Outsourcing – when & why

Outsourcing – when & why

One of my favourite top growth tips which I read frequently is all business owners should consider outsourcing and delegate anything you can! This blog post explores the rationale behind this.

 

  1. What is outsourcing?

  2. Why Outsource?

  3. What are the most common areas outsourced?

  4. What are the benefits of outsourcing?

  5. Where do you outsource from – does size of business matter?

  6. Why outsource to Busy Lives!

  What is outsourcing?

  • Outsourcing is the business practice of hiring a contractor outside your business to perform services or create goods that traditionally were performed in-house by the businesses own employees and staff.
  • Outsourcing can be used for any position whatsoever. It’s function is to provide support to the central infrastructure of a business or in in the day to day operations of a business
  • Shift tasks, operations or jobs or processes to an external workforce by contracting a third party.
  • Businesses outsource to perform or tasks handle operations and provide services that that the business is struggling to do or keep on top of.
  • The process of hiring another business for a specific focus and length of time.
  • Paying to have part of a business’s work done by another business.
  • Outsourcing is associated with efficiencies, it aims to produce higher or equal returns.

Why Outsource?

It’s interesting how the size of your business influences if you outsource and to what degree. There are a few common services that apply to all sizes of business – such as insurance and accountancy but after that it becomes much more open ended.

Outsourcing can reap great benefits for all size of business. The benefits from this can include operational cost reduction; having a specialist to work on areas not a current strength or take a long time; improved efficiency and releasing internal staff for specialist projects.

So, which of the following could really make a difference to both you and the effectiveness of your business?

What are the most common areas outsourced?

Administration                         Analytics                                 Application support

Bookkeeping                           Business support                    Catering

Change management             Cleaning                                  Coaching

Database management          Data Entry & analysis             Document & data processing

Form processing                     Grounds Maintenance            HR

IT Technical support               Legal services                         Marketing

Maternity/Paternity cover        Mentoring                                Minute taking

Payroll and pensions              Project management              Staff supply

Strategy & problem solving

Outsourcing helps you to focus your energy and passion on those parts of the business that you enjoy and are the expert at!

What are the benefits of outsourcing?

  • Increased efficiency for the business.
  • Variable capacity.
  • Increases focus and time available for strategy / leadership direction.
  • Access to specific skills or resources.
  • Flexibility to meet changing business conditions.
  • Cost effective if only required at certain times of the year.
  • Lower overall costs than an employee as tax, NI, pension is not paid.
  • Flexible time durations from an hour if remotely, to half full days, weeks, months.

Where do you outsource from – does size of business matter?

Can you remember the famous Aesop’s fable of the Lion and the Mouse? The Lion was great and mighty, but it was actually the mouse that had just the right the skill set to help the Lion succeed with the problem he had!

Why is it we automatically turn to the big companies with the products and services we know?

Is it because that’s the name we know or have heard of?

Does this always mean we get the best possible service and products by using them?

Some of the greatest advantages small businesses have over their large competitors are: flexibility; innovation and the freedom to think outside of the box to find your solution; great customer care; precise tailored responses to your individual needs; agility and adaptability to respond quickly; not having to conform to corporate bureaucracy (9-5 timings) and; building up over time an unique professional relationship where the small business owner cares about your individual needs and success, in addition to their own.

Larger service provider companies may well have a pool to draw from, but have they always got the specific skill set for the job that you may be hesitant to delegate, to save you both time and assist your work demands. Freelance executive, virtual and personal assistants are a growing highly skilled work force community, with many diverse strengths and experiences from different corporate backgrounds. We are professional, efficient at delivering high standard results and care about what we do.

Be strategic for your business and with your time. Make use of the small business executive, personal and virtual support out there.

Why outsource to Busy Lives!

I have a vast skill set that I acquired as a Head teacher that can be useful to anyone, as I now help those businesses with large workloads with a plethora of priorities and deadlines. I’ve been in that position of being time poor and totally understand and know what it’s like. Take a look at my page about me!

So, which of my following services could really make a difference to both you and the effectiveness of your business?

Administration                         Analytics                                 Application support

Business support                    Constructing Presentations    Database management

Data Entry & analysis             Document & data processing Formatting documents

Form processing                     Maternity/Paternity cover        Mentoring

Minute taking                          Organisation of files                Project management

Recruitment                            Staff supply                             Strategy & problem-solving

Social Media                          Training resources

 

I Do the things you don’t like to do,
the things you don’t have time to do,
the things that may take you much longer than me to do!
The other key benefit of using Busy Lives! is that I can do the work at your business, remotely or at your home to suit your precise needs.
Freelance outsourcing can reap great benefits for all size of business. If you know someone who is struggling with everything and really busy please share this blog post or tell them to either email: Karen@busylivesnottingham.co.uk or give me a call: 07 565 722 031
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