Are you feeling overwhelmed by all of the things you need to do to keep your business running? Maybe it’s time to outsource some of those tasks! Outsourcing can be a great way to free up your time and focus on what you do best. But it can also be tricky – so here are some tips on how to get started.

What is outsourcing and how can it benefit small business owners?

Outsourcing is a process where companies hire third-party contractors to do work that is either not in their skill set or not something they want to do (or if you simply just don’t have time to do them!).

Many small business owners outsource work because it’s more cost-effective than hiring someone full-time and it allows them to focus on the tasks they are good at. Outsourcing can also be a great way to get access to specialized skills that your business may not have in-house. Because of this, outsourcing can be key to scaling smaller businesses to operate more effectively, therefore become more profitable without breaking the bank (win-win!).

Additionally, outsourcing can be as structured or as loosely managed as you want, giving you the freedom to manage workloads on the fly (hellooooo, making money while lounging on the beach!).

How do you determine which tasks to outsource vs. be kept in house?

There is really no hard and fast rule on this, it really depends on how your current workload looks like. Generally speaking, you ideally want to outsource tasks that:

• Aren’t your area of expertise.
• Are repetitive or time-consuming
• You don’t enjoy doing
• Are otherwise costly or require special training if it was to be done in-house
• Are overwhelming or hindering you from executing your CEO duties efficiently

Remember, the point of outsourcing is so that you can save your energy and time doing the things you are BEST at. You, as the CEO and owner of your small business is not replaceable, thus your priority should be delegating tasks that can be done by someone else so you can continue with your world domination plan 😉

How do you know when to outsource?

Some business owners are more resistant to outsourcing due to budget… and that’s okay! After all, your business, your money, right? However, if you are feeling a few of these signs below, it might be an indicator to consider outsourcing.

When you find yourself overwhelmed with work

… Enough to make you despise doing the menial tasks that are bothering you from growing your business sustainably. If you find that your plate is too full and stress starts mounting, consider outsourcing some of the smaller tasks like managing company emails or social media accounts. This way you also get to test the waters to see if outsourcing is the best way to move forward.

When you have more demand than your hands can handle

While this is certainly a great problem to have, your business cannot grow when you cannot handle increasing demand. A great and sustainable way to maintain growth is to start delegating tasks to your contractors or part-time assistants so you can onboard more clients (therefore making more moolah!). The best part? You don’t have to have a full-time employee. You can start small (say, outsource 5-10 hours a week) and scale your business from there.

When you realize bringing outside help actually saves you money

There are other specialists out there who can do certain tasks quicker than you simply because they are, well… specialists! Yes, you may pay them to do tasks that you otherwise do yourself, however, if you can get that specialist to do that particular job well and quick, it means that you can focus on doing what you do best, thus increasing your business’ efficiency (and I don’t have to tell you that increased efficiency = increased revenue).

Tips on choosing the right person to hire

So now you’ve decided that it’s indeed time to outsource (hooray!), here are a few tips to guide you to the right direction when it comes to vetting candidates until you find ‘the one’!

• Look for someone who has experience in the area you need help with
• Make sure you provide them with a clear and concise brief (understand that they can’t read your mind!)
• When possible, look for someone in your connection. Your network may have recommendations on who to work with based on their experience.
• Concretize structure, including workflows, communication, budget, etc.
• Make sure to conduct interviews with a few candidates before narrowing on one or two. If you are unsure of what questions to ask when it comes to hiring a designer for your business, you can check out our previous blog post here.

Outsourcing can be a great way to take your business to the next level. By determining which tasks to outsource and then finding the right person for the job, you can free up time and resources to focus on more important aspects of your business. When done correctly, outsourcing can be an extremely valuable tool that helps small businesses grow and succeed.

Need a helping hand for your brand? We’re just a click away!