At some point as your business grows, you may want to start outsourcing.
Through the Internet, you can hire a virtual assistant to help you with tasks you don’t like, don’t want to do, or don’t do well.
Here are the five signs that it’s time to start outsourcing.
#1 You’re Burning Out
A sure sign that it’s time to seek help is when you’re feeling burnt out.
As your business grows, your tasks grow too. With more to do, you may find yourself running around trying to do everything, which can lead to stress and burnout.
Finding some outside help can relieve your stress and free you up to focus on other things.
Download Now: 6 Ways to Jump Start Your Business Growth Today
#2 Things Aren’t Getting Done
In the rush of everything, you might discover that important tasks aren’t getting done.
This is a sign that you need more hands-on deck. Look at the tasks that aren’t getting done and see if they’re things you can outsource to someone outside your company.
If they’re not, find some other simple tasks someone outside your organization could do and outsource those – this will free you up to complete the tasks that weren’t getting done before.
#3 No Time to Focus on Growth
Your business needs your daily attention in order to grow. You need to look at it from a “big picture” point of view.
If you’re constantly bogged down with mundane everyday tasks, the important planning work won’t happen. If you find yourself without the time and energy to focus on growing your business, it’s time to outsource.
#4 New Skills Needed
One of the ways many businesses discover they need help is when they find themselves in over their heads in terms of skills.
As you grow, you’ll find new skills your business needs, and you can reach out to service providers to get these specialized tasks done.
Outsourcing for just the tasks you need done can save you from having to hire additional employees.
#5 Your Customer Service Is Lacking
When things get busy, customer service can often fall through the cracks. You’ll have more orders coming in, and with that, more customer issues in general.
If you’re finding that you’re no longer able to give each customer the careful attention you gave them when your business was smaller, this means you need to outsource some tasks.
Where to Start?
Since outsourcing is an essential part of any business’s growth, it’s a good idea to get started with it early. There are many ways to find help:
- Referrals from colleagues or friends
- Service providers’ websites
- Job sites where providers bid on jobs
Decide exactly which tasks you need to outsource and what skills or experience you need. Make a shortlist of candidates and start contacting them until you find the help you need.
Building a business and scaling up isn’t hard to do if you approach it in a systematic and organized way. Want to get started? We’re offering a full course that leads you through the planning process step-by-step. You can check it out here.