Tasks You Should Be Outsourcing as a Small Business Owner
As a small business owner, you probably don’t have unlimited resources. This means you have to maximize all that you can get, utilizing any and all tools just to be able to compete and, ultimately, thrive in the fast-paced environment brought about by the digital age.
Indeed, many aspects of how we do business have changed. Gone are the days of brick and mortar day-to-day operations as even services such as customer support can now be done remotely via applications such as Zendesk. But to modernize via tools is simply the first step into succeeding as a small business owner. You have to learn how to optimize all tasks that come with running your business, and one efficient way to do this is through outsourcing.
For the uninitiated, outsourcing is the practice of hiring an outside entity, like freelancers or specialized companies and agencies to perform services traditionally done in-house. This usually results in lower costs and better outputs, as certain tasks, when placed in the right hands, can be more efficiently accomplished through outsourcing. It also lets you focus on just your core business, as all other tasks are taken care of in the background. But while most roles can be outsourced — not all roles should be. This is due to the fact that some roles are more apt for people who really understand what you’re trying to achieve with your business, and that each manager and owner’s skill set is different. So what roles can you outsource?
Digital Marketing
Because of the internet, everyone now has a platform where they can be seen — with the right marketing that is.
This is why digital marketing has been a significant force in modern businesses. In fact, Maryville University suggests that marketing expertise is one of the most in-demand skills in the 21st century. This makes marketing disciplines like content creation and digital advertising difficult to do in-house, as the level of competition in the world of marketing is only going to get higher. Now, not everyone has an affinity for digital marketing. This is why it’s much better to outsource it either by hiring a freelancer or an agency that’ll custom build the appropriate marketing plan that’ll help your company take the leap. Doing this will save you time and effort better spent on tasks that you have a better handle of.
Administrative Duties
As a small business owner, you tend to have to do all the small things yourself. While it saves you resources on cost, overall performance is sure to take a hit.
Researchers from Northeastern Illinois University have found that multitasking tasks significantly lowers performance. So instead of having to go through hundreds upon thousands of emails, booking business trips across the country (along with the necessary accommodation), and other forms of administrative work, why not just outsource it? You can hire a virtual assistant that can assist you with your daily tasks, all while working from a remote location.
Payroll
In 2018, the IRS dished out around $29.3 billion in civil penalties against businesses as a result of mistakes, omissions and improper filings all within one fiscal year. Small mistakes can be rather costly for a budding company, but it is also small businesses that are the most vulnerable to these mistakes as they may sometimes be spread a little too thin in terms of manpower.
Now, rather than hire someone full-time for cyclical duties such as these, it would be best to outsource your payroll to an outside accountant or a reliable payroll service. However, you must keep in mind that this becomes less viable as your business grows. So once you feel that outsourcing this service is no longer effective, it’s time to hire someone full-time.
What You Need to Know Before Outsourcing
There are some things that you need to consider before deciding to outsource tasks for your company. The first things you have to take into consideration are the specific tasks you need to outsource. Learning to let go of certain aspects of your business is something that many small business owners struggle with, but the sooner you are able to do this, the better.
Moreover, there is also the legal requirements that you must undertake. Other than the federal labor laws, states also have their own laws that may impact how your company interacts with outsourced employees. For example, Ohio‘s minimum wage is $8.55 per hour, while the minimum wage in Oregon is $11.25. Another thing you need to consider is the person or company that you’ll be outsourcing to. While you can use sites such as Upwork to source your hires, be sure to be thorough with the screening process. Remember that you’re looking to build long-term partnerships as opposed to one-time stints. This way, you’ll be able to ensure the quality of the work you’ll be getting from your outsourced employees or teams.
Exclusively written for businessbacker.com
By Jade Tyler
