When starting a small business, trying and doing everything yourself is tempting. After all, you want to save money wherever possible, and outsourcing tasks would add another layer of complexity (and expense) to your plate. But in reality, outsourcing can be a great way to save time and money in the long run. Here are three reasons why you should outsource when starting a small business.
You Don’t Have the Expertise In-house
Unless you have a lot of experience running a small business, chances are you don’t have all the expertise you need in-house. And that’s okay! Trying to do everything yourself is unrealistic and can lead to burnout. Outsourcing allows you to tap into the expertise of people who have been there and done that, saving you a lot of time (and headaches) in the long run. Here are the tasks that you can outsource that you may not be an expert on:
- Accounting and bookkeeping
- Marketing
- Website design and development
- Social media
- Customer service
Outsourcing these tasks to experts will free up your time so that you can focus on what you’re good at and enjoy doing. And as a bonus, it’ll also help improve the overall quality of your business.
It Can Save You Money
Outsourcing might seem like an expensive proposition at first, but it can save you money in the long run. When you outsource tasks like bookkeeping or website design, you can get them done more quickly and efficiently than if you were trying to do them yourself. In addition, outsourcing can help free up your time to focus on generating revenue for your business, which can ultimately help you save money down the line.
Offshore Outsourcing
One of your best options is outsourcing talents based in the Philippines. Virtual assistants from the Philippines are pocket-friendly to gain more daily hours. By outsourcing, those in management will have additional time to focus on crucial business matters that often get pushed to the side. If you’re unsure where to start looking for help, plenty of websites act as hirers for virtual assistants, freelancers, and independent contractors.
Salary Rate
Rates usually range from $2-$10/hour, with the average being $5/hour. The three most common types of payments are hourly, project-based, and retainer.
- Hourly: You’re only charged for the actual time worked. This is often used for tasks that need to be completed on an as-needed basis or for one-time projects.
- Project-based: This type of pay is based on the completion of a specific project. It’s often used for tasks with a definite start and end date, such as designing a website or creating a social media campaign.
- Retainer: This type of pay is based on a set number of monthly hours. It’s often used for tasks that need to be completed on an ongoing basis, such as customer service or social media management.
Sending payments is also made easy as many online payment methods are available. A money transfer to the Philippines could be done through wire transfers and online banking, making it more convenient and hassle-free for businesses.
You Don’t Have the Time
Let’s face it: running a small business is time-consuming. If you’re trying to do everything yourself, chances are you will not have much time left over for the things you enjoy doing. Outsourcing some tasks on your plate can free up some much-needed time so that you can focus on the things that matter most to you (and your business).
- Spending time with family and friends: Running a small business can be all-consuming, leaving little time for the people you care about. Outsourcing some of your tasks can help you make more time for the people who matter most to you.
- Working ON your business instead of IN your business: When you’re bogged down with running your business, it’s hard to find time to work on long-term projects to help your business grow. Outsourcing can help you free up some time to focus on strategic initiatives that will help your business reach new heights.
- Working on your product or service: When you’re just starting, it’s important to focus on perfecting your product or service. Outsourcing some other tasks can help you free up time to focus on making your product or service the best.
To Summarize
When starting a small business, it’s important to carefully consider where and how you want to allocate your resources. For many startup business owners, outsourcing can be a great way to save time and money in the long run. By tapping into the expertise of people who have been there and done that, outsourcing can help you avoid costly mistakes and free up your time so that you can focus on growing your business.