3 Reasons to Change your Perception of Outsourcing

Instead, they kept everything in-house to maintain as much control as possible.

However, things have taken a turn over the past five to 10 years. While there are still people who have the wrong perception of outsourcing, they are now few and far between.

As a small business owner, you may be running your whole business alone, or have just a few employees who can help you out. Outsourcing can mean hiring employees who don’t physically work at your small business location, such as a freelancer or paying companies to handle a task for you, such as outsourcing payroll.

Outsourcing can be a smart move for your business, so you can delegate the tasks you don’t want to, or can’t, deal with and focus instead on your true passion.

Here are three reasons to change your perception of outsourcing:

1. Keep Up with the Competition

With the global market value of outsourcing hovering around $100 billion, it’s safe to assume that some or all of your competitors are taking advantage.

You shouldn't outsource jobs just to keep up with the competition, but there’s nothing wrong with digging around to see if it could work in your favor. It may be just what you need to keep the pace, and hopefully pass by your top competitors.

When choosing to outsource work, it either frees up time in your schedule or offers you a way to increase productivity on important tasks related to your business. With more time to focus on what matters to your business, this allows you to increase sales and potentially pass the sales of your competitors.

2. Time-Saving

When you hire a full or part-time employee, you’re taking on a big responsibility, and a time-consuming task. Choosing to outsource your work in the form of freelancer or contractor doesn’t necessarily mean you can skip all of the steps in onboarding, but it does mean there are a few you can bypass (such as setting up a new office space).   

Today’s technology has made it easier than ever to manage a remote workforce and have long-distance employees. Apps such as Slack and Skype can help you efficiently communicate with your new outsourced team member.

Other types of outsourcing may require more work up front but eventually lead to a task being processed that you don’t even have to think about. For example, if you choose online payroll software for your small business instead of processing payroll yourself, you may be greeted with flexible payroll options, such as auto-payroll, which can help you put your payroll on cruise control. While there will be set-up in the beginning, you’ll be able to essentially set and forget your payroll in the long-term.

3. Save Money Without Compromising on Talent

Depending on where you live, finding top talent in your local area is easier said than done. In some cases, companies end up settling for someone who is less than qualified because they’re in a time crunch and need someone who can get started ASAP.

With outsourcing, your talent pool spans the entire globe. Not only does this increase the likelihood of finding the right candidate, but it also allows you to bring them onboard at a lower cost.

Bottom Line

Today it’s common for businesses to outsource at least one task. As a small business owner, you’re already wearing multiple hats and juggling a variety of tasks, which makes outsourcing a valuable option to consider to help you meet all of your business goals.

What are your thoughts on outsourcing? Have you gone down this path? Are you considering it in the future?