Three jobs that startups should outsource

By: Scott Hartley

If you’re a small business, just starting out, then there may be some jobs that you simply cannot do properly, either because you don’t have the time or because you don’t have the right skills. You may be great at designing products, but when it comes to data management or customer service, you may not feel confident.

Why outsource?

So if you feel that you are lacking, make sure that you fill that skill/knowledge/time gap, and one of the best ways to do this is to outsource it. It saves you the cost of hiring someone and gives you the best platform on which to launch your new business.

You outsource to keep your internal resources focused on your business, not to make a service disappear.

Finance

Most startups are founded by people who love their craft or product or idea, and not necessarily because they are great at business or finance. So, outsourcing the financial management of the business is one of the best things that you can do. A consulting financial officer can help you with financial projections, budgets, plans, pricing, as well as business planning.

Outsourcing an accountant can help with your day to day accounting and compliance if you don’t need help to the above level.

Customer service

Customer service is a touchy subject for many consumers, and rightly so, so you need to think about whether outsourcing (especially overseas) is right for your business. Call centres are often outsourced, but they often don’t do a great job.

Human resources

HR is a task that can suck time and energy and money. Personnel issues, recruiting, payroll and more, they are tasks that you don’t want to get bogged down in – outsourcing your HR functions can mean saving cost per employee. If your company is in its early stages, then support is essential as and when you need it.

How to hire a company to outsource to

Services that are touchpoints for customers should be vetted from several different angles. Whilst you want to hire based on technical skills, you should also hire on their English proficiency particularly if they are overseas. Outsourcing to overseas will save you money, but it often makes progress slower as you can’t talk to the team directly.

Some companies, like TNT Business Solutions, obviously have a great name behind them, but make sure that you ask all the questions that you might normally ask of a company that you’re hiring.