Very few businesses can do it all, and even those massive, international brands don’t take on all the work themselves. Sometimes it is simply better to hire talent for a project than to keep them on the payroll, especially for creative roles or when you need a larger team to manage your account than you can afford to bring in.
The good news for businesses of all sizes, of course, is that there is outsourcing. Outsourcing is the best way to build your business with talent, even if you cannot yet afford to have in-house specialists.
If you have considered outsourcing, but aren’t sure what to look for or what services are out there, then you’ve come to the right place. This guide will help you learn everything you need to know about outsourcing for your business:
What is Outsourcing?
Outsourcing simply means hiring outside of your workforce, and it’s a common practice in both our professional and personal lives. No one would think twice about taking their vehicle into a shop for repairs when you don’t have experience as a mechanic, and similarly, you shouldn’t hesitate to find a service that fits the needs of your business.
When Should Your Business Outsource?
Your business should outsource in a few key instances:
- When you cannot afford to have someone in-house
- For short-term projects that you want to be done well as fast as possible
- When you want the specific services offered by a specialist, artist, or agency
- When it is more cost-effective
Technically you can outsource all of your needs and then work as the manager between different agencies. This, of course, starts to become very costly and difficult to facilitate. That’s why you should always consider what tasks and work you need to be done every day and then try to fill that role with a full-time employee. If you technically need a whole department to get the job done right and cannot afford that, then outsourcing is the way to go.
What Types of Services Can Be Outsourced?
These are a few of the most popular services to outsource:
Human Resources
Even the biggest companies outsource their HR, and there are many benefits to continually outsourcing your HR needs to specialists. They can take care of many admin tasks, from staff recruitment to record keeping. Outsourcing your HR needs can also give your employees peace of mind since there is an impartial body that they can go to when they need to report harassment or other concerns.
When it comes to hiring HR, you will want to stick close to home. A HR Dept in Swindon is going to be more appraised on the local laws and hiring trends than a department in another county or country.
Considering how important it is to hire well, train better, and manage your workforce effectively, always consider whether hiring out your HR needs is a smart move for your business.
Accounting
Accounting and bookkeeping are similar but not the same. While you can keep your books up-to-date, you are almost always going to want a professional accountant to handle the legal side of money. Accountants keep up-to-date with legislation changes and specialize in different areas. If you are catering to an international client base, for example, you need to ensure that you are following the tax laws in each country. Don’t do this, and you may end up with a bill that is grossly overrepresented because a different country just assumed what you earned by doing business with their citizens.
IT
More than 80% of firms in the United States report being hacked in the last year. IT services are rarely to help you when your system shuts down unexpectedly and are more about protecting your business and assets from hackers who usually aim to steal your customers’ data or hold your business for ransom. By outsourcing your IT needs, you can benefit from having a whole team on your side.
Marketing
There are so many different skills involved in marketing. This includes photography, design, writing, marketing, analytics, and even psychology. If you don’t have a dedicated team working on your marketing strategy, then you are missing out. Being found and liked by customers and clients is half the battle. Until you can afford to hire marketing specialists in-house, looking to hire services or consultants outside of your company can be an appropriate course of action.
In some cases, you may outsource simply because you like the work of certain creators. Partnering with individuals or companies to use their work or to have them work on a project with you is a great way to stand out and keep your marketing materials fresh.
