Is it Time to Outsource

I’ve heard it time and again from so many small business owners: They know they need help, and they know that they can’t actually handle everything, but their business is their baby. The thought of letting anyone, even someone who is an expert in their own field, come in and take over a part of running the business seems scary.

I understand, but I also know that if you’re trying to do everything, you’ll end up burnt out, tasks will be left undone, and you’ll fall even further behind on work that will help you grow your business.

But, how do you know it’s time to outsource? Here are four things to keep in mind:

You Hate Doing the Task

We all have things we dislike doing. Whether it’s bookkeeping, or keeping your social media channels updated, there’s something that you’d rather not be doing. If you dislike doing something, hire someone for whom it’s a passion. You’ll have the piece of mind of knowing it’s being handled, and by someone who enjoys doing it.

You’re Not Good at the Task

Face it, there are things we’re not good at. I’ll admit I’m a terrible bookkeeper. I love the creative and the client service part of what I do, but I’m not quite as crazy about… tax season. Knowing that it’s far better for me to pay someone else, and push a shoebox full of receipts towards someone who loves crunching numbers, I set aside a portion of my income to at least pay for someone do to my taxes annually. It supports another business owner, uncovers savings I may not have found myself, and takes the stress of having to do that one thing I both dislike and know isn’t a strength of mine, off my to-do list.

You Need to Focus on the Bigger Jobs

I once heard a keynote speaker say to a room full of women business owners, “Why are you focusing on the $25 dollar jobs when you should be focusing on the $200 jobs?” That struck a chord with so many of the people in the room. It was like a collective ‘ah-ha!’ moment. And it’s true. Once you reach a certain income threshold, or have established a solid client base, does it make sense to keep taking on everything? How many more $200 jobs could you take on if you didn’t have to spend time cleaning your house, or posting to your business’ social media accounts, or even scheduling your own appointments? Save your energy for the bigger ticket items, and the money you spend to outsource the other jobs will be well worth the cost.

You’re Overwhelmed

Your to-do list just keeps growing. Your stress is rising. Your shoulders have found a place close to your ears to live. You’ve lost the will to do anything because you just don’t know where to start. Perhaps starting with outsourcing some of your tasks would help? In this case, it may not even be about hiring anyone. It could be as simple as enlisting your family in helping plan and prepare dinners a few nights a week. Or, if you’re a caregiver, swapping caregiver time with other caregivers so you each have time to completely focus on business growth a couple of times a week. Or it could be making a budget that includes take-out, a co-working space to bounce ideas off other entrepreneurs a few times a month. Or simply prioritizing. Are there things on that to-do list that you know you’ll never get to (for some combo of dislike, not a strength, or it’s a low-priority)? Sit down and be ruthless. Cut what you can, ignore what you can, and outsource what you can.

I know it’s not easy to think about what can sometimes feel like giving away a part of your business. But there’s absolutely no shame in knowing when it’s time to outsource things that simply make sense to stop doing yourself. 

So, business owner, go figure out what it is you’d like to outsource. If it’s your social media or content, don’t hesitate to reach out today.