However, skilled labor can do a better looking job, much much faster and it may mean paying someone who knows what they are doing is worth it. Evaluate the skill levels and time availablility of members carefully when considering using members to do complex jobs. Before you hire any professionals you need to figure out what process you are going to use when dealing with them. Figure how the group will communicate with the professional. Be sure that you can cover the costs of professional services.
Nothing sours a professional relationship faster than an unpaid bill.
Most professionals will want a retainer fee and some sort contract for the remaining services. Be wary about hourly contracts or time and materials and closely evaluate any such contracts against flat fee based bids. Figure out exactly what you want a professional to help you with. A lot of work can be done ahead of time and then the professionals expertise can be used to evaluate and improve what you have started. For example, if you want to hire an attorney to draw up a membership share agreement, you can brainstorm much of what you want in this agreement and write up a sample, using a standard contract form.