When you’re running a small business, it’s easy to assume that you just have no budget for anything. It’s very common for entrepreneurs to overspend on getting in-house skills because they believe that there’s no way they could outsource these matters to outside services. In fact, the reality is that when it comes to certain services and skills, no smart small business operator can afford not to outsource them.
Below are some essential business functions that are best left to dedicated outside providers who will inevitably do the job more effectively and efficiently.
1. Accounting and Bookkeeping
Hiring a full-time in-house accountant won’t come cheap, and unless they come with other skills that can contribute more to the business, they’re an expense you just don’t need. Look for small business accountants who specialise in helping startups, and you’ll find it’s more cost-effective than hiring your own, while also saving critical desk space in the office.
Even if your core team has some accounting expertise, it pays to have at least one outside professional who can cast a set of fresh eyes over your numbers, books and accounts and ensure that everything is above board. Even if you’re only paying for that level of peace of mind, it’s worth every cent.
2. Marketing Services
Every company, large and small, needs marketing services of some sort. You might feel able to run your company’s Facebook and Instagram pages, but who is handling your SEO work? Who is creating dynamic marketing videos that will take your message to new audiences and a whole new level? Who is creating content for posting online that will help drive traffic to your website? These are all affordable marketing services that can be outsourced to those who are better placed to provide them.
3. IT Support
People in general are far more computer literate than in years past. However, that literacy still doesn’t often stretch to the deep hardware and coding levels that it needs to in order to solve major IT problems and challenges that your business faces. In-house IT can get very expensive as you may have to invest in servers, technicians, IT support staff, and more. Outsourcing these functions invariably works out far cheaper for your company.
4. Customer Service
Just because your business is small doesn’t mean that you lack customers. There’s a very good chance that in a very short time, your small startup business could be handling dozens or even hundreds of customers. If that’s the case, then you may not be in any position to handle the delicate business of customer service. This is a situation in which outsourcing this aspect of your work to a capable outside service provider becomes logical.
It’s quite common now, for example, for people to work as part-time at-home customer service representatives as a form of freelance work. If these kinds of gig-economy workers can meet your needs, then great, but if not you can reach out to a larger organisation for help. If you’re based in serviced offices, for example, you can engage their own staff as a phone-answering service, or you can even set up an AI-led system on your website.
5. Recruitment
Finally, when it’s time for your business to expand its team and bring in some new talent, you might think that the company founders or leaders would want to handle that themselves, but the question is still when they would have the time or chance. It takes a lot of time and energy to engage in the recruitment process. Even when you have applicants, you then have to meet and interview them, process their applications and more. It all takes up valuable time, and that time is often better spent by a recruitment service who has a good idea of what you’re looking for.
