Outsourcing is where you pass on certain tasks or responsibilities to a person or company external to your own business. It’s an increasingly popular option for solo entrepreneurs and small businesses because it enables you to lower your costs, collaborate with experts, gain access to specialist technology, and free up more of your time for deep work.
This boom means there are also plenty of people offering their services, which can make it hard to know which individual or company you should partner with. Here’s some advice to help you make the right choice for your business.
What can I outsource?
You might be surprised to find out just how many tasks you can outsource these days. In fact, if you can think of a job, then it’s probably possible to hire someone to do it! Whether you need a logo designed, a website created, a product manufactured, or an event organized, outsourcing is definitely an option.
When deciding what to outsource, the key factors to consider are your personal preferences, your individual strengths and weaknesses, the size of your company, your current staff, and their skills, and your schedule. Outsourcing can be a one-off project or a long-term arrangement depending on your needs and the task in question. Plus, as the situation evolves over time, you can choose to outsource more or less as appropriate.
How do I choose who to outsource tasks to?
It’s important to choose the right partner when outsourcing because this individual or company will directly impact the success of your project or even your business as a whole. Follow this advice, and you’re sure to make the correct decision:
- Look for experience and expertise – ideally, high levels of both. You can gauge this from factors such as accreditation and qualifications, as well as a company’s past projects. For instance, if you’re looking into the use of fibres as construction material for adhesives, then choose a business that specializes in this and has provided them for other big companies before
- Research their reputation and get references – all businesses will claim that they provide an amazing service, so you need to make sure this is backed up by the facts. Check online reviews – and not just the ones on their own website – and consider their reputation more broadly. This will help you to find a partner who is not just skilled but reliable and personable
- Contact a few people or companies directly – once you’ve narrowed down some possible partners to work with, it’s time to contact them directly. Be clear about what you’re looking for, and ask for a quote detailing what they can offer you and for how much money. This is also a good opportunity to assess their standard of communication (e.g., are they polite and prompt in responding to you?)
- Trust your instinct – what’s right for you might not be right for someone else, so trust your gut when making your decision. If you get a positive feeling about a person, that’s generally a good sign that the partnership will work out (and vice versa)!
