The Benefits of Outsourcing for Small Businesses | Do THIS First

The benefits of outsourcing for small businesses can be amazing. In fact, 37% of all small businesses are outsourcing at least one business process. As an entrepreneur or small business owner, you need to understand one thing: If you’re not freeing up your time, your business will never grow!

You’re not going to start outsourcing day 1 of your business operations. But you need to have a plan in mind for when you want to start. Having helped dozens of entrepreneurs free up their time and helped create multi-million-dollar businesses, this article will help you prepare and execute the outsourcing. 

The Secret of Scaling By Outsourcing

Outsourcing is all about turning yourself (the owner, the CEO) into a leader, as opposed to a doer faster than by hiring full time employees.  

Outsourcing is your fast track to scalability.  Imagine getting some of the “low value” tasks – those that are outside of your zone of genius, off your plate, freeing up your time for the strategic tasks or the things you love doing.

Outsourcing well can do that for you sooner than you think.  

While it’s not the same as hiring staff, it follows some of the same rules.  You need to find people who live your values, you can work well with and can think for themselves so you can truly take things off your plate.  

Important Books As You Scale Through Outsourcing

A must-read as you scale your business is Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell.  This book is a blueprint for building a scalable business through outsourcing.  

If you want to be successful at outsourcing, learning how to be a leader is vital.  I highly recommend you read the book Turn The Ship Around by L. David Marquet. It’s a quick read and he outlines how to become a leader. One shifts from being the genius that does everything to one who is a leader and pushes down accountability to other staff.

When to Start Outsourcing for Small Businesses?

Brad, a marketing consultant, asked himself this very question. He spent a few years building up his client list and doing some impressive work for some big name clients. But he slowly started dying inside.

Handling every sales call, collecting and sorting receipts, handling minor customer complaints. The list goes on. He needed help, but wasn’t ready to hire an employee.

The answer to the questions is; you should start outsourcing AS SOON as you can afford it.  Part time help in a couple key areas will free up time so you can get the next client, or build the next product, or … go on vacation.  

The 2 Non-Negotiables

There are two things we recommend every entrepreneur outsource as soon as possible.  

Outsourcing Accounting Services for Small Business

Start with accounting. If you find a bookkeeper who can handle your QuickBooks or whatever software you’re using, it will cost a couple of hundred dollars a month. Think about that. For a fraction of what you’d pay yourself in time and stress, you can have someone manage your books. 

We’re not talking CFO services; just a reliable person who is great at day-to-day accounting. This frees you up to focus on making those numbers grow instead of getting lost in them.

Personal Assistant Outsourcing Services

Next up, a personal assistant. Finding a good, proactive assistant can be a game-changer. Brad found an assistant that took menial tasks off his plate, like scheduling, emails, or even running business-related errands. 

Sure, it might feel weird at first handing off tasks, but think of it like this: They’re probably better at some of these things than you are. And let’s be real, you didn’t start your business to get bogged down with scheduling meetings or booking flights. Get an assistant, free up your time, and focus on the big picture.

It might be difficult to notice these benefits of outsourcing for small businesses right away, but within a few months, you’ll be blown away. The time you get back. Working on real business growth. More time with your family.

Outsource Marketing for Small Business

Marketing is another beast that can be tamed through outsourcing. Let’s break this down.

Social Media Outsourcing for Small Business

If you don’t know squat about social media, it’s a tough thing to do well. It’s a full-time job on its own. Creating content, scheduling posts, responding to comments—it never ends. Outsource this to a social media manager who gets your brand. They’ll handle the daily grind, keeping your brand active and engaging. Plus, they bring fresh ideas to the table, which can be a huge win.

SEO Outsourcing for Small Business

SEO is another area where outsourcing can make a massive difference. A skilled SEO specialist can optimize your website, create content that ranks, and handle all the technical aspects that make your head spin. SEO is like planting seeds for long-term growth; it takes time, but the payoff can be huge. And the best part? You don’t have to learn every algorithm change or SEO tactic out there.

Outsourced Customer Service for Small Business

Brad wanted to push his marketing consulting to the next level, to become a million-dollar business. He has no time answering customer service calls!

If you’re not ready to hire full-time employees, consider outsourcing this area. There are plenty of services that offer trained professionals who can handle your customer inquiries, complaints, and feedback. They’re skilled at de-escalating situations and making customers feel heard, which is invaluable. 

Outsourcing Sales

Who the hell enjoys making outbound sales calls? Some people love it, but let’s face it, most of us don’t. Hire a killer salesperson who thrives on it. This could be one of the most effective hires you make – but it is one of the most challenging ones.  There’s a lot of services out there that promise to increase your sales.  Do you due diligence.

As an entrepreneur, you might be a genius with your product, but that doesn’t necessarily translate to being a sales superstar. Bringing in a professional salesperson can skyrocket your sales and take your business to the next level.

Hire a Business Coach

A business coach can help you find purpose, solidify the foundation of your business, and most importantly, hold you accountable. 

They guide you through those pivotal decisions and help you grow as a leader. However, if a business coach promises a marketing strategy, RUN! That’s not their role. A good coach helps you see the big picture, develop your leadership skills, and drive execution but marketing strategies should be left to marketing experts.

Service Work

Outsourcing service work is another smart move. This includes everything from delivering goods and handling basic fixes (for local services) to initial consultations and inspections (if you’re an IT company, interior designer, or lawyer, the list goes on). Having someone else handle these minor tasks means you can focus on the bigger ones. For example, while a contractor is fixing a small issue at a client site, you can be at the negotiating table landing the next big deal.

Outsourcing Leadership

Now, let’s talk about the big leagues. Once your business reaches a certain level, it’s no longer just about outsourcing externally. It’s about hiring team leaders internally to grow their respective teams. 

This means bringing on a sales director, marketing director, CIO, etc. These leaders will not only manage their departments but will also drive your business forward in ways you couldn’t do alone. It’s like having a team of mini-CEOs, each handling their own piece of the business puzzle.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the benefits of outsourcing for small businesses are clear. It’s an investment in your business’s future. It allows you to focus on what you do best while experts handle the rest. So, if you’re feeling overwhelmed, remember: you don’t have to do it all. Start outsourcing, free up your time, and watch your business grow.