Starting up, growing and running a successful business is by no means easy! It requires time, attention, persistence and determination.
However, there will come a point where there are just not enough hours in the day for you to do everything where eventually tasks may go uncompleted and standards might slip.
Thanks to new technology and processes, there has been a massive surge in flexibility and outsourcing within businesses. It can be a seamless operation if carried out effectively. So why are we still so fearful of outsourcing?
It’s too expensive
Outsourcing work should only be considered when the time is right for you and your business. However, if you find yourself in a quandary, take the following into account:
When hiring an employee, you must firstly factor in the time and expense of recruiting the right person for the job. You will then have a full-time salary to account for, as well as taxes, sick pay, holiday pay, maternity pay and training. Let’s not forget desk space, IT equipment, stationery and more!
When you hire a Virtual Assistant, you ONLY pay for the hours they have worked. They will cover the cost of their own taxes and equipment etc. You are not responsible for paying them to have a lunch break or holiday, and a sick day doesn’t even come into the equation!
You can assign work as and when you need to, and allocate days/times for relevant tasks to be completed. App’s such as Toggl, Harvest and Clockify can be used to track exactly how much time a VA has spent on each project/task.
Trying to carry out tasks that you are not experienced in doing yourself will take you longer to complete and will also take up valuable time which could be spent on generating more revenue in your business.
Having experts in your business will save you time and money. A VA can bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table, injecting valuable expertise, and help you to find the right systems that suit you both.
So, after weighing up the benefits with the cost, is it really too expensive to outsource?
My company is too small to outsource right now
Whether it be a start-up or well-established business, cash flow is always going to be a worry. Being a business owner with no guaranteed income is scary and so in those first few years, you will want to hang on to every penny you earn. However, it is important not to maintain this mindset if you strive for bigger and better things with your business.
Working at full capacity and putting in all the hours that godsends is commendable but there will come a point where you will run out of ideas, new customers, focus and ‘steam’! If you are running around trying to keep everything afloat, you are less likely to be concentrating on the core offerings of your business and gaining as much new business as possible.
Therefore, to utilise every resource possible, taking on a VA to support you with the day to day management of your business will only be of benefit to your business. Sometimes you must spend money to make money – especially if you want to push your business further.
I will lose control of my business
This is a common misconception when it comes to outsourcing work to any freelancer, however, the reality is that you will never lose control! You are the boss and your authority will always be respected.
Having a VA to delegate your workload to not only gives you back some valuable time away from admin tasks, but it also provides a sounding board for advice and guidance.
It’s not easy to put your trust into complete stranger, but this is something that comes with time, providing you have trust and clear communication on your aims and the processes that you have/need in place.
Outsourcing is by no means loss of control but of benefit to your business. Delegating tasks to a VA or freelancer allows you to grow a successful business with a healthy bank balance!
If you are still dubious over outsourcing to a VA, why not start with delegating small tasks and build on from this.
No one will work harder than I do
Your business is your baby. You have nurtured and cared for it, you have watched it grow and no one will love it quite like you do… But this is not to say that you won’t be able to find someone who holds the same mindset and goals as you do.
Hiring a VA will involve a little research to ensure that you are the right fit. You will also need to consider their experience, knowledge and skill set, as well as any reviews that they may have been given. An experienced Virtual Assistant will want your business to thrive and succeed just as much as you do.
When you are the only person working within your business, there is no room to grow. Trying to spin too many plates will only resort in you dropping one! Having no work-life balance will only lead to exhaustion, lack of focus and little enthusiasm for your business.
Hiring a VA will help to ease the long working days and give you the freedom to concentrate on the core areas of your business that you love.
I am too set in my own ways
As creatures of habit, we can be a little set in our own ways with routines and the way that we carry out tasks – so much so that we do some things without even thinking about it.
But having a routine in place doesn’t necessarily mean that it is the right way – or even the best way of running your business. You might be so used to carrying out tasks in a certain way that you have not considered that, with another person’s opinion on your procedures, doing things differently may be of benefit to your business.
Having the support of a VA to systemise your routines and procedures will not only increase the productivity of your business, but it will also show your customers that you are organised, reliable and credible.
I have concerns about Lack of data security and confidentiality
This is, of course, a valid concern! However, lack of security can often be confused with lack of trust!
Sharing your personal/business details with someone your barely know is something not to be taken lightly. There should be a mutual trust between you and your VA which will be reinforced with the correct policies, confidentiality agreements and procedures in place.
Ensure you do plenty of research prior to hiring any freelancer – A Virtual Assistant should be considered as your trusted and dedicated extra pair of hands!
So, in conclusion, for those of you who many think outsourcing is too hard, too expensive, too time-consuming to operate, ask yourself the following questions:
- What am I doing in my business that someone else could do for me?
- Why am I doing these time-consuming tasks? Is it just because I’ve always done them or is there a justifiable reason why I should be carrying out the work?
- What areas of my business am I not as good at that someone else could do better?
- How would I use the time I free up by outsourcing?
Virtual Assistants can offer various forms of office support, guidance, advice and experience. What is stopping you from outsourcing tasks that would give you more time, peace of mind and a greater level of professional support in your business?
I hope this blog has sparked some positive thoughts on how outsourcing can help you and your business. Please do check out my other articles for more information on how you can better organise yourself and your business.
