How to Manage Business Growth Using Outsourcing

There comes a time in every entrepreneur's life when business is booming, the phone is ringing off the hook, and you are running full speed ahead to keep up. When you reach this critical mass, you have the choice to continue building momentum, or crash and burn. This article shows you how to build momentum and take your business to the next level using outsourcing

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Phone
• Internet Connection

1. You can't do everything! Why stress yourself trying to? Analyze your area of specialty.
   
   What is it that you excel at? Contrary to popular belief, not every entrepreneur is a sales person. While you have thus far been the receptionist, accountant, and sales department, it is time to delegate. Not delegating, or attempting to be all things to all people will actually hinder your growth. Identify your core function, i.e. what it is that you do best.
2. Define what area your specialty fits into.
   
   I have here listed the 4 basic components of any business, regardless of what industry you are in.
   
   1. Sales: This person is the one on the phone, contacting clients & media, doing presentations, and generally "selling" the idea, product, or brand. This function generates direct revenue for the business.
   
   2. Administrative: This person feels most comfortable managing the paperwork side of the company. Making sure the contracts are signed, running payroll, bookkeeping, creating filing systems, generating client communications, this individual provides support for each department within the company.
   
   3. IT: This person focuses on the technology side of the company. Website development, software infrastructure, telephone systems, this individual may prefer to work more behind the scenes.
   
   4. Management: This function facilitates communication between all categories, and gives direction to the company. They are responsible for performance and profit for all the other departments within the company. For any company, the owner should be doing this job function in addition to any other skills they may have. It is very nearly impossible to have employees manage this function 100 %.
3. Fill in the Gaps
   
   After deciding your specialty, and what function it fit' s into, fill in the gaps in your skills. If you are a sales person, like me, you tend not to focus too much on details. You need help in the administrative and IT areas. One possible solution would be contract out your web site development, and hire an office administrator. The whole idea is to make sure that each of the 3 functionalities of your company has the best person managing it that you can afford. Avoid duplicating your skill set to stretch your dollars the furthest.
4. Out source before you hire
   
   When you read about outsourcing in the newspaper, they tend to focus on sending jobs abroad, and how complicated outsourcing is for small businesses. But outsourcing is actually easiest, and most effective for the small company. A good rule of thumb is to out source those activities which cost the most, but generate the least amount of money. You can out source any of the 4 functionalities, but remember that outsourcing doesn't mean out of mind. Your outsourcing vendors are your "employees" and you must hold them accountable for performance and quality.
5. Find Vendors
   
   Here are a few great vendors I have worked with for outsourcing.
   
   Administrative:
   
   This is a great option for handling your incoming calls. It is very easy to use, and you can sound a lot bigger than you actually are.
   
   www.gotvmail.com
   
   Contracting with an answering service is a great way to have your phones answered by an individual.
   
   www.incontact24-7.net
   
   
   
   Sales- I generally don't recommend outsourcing your sales process. This is usually the first contact your company will have with a client, and it is important that you retain control over this function. However, outsourcing your lead generation process can save you money and time. There are several call center/lead generation services you can use.
   
   http://www.telecenterinc.com/
   
   IT:
   
   If you are looking to get the best price, as well as the best performance for your dollar, an easy way to request a bid from companies is by visiting
   
   www.elance.com
   www.vendorseek.com
   
   This is a resource for independent contractors in several areas to submit bids and project samples for your review.
   
   Human Resources:
   
   When you finally decide to make the plunge, and start hiring, it is very important to have someone professionally manage your employee records, payroll taxes, and company policies. Pro Vision Staffing Group offers several customizable options including:
   
   Payroll Services- Pro Vision Staffing Group will provide a secure time keeping system, and provide complete payroll preparation for your company, as well as do direct deposit, and tax submissions.
   
   HR Outsourcing- Pro Vision Staffing Group will act as your Human Resources department, preparing payroll, managing employee files, benefits, retirement plans, and more! By helping you provide sophisticated benefits programs, you are able to compete with bigger companies for the best talent.
   
   Staffing- If you need help with interviewing and selecting candidates, Pro Vision Staffing Group will help you find, select, and hire employees on a temporary, temp to hire, or direct hire basis.
   
   www.helpmestaff.com
   
   
   
   By following these steps before you decide to hire, you will streamline your effort, and generate the maximum return for your time. Being successful is more planning and execution than luck, so don't ever forget that fact.

Tips & Warnings

• Your personality and skills may allow you to fit into more than one category. However, it is important that the majority of your work is on what YOU ARE BEST AT. In addition to the management function of your company, you will generate the most revenue return for your time by working in only 1 other job function. I personally am a sales person, but my friend Willetta, who runs a graphic design firm, is more of an administrator. I enjoy talking with people, the thrill of the close, and meeting new people. Willetta , however, get' s nervous around new people, and prefers to just design. There is no "best" type of person to be. Each function, whether it be sales, administrative, or IT, is required for the company to excel.
• This advice is meant to be a general guide for outsourcing. It is your responsibility to evaluate, and investigate vendors. While I have had good experiences with the vendors mentioned, I can not be responsible for their future performance.