5 Signs It’s Time To Outsource
Deciding to outsource can be downright scary. Most of us entrepreneurs are perfectionists, and we have nailed down exactly how our business should be run, what our marketing efforts should look like, how we engage with our customers and the exact processes we use to run our day-to-day business efforts.
But there does come a day when one part of the jigsaw puzzle that is part of your perfect business model begins to slip. And when it does, it can affect all the other pieces, and not in a positive way.
You can outsource your content marketing, bookkeeping, shipping and receiving, social media marketing, customer service, website maintenance, blogging, and more. But when is it time to reach out for help and how will it help your business?
YOUR BUSINESS IS GROWING
In the beginning, you could handle everything yourself — bookkeeping, content marketing, blogging, social media management, customer service, and, well, everything. But as your business grows, time shrinks.
You might be finding that part of your business is falling away because you’re spending so much time focusing on the one aspect that needs the most attention, which is delivering an excellent product or service to your clients.
If you’re not keeping up on your blog, keeping your books up to date and organized, posting and engaging on social media — all the things that helped you grow in the first place — your growth may stall.
If you find that an integral piece of your business is consistently being pushed to yet another to-do list, it’s time to outsource.
YOU HATE DOING…THAT THING
If you hate focusing on a part of running your business, I’m going to guess that you probably don’t even do it, except when totally necessary. If you hate writing content for your blog, crunching numbers, engaging in social media marketing, shipping and packaging your product, or something else that really needs attention, outsource it.
YOU’RE NOT GOOD AT…THAT THING
Honestly, when I sit down and look at numbers and try to keep up with my bookkeeping, my brain shuts down, and I’m back in my middle school classroom counting the square panels in the ceiling.
If you’re not good at something, then you’re not going to do it well. But remember — each part of your business is really important if you want to succeed. All aspects work together in a symbiotic relationship, and when one falls to the wayside, your business opportunities also slip.
YOU’RE READY TO INVEST IN YOUR BUSINESS
When you hire the right person to do that job you hate, don’t know how to do, or just don’t have time for, outsourcing can bring in more money for you in the long run.
If you’re not able to focus on your marketing, then hiring a marketer will only get you more clients. If you can’t keep your books straight, hiring a bookkeeper could help you save money by sending out timely invoices and collecting from those who aren’t paying you. When you hire someone to address customer service issues, they are creating happy, repeat customers who refer their friends to you.
YOU’RE READY FOR MORE FREEDOM
Isn’t this why you became an entrepreneur in the first place? While we all know that being a business owner requires a ton of time, the driving factor is that our time is spent doing what we want, when we want, and for our own benefit.
But when you wake up one day to find you don’t have any more time for that weekly Yoga class, an afternoon jog, a screen-free breakfast with your child, or simply curling up with a book (for pleasure!), then it’s time to think about outsourcing.
Wouldn’t it be great to finally have someone else taking care of that one thing on your list that never gets checked off? That feeling alone, of knowing that a critical piece of the puzzle is getting the attention it deserves, makes outsourcing worth it.
If you’re at the stage in your business where you’re considering hiring help, congratulate yourself! It means your business is growing and will continue to thrive with the expertise and focus of your newest team member.
