I cannot stress enough the importance of hiring contractors for tasks that you either aren't capable of or that you don't have the time to complete. Yes, your business is like your child...you don't want to relinquish control to someone that you aren't quite sure will do the job the way that you want it done. Let me be the first to tell you that it's not as scary as it seems.
I am a MAJOR control freak, if I can figure out a way to do it then I definitely will. Unfortunately, that's not always in the best interest of my business. There are times when I simply cannot handle everything on my plate. Before, I would just wait it out until I could take care of it. Wrong answer. Not only was I wasting valuable time but more than likely if it was something outside of my expertise then corners were cut. Since my goal is to always put maximum effort and efficiency into my business for its success, then its a no-brainer that I want to see maximum results. Here are 5 tasks that I outsource and maybe you should think about too.
Bookkeeping
Once your business begins to grow and you are no longer able to comfortably track its finances, it is time to hire a CPA or Bookkeeper. CPA's are generally known for doing taxes, but aside from that, they take care of the high-level financial planning for your business. If you don't quite need a CPA then a Bookkeeper would be your next choice. They will take care of Accounts payable and receivable, making sure that payments to and from vendors are made. They will maintain all historical financial information regarding your business.
Content Editor
We all have press releases, business & marketing plans, newsletters, and possibly editorial content that goes out to the public throughout the year. Information or documentation that will be read by media, investors, or customers will need to be professional, grammatically correct, and in the proper format.
Website Development and Management
No one really wants to look at a companies "professional" website that was created on Angelfire. I am somewhat against plug and play websites anyway and I personally feel that if you have one created it should be a reflection of you and your business. I do know that website development is expensive and that when all else fails that these types of sites come in handy. So I won't bash them. Let me just say that these sites are generally good for product related businesses, NOT services. If a client goes to your website and it is a cheap imitation, chances are they will assume you are a cheap imitation. If you never splurge on anything, splurge on a website. Don't let a developer dupe you into spending thousands of dollars unless you can see the value in it. If you are spending thousands of dollars, then their portfolio should have tons of examples of quality work. NEVER hire someone who does not have an online portfolio. "You create websites but YOU don't have one?" Sounds weird, right? A developers best reference, is their own website.
If a developer is building your site, then chances are you want them to manage it as well. In the event that there is a glitch with your hosting provider and everything is deleted or the site goes down, its always great to have a reputable developer that is able to bring your site online again.
*Note* Always have your own copy of backup files just in case.
Graphic Designer
Advertisements, banners, web graphics, product images, T-shirt designs...these are all items that your business will either need created or edited. Your images are advertisements and they should look professional. Besides, once you find a good graphic designer they will eventually be able to envision what you desire almost immediately and if you are lucky with maybe 1 or 2 revisions.
Customer Support
This is one area you can't afford to twiddle your thumbs in. If you are noticing an influx of customers, it is time to act. I have heard on many occasions a business owner becoming overwhelmed and neglecting their customers orders, needs, or concerns. This is the quickest way to go from "IN" to "OUT". Hire someone who can help relieve you of the load. Don't just hire anyone though. Make sure that they are reputable and reliable, whether a virtual company or a physical person. Every great brand depends on great brand experiences. Keep your customers happy and if they aren't happy, figure out a way to make them happy.
Hiring contractors to offload most of these tasks will free up a lot of your time, as well as, the related worrying that is often associated with trying to handle everything on your own. Remember that you still must conduct your own background checks in making sure that you are hiring professionals that you can depend on and that don't have a history of being irresponsible. They should have portfolio's, references, something to verify and support proof of their track record. Start by knocking off a task or two, it just might help your business grow.
If this post has helped you in any way, please join the discussion and become a member. I love getting feedback from the ladies and reading any tips that you might have for others.
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