Determine Weather It’s Time To Outsource

Often when launching a business, we’re strapped for cash, so we try to do everything ourselves. But outsourcing certain tasks or services may be something we need to do sooner than we think. In fact, neglecting to outsource services may cost us dearly in the following ways:

• We end up wasting many hours trying to do something we have no skill, training, or interest in.
• We achieve second-rate quality attempting to do things we’re not good at.
• We add to our stress unnecessarily.
• We’re stealing precious time from doing the things we’re good at and enjoy.
• We hinder our revenue streams by focusing on thinks that don’t make us money.

And I’m sure the list could go on. What would you add?

So, here are some questions to ask yourself to determine whether it’s time to outsource a service.

1. Is this service a core part of your business?
   For example, perhaps you are a podcaster, blogger, copywriter, or write articles or curriculum for a living. If so, you probably need services such a editing, graphic services, web design, etc. Your focus is writing. So, let someone else take on those important, but peripheral aspects of your business. Chances are, they’ll do a better job than you can and leave you more time to write.
2. Does performing this service make you money?
   Maybe you’re a startup business offering online training. You are a gifted curriculum developer and promoter but admittedly a lousy graphic artist! Having professional-looking material is important, but customers are buying your content, not the art. The graphic design is necessary, but it doesn’t make you money. This is a service that should be outsourced.
3. Can someone else perform this service more cheaply?
   In the previous example, you might argue that you can wing it and make due with your own graphic arts abilities. However, in the process you discover that to perform this function, you need a specialized program that’s quite costly. Additionally, there’s the cost of having to learn the program and spend hours each week on graphic arts rather than curriculum development. Through a referral, you find a gifted graphic artist who costs a fraction of what your hourly rate is worth. This is a service that should be outsourced.
4. Is performing this service stressful for you?
   Let’s say that in your business, you provide creative content. And your content is featured and presented in various forms on the internet. But to do that you’ve got all the technical aspects of maintaining your website, setting up your store and means for collecting money, etc. But perhaps you’re not skilled in web design and find it very frustrating and stressful. Do yourself a favor and outsource that work to someone who is good at it and enjoys it. Outsourcing this work will relieve your stress and you’ll be so much happier with the end-product.
5. Is this service part of your wheelhouse?
   This is similar to the previous question, but with a different twist. Perhaps you’re easygoing and don’t mind working on a task for which you have no training or skill. The point here is, why spend time working on things you’re not skilled at when you could be producing more revenue-generating content? Outsource those services that aren’t part of your wheelhouse and free-up more time doing those things that generate income.
6. Do you enjoy performing this service?
   If you intend to be in business for yourself for the long-haul, you’ve got to be doing things you enjoy. No doubt you love being in business for yourself. But if you’re honest, there are a few tasks that you dread having to perform each month. Perhaps it’s the accounting or some other necessary task that you just wish you didn’t have to do- News Flash! You don’t have to do it! Outsource it!

Certainly, there may be other considerations regarding outsourcing. But often, we hold onto tasks we shouldn’t be doing far too long. I encourage you to take inventory of your business. What tasks or services could you outsource? What would outsourcing those services gain for you?

Read in my upcoming Blog how I can help you in your personal and business life.

Leave me a comment what tasks or services you have outsourced.