When you’re running a business, productivity and efficiency are top priorities. Small businesses often operate with limited resources, and it can feel very much like a DIY operation, which it usually is. At the same time, we’re in a time when there are so many opportunities to outsource.
When you’re outsourcing certain tasks as a small business owner, it frees you up to be strategic in the areas you focus on. It’s easy to outsource thanks to freelance talent, and sometimes eliminating some of the most burdensome tasks from your own plate is the best way to be innovative and boost your revenue.
There are two big problems for many small business owners when it comes to outsourcing, however. The first is the fear of relinquishing control and the second is knowing where it’s most valuable to outsource. While the fear of losing control is something you may have to deal with on your own, the following are some of the best things for small business owners to outsource.
Bookkeeping and Taxes
Most small business owners aren’t bookkeeping or tax experts, yet they try to do it on their own. This may be an especially complicated year for taxes because of the changes ushered in by the new tax reform act. A lot of that legislation directly affects business owners, and in many ways, it’s a positive change, but not if you don’t know how to take advantage of it.
Taxes can get complicated, and it’s something that’s worth outsourcing. The benefits include peace of mind, improved efficiency and the ability to save some money along the way.
Digital Marketing
At this point, small businesses are probably already pretty well-invested in digital marketing. Otherwise, they’re behind the curve.
With that being said, it doesn’t mean they’re getting the best possible ROI for their efforts.
Outsource your digital marketing, at least when it comes to planning and strategy. It frees you up, but you’re also going to be able to get more targeted outcomes, and you’ll likely find that you’re getting a lot more bang for your buck with your marketing budget.
Payroll
Payroll is a huge headache for business owners, but it’s an avoidable one. Payroll is something that is guided by stringent regulations, tax laws and changing guidelines. It’s not as easy as writing a check to employees, as you likely know.
If you make even a simple, inadvertent mistake, you may be subjected to a tax audit, and no one wants that.
Finally, if you’re at a point where you know you need to, but you’re still not sure what to outsource, just think about what takes the most time for you and is the most challenging or unenjoyable. There’s no reason when you’re running a business to do the things you hate. If you hate it, go ahead and take it off your to-do list and you’ll likely find that move alone will help boost your creative thinking and help you feel like you’re able to achieve more of your strategic objectives.
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