able to compete with the big boys.

Finding such talent can be difficult for a new business, but using tools like job recruitment software can help locate specialized, stand-out talent. Applicant tracking software can aid in achieving and maintaining a productive labor force balance, ensuring that the right talents come together to form the productive whole for a company.