You need to save all the money you can for your small business, especially during times of uncertainty One great way to cut costs and become more efficient is to outsource some of your business tasks. Doing so gives you the extra help you need while saving you money on employee costs, like salaries and benefits. Check out these tasks that every business should consider outsourcing.
Customer Service Calls
Remote work is becoming the norm for many businesses. When you need customer service representatives to be available any time of day, consider outsourcing to a third-party quality assurance call center. These professionals can handle calls in a timely and professional manner, so you don’t have to worry about managing lots of incoming questions and concerns.
Administrative Responsibilities
Is your business paperwork becoming overwhelming? Are you finding yourself stuck on tedious tasks when you should be doing other things? Consider outsourcing administrative work, like scheduling, paperwork, invoicing, emailing, and online customer service. Many companies and freelancers can provide these services, so you can free up your time while allowing experts to take over.
Human Resources
Another area to consider outsourcing is HR. While it’s convenient to have a dedicated staff member for these services, outsourcing allows you to hire help on-demand, so you’re not paying for hours when work wasn’t needed. HR considerations are very important for your business, especially as legal requirements change with new federal laws and regulations.
Don’t risk missing some of your responsibilities as an employer and hire out human resources tasks. This could also include the hiring and recruitment processes that you may not have time to focus on as you should.
Marketing
As your business grows, you’ll need more and more attention spent on marketing and outreach. You can’t afford to avoid marketing just because you don’t have time. Consider outsourcing these tasks to professionals who know how to update and monitor your website, produce content, post on social media, and manage your advertising efforts.
Billing Services
When you’re overwhelmed with billing or accounting services, consider hiring a third party to take some of the work off your plate. Sending invoices and reminders, managing budgets, and analyzing cash flow can take up a lot of time that you just don’t have when you’re running a business. Use a statement mailing service company to give yourself more time to focus on growing your business and client relationships.
Legal
Many small businesses can’t afford to pay an in-house attorney. Outsourcing your legal needs means you can get the legal help you need, only when you need them. An attorney can be expensive, especially working full- or part-time, so contracting these services is wise. Have an experienced attorney on retainer, or take advantage of resources like Avvo.com, which allows you to find legal services on a case-by-case basis.
Your Team’s Limitations
If you’re not sure which area of the business to outsource, start by considering your team’s weaknesses or limitations. Which tasks are not part of your expertise? Ask your employees which tasks they struggle with completing or that get in the way of their daily productivity goals. This is a great way to assess which departments could be outsourced and which tasks could be performed better by an expert.
Remember that outsourcing does bring some risk to your business. However, with proper vetting of third-party companies and the right security practices in place, you can set up a system for outsourcing that saves you money, gives your business more expertise in weak areas, and takes some of the work off your plate. This helps you focus on the needs of your clients and growing the business in the long-term.