Everyone knows the benefits of outsourcing as a small business. Still, to really get the maximum benefit of third-party services, you need to be careful about what you take on and what parts of your business you accept assistance with. While 37 %of small businesses outsource at least one piece of their business, 80% in a different survey say they plan to.
But the benefits of outsourcing correctly can be immense. As a small business, it’s unrealistic to think you can achieve everything yourself and get it all done. All you will achieve is pushing yourself one step closer to failure, especially if you lack the expertise and know-how in certain areas. Plus, having too much on your plate means your focus is taken away from where it needs to be, affecting the level of work you can take on and the quality of the output.
So how do you determine what to outsource for maximum impact?
What Aren’t You Good At
While you might like to think you are good at everything, the reality is you are likely underskilled or lacking knowledge in some of the more complex areas of business. Whether this is tax preparation, equipment maintenance, identifying viable leads, or keeping on top of cyber security, there are likely gaps in your knowledge.
There’s no shame in admitting this; in fact, it is better for your company to admit this to yourself, as this will give you a better idea of the type of services you need to consider when looking for partners to outsource to.
What Takes Up Too Much Time
Are you finding you are getting bogged down with repetitive tasks? If one task is eating into your working day or causing you to stay up late at night, it might be worth outsourcing this aspect. Data collection and extrapolation, chasing leads, accounting, and inputting data can all be time-consuming, so outsourcing these tasks will not only free you up more time during the day to focus on other areas but also give you a better work-life balance.
Does It Require Your Explicit Attention?
Lastly, you need to put your focus on areas you excel in to propel your company forward and make those all-important sales. This is time-consuming at best before you add other aspects of running your business into the mix. To narrow down what you should be outsourcing alongside the above-mentioned aspects, look at who does not need your explicit attention.
If it can be carried out by someone else without your input or sign-off, whether you work alone or have employees, then why not outsource? Sales might require your expert touch and guidance to bring the deal home, but marketing, for example, doesn’t need you to give it all of your attention. Whatever it is, if you don’t need to take care of it personally, then it is an excellent candidate to be outsourced.
Exactly what to outsource in your business is entirely down to you. However, paying attention to the services out there and what would benefit your business the most can put you in a better position to make the right choices to support what you do without missing a beat or letting things slide.
