07 Apr What Tasks to Outsource First (and Last) in Your Small Business
Your small business is growing or you’re stretched thin with other responsibilities and it’s time to bring on help. How do you figure out what to outsource in your business and what to keep on your plate or assign to employees? Simply put, you outsource the tasks where you are lacking skills, tasks that take you away from growing your business, or tasks that you would prefer not to do. The benchmarks below are a good way to test how to delegate the work in your company. Tasks that fall under these categories are the one that works best to outsource.
Exception! There are some tasks in your company that you may not like to do BUT you cannot outsource. This is often sales, business development, and decision making. Essentially, the uncomfortable that is crucial to growing and sustaining your business. You can certainly hire employees or bring on a business partner, but handing off these tasks makes you vulnerable to market shifts or opportunistic people. Balancing what you outsource or delegate with what you do yourself is a careful balance that will evolve as your business does.
Ready to stop hustling in your business and do the work to grow? It’s time to outsource. Get our complete guide on Outsourcing in Your Small Business to Grow – now available in our digital products shop! For a more custom solution, set up a Discovery Call with our marketing & business strategist, Krista, to talk through your business and get guidance on the best path forward.
Repetitive Tasks
These are tasks you need to do over and over again – often taking your focus away from growing your business. Administrative tasks like responding to client questions, filing payroll & data entry all fall into this category. Software is another way to ‘outsource’ these tasks by creating systems that automate tasks in your business. Note! Social media & marketing does not fall into this category – this requires specialized knowledge to make it truly effective.
Expert-Level Knowledge Tasks
Executive-level experience and expertise is expensive as an ongoing employee. Instead of hiring a Marketing Director or Chief Financial Office, consider a coach or consultant that can look at your company from an outside perspective and create a strategy. They can also set your team up to implement this strategy. Here you get top-level support without committing top-level dollars.
Specialized Knowledge Tasks
Tasks that require a specialized skill (that you don’t have) are best outsourced. Similar to working with an expert consultant, graphic designers, website developers, content marketers & IT support are things your company needs, but generally not on a regular basis. Instead, find a solid team of contractors you can hire as on as needed.
Shifting gears, here’s is the list of things we recommend you outsource in your small business VERY RARELY:
- Client Relations and Care
- Business Development
- Networking
- Sales
- Decision making about the direction of your company
A a general rule, you will rarely outsource the task of selling or building relationships to help your business grow. These are the last things you should outsource in your business. Sales and building relationships require passion, dedication, and commitment that you and your employees are more likely to have. You and your employees are also solely focused on your company ensuring more success here. Keep in mind that marketing is not the same as selling and can easily be outsourced. Marketing focuses more on self-promotion and brand awareness. Often those things can be challenging for an entrepreneur – all the more reason to find a partner that can sing your praises for you and see you like the diamond in the rough that you are.
Ready to stop hustling in your business and do the work to grow? It’s time to outsource. Get our complete guide on Outsourcing in Your Small Business to Grow – now available in our digital products shop! For a more custom solution, set up a Discovery Call with our marketing & business strategist, Krista, to talk through your business and get guidance on the best path forward.