For many would-be entrepreneurs, the idea of running your own small business is an attractive proposition. Not only does it give you the ability to set your own schedule, but it also allows you to control your own destiny. Because of this, delegating responsibility or outsourcing areas of your business will typically be at the back of your minds. However, if you’re going to be successful, you’ll have to quickly learn that you can’t do everything by yourself.
Why Should You Outsource
The decisions that you make in the early development stages of your business can have far lasting consequences. According to their founders, around nine out of ten startups fail within the first few years of operation. With seemingly so much against you from the beginning, these choices could be among the most important you make in your entire career.
One of the first things any entrepreneur has to learn is how to effectively delegate responsibility to others. While making all of the decisions yourself might seem like the best approach, you’ll soon realize that it’s impossible to run a successful business this way. Outsourcing certain components doesn’t necessary mean you aren’t in control of your startup either. Just remember to prioritize the core areas of your business.
What Kind of Tasks Would Be Suitable
The type of tasks that your startup should consider outsourcing depend highly on the type of field you work in. For many businesses, though, non-core areas like document management, logistics, and customer support can efficiently be moved elsewhere. Working with a third-party to handle your customer inquiries is particularly popular as it allows you to take advantage of a full 24-hour workday should you choose a partner who operates in another time zone.
Similarly, since modern businesses are now more dependent on technology more than ever before, many startups see the benefit of working with a third-party I.T. company to alleviate some of the pressure on your back-end. Specialists like Logicalis can help you with everything from implementing new communication methods, increasing network security, or improving mobile integration.
Outsourcing can be a controversial subject in business. While it’s true that many large corporations have taken advantage of cheaper labor costs in developing parts of the world, to focus on this only ignores some of the positive impacts of outsourcing. Without it, many smaller businesses wouldn’t be able to compete at all.