5 Signs you're Ready to Outsource
Running your own business comes with all the highs and lows. You’re a one person band wearing all the hats. At the start, it’s manageable - everyone gets your personal approach, quick turn arounds and all the focus is on them, but it’s not realistic and can’t be sustainable long term, especially as your business grows.
You will reach a point when you know help is needed, but how do you know when you’ve got there? Here are 5 signs that you’re ready to outsource in your business:
Your to do list is keeping you up at night. If you’re a business owner, it’s likely you’ve experienced this! Whether it’s because you’re working long hours and by the time you need to switch off, you are wired and there’s no sleep happening here! Or your workload is just overwhelming. It drags itself into a new day, like a game of Tetris, where you can only take one thing off at a time. In the meantime, more tasks are coming flying in from all directions. You’re spread so thin that nothing ever gets completed.
You struggle to take a break. Whether it be an afternoon off, a week off, or just an hour off. Your business revolves around you and if you take a step back, a clients email reply is delayed, your social media gathers dust, or your accounts….well, we won’t even go there. Taking time off means there’s just a crazy amount to come back to, and why would you add anymore chaos to what is already there?
Your client experience is slacking. The bread and butter of your business – your clients, are starting to be neglected. Your sacred client journey is suffering, and we all know the importance of first impressions. If your clients are having to get in touch with you/chase you for updates, then something needs to change.
You’re making mistakes. This is a big one! Your clients are unhappy with certain aspects, whether it be the product, communication, or their experience. This is your reputation, a reputation you build your business on and probably rely on for recommendations etc. There’s no question that you need this to stay intact.
Your business is growing! This is great news, but this also means you need to realise that you can’t wear all the hats anymore - you’re not supposed to be an expert at everything. Your time is precious (time is money as they say!), why waste it in areas that aren’t adding to your business growth?
If one or more of these points speaks to you, then it’s time to look at ways you can outsource:
Outsource - There is nothing more liberating than knowing that your business is growing so much that you can physically delegate the parts you don’t want to do. Here are some ideas of the people you could hire:
Accountant and/or bookkeeper: Send off your tax chores to someone who will do it for you (I already know you don’t want to keep hold of this area!).
Photo Editor: Need help with mass photo editing?! Outsource it! There are so many editing services or freelance editors out there. You can send them your presets and before and afters so that they can edit your images just as you would.
Virtual Assistant: Need a second pair of hands in all the general admin for your business? Get a VA! Their role also include agony aunt and brain stormer, so it’s a business essential that you’ll never regret!
Automation - Get yourself a CRM system (customer relationship management) such as Dubsado or 17 Hats to help manage your client journey. Put all of your documents (such as contracts, questionnaires, invoices, canned emails etc) in here, and just press go. You can set up workflows so that you don’t have to think about it, and you know your clients are being looked after.
Invest in a coach or mentor. When you feel as though you need help to get to the next level but have no idea how it is even possible to get there, invest in a coach or mentor. They will hold you accountable to your goals and help you to work through everything you have in your head.
So, if you’re struggling to find time for anything other than your business, get outsourcing! It will change your life, I promise.
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