Sign post leading to 2 options - in-house or outsource Image of a leader with arrows pointing to those they could delegate to

How to choose what

to outsource in your business

Does your business have too much on its plate? Are you spending so much time on the daily tasks that you are neglecting areas that help your business grow? If so, outsourcing can be a great way to save money and free up time for you and your team.

 

As business owners, we often feel the need to have complete control of all aspects of our operations. As a result, we’re often reluctant to outsource, as we believe that we must complete tasks ourselves if we want them done correctly. Yet, outsourcing is both beneficial to you and your business. When you’re doing everything yourself, you are much more likely to make mistakes that take even more time to put right and you may not be making the most of your own skillset working in this way. Outsourcing puts tasks in expert hands, helps your business run smoothly, and reduces your stress levels in the process!

Deciding what to outsource

It can be difficult to decide what tasks to outsource and what to keep in-house. If you’re struggling to keep up with everything and your to-do list is growing by the day, there are a few questions you can ask yourself to help narrow down what you can outsource.

  • What tasks are taking up the most time?
  • What tasks do you dread doing or continually procrastinate about?
  • What could someone else do just as well (if not better)?
  • What tasks are crucial to the business but aren’t income-generating activities?

If it’s a task that falls into any of the above categories, the chances are someone else could do it at least as well as you. For example, let’s say you spend two hours every day responding to emails. You could definitely outsource that!

In addition to working out what to outsource, other factors should also be considered. These include:

  • Costs – consider the cost of outsourcing versus the cost of keeping the task in-house. If outsourcing will save you money and/or offer your client a better experience, it may be the best option.
  • Time and costs again! – if you’re spending your time doing tasks with a low associated value instead of focusing on the high value tasks that only you can do then delegation is the missing piece in your puzzle!
  • Expertise – If you have a complex task that requires specialist knowledge, you will need to find a VA that has those specific skills.

Once you’ve identified the areas where you need assistance, research different providers and find one that’s a good fit for you, your needs and your budget.

 

How to find a VA for your business

Once you have a clear idea of what you want to get out of outsourcing, it’s time to start looking for providers.

A good VA for you will have the experience and specific skills you need for your business tasks. Make sure you ask all the relevant questions, such as their knowledge of specific software programs or platforms you need them to be familiar with.

Does the VA have a personality that fits with yours? As nice as a person may be, if you have different communication styles, it could be a source of friction.

When considering a VA, reliability is key. Be sure to ask references from past clients.

Answering these questions will help narrow down your search and make it easier to find a VA that’s a good fit for your business.

 

Are you ready to outsource?

Outsourcing can free up so much of your time, but only if you do it smartly and you’re ready and willing to let go a little bit. With a little thoughtfulness about what tasks you should hand over, you can lighten your load without sacrificing quality or slowing down your business growth. It will feel strange at first, especially if you are used to doing it all yourself and controlling every element! As Richard Branson says:

If you really want to grow as an entrepreneur, you’ve got to learn to delegate.”

 

If you are ready to outsource some of your daily tasks, the team at Shift-MVA has a wealth of business experience that we can bring to the table. You can shift your overwhelm, save time and focus on other areas of your business, or on other things that are important to you. For more about the virtual assistant services we offer, browse around our website and get in touch!