If you’ve ever built a startup—or any business, for that matter—you know that resources are always limited, there’s never enough time, and you have to do the job of multiple people by yourself. Every entrepreneur and startup founder knows that the road won’t be easy, but the obstacles can still surprise you and throw you off-course. Obstacles can spoil your plans because they weren’t anticipated, you don’t have the resources to address them, or you’re unsure of your next steps.
Money will always be a concern, especially at the onset. It’s a delicate balance: pinch your pennies and your business might not grow at the rate you expected, but spend too much and it might not grow at all. Ironically, trying to cut costs aggressively when you’ve barely launched your startup can do more harm than good. Instead, focus on the aspects of the business that will help sustain it and push it forward, like marketing, which is an oft-neglected part of the startup planning stages.
Manpower is also something that should be considered during the early days of your startup. The nature of startups require specific skills and talent, and getting the right people can mean the difference between an up-and-coming player and a startup that would have made it. Staffing requirements should be considered while you’re just starting because, as your startup grows, any talent gaps and staffing issues are also magnified.
“I Can Do It” vs. “I Can Do It All”
A startup is a very dynamic organization by nature, and this can affect the roles that people play in the organization. Specifically, roles will overlap and you may find that you and your staff may be doing more than what’s in the job description.
As a founder, you may be tempted to do everything yourself, but this isn’t a sustainable solution. If you do the job of several people by yourself, you won’t be able to give 100% to any single task and you’ll be decreasing your productivity by as much as 40%.
Hiring the right people will prove to be a smart investment despite the process taking up a lot of time and effort, especially for small teams. Realizing that you made rushed decisions during the recruitment process can prove to be major hurdles down the line, as staffing issues are magnified as your team grows.
Startup Outsourcing: When to Consider It
Startup outsourcing is a solution that helps new businesses bridge talent gaps while also keeping costs at a minimum. If you’re wondering if outsourcing can help optimize business processes or fill talent gaps within your startup, it may be time to start looking for a startup outsourcing company. Below are a few signs that may indicate your need for one.
You Have Very Specific Skill Requirements
Versatility is key in hiring for your startup, but this doesn’t mean that you’re hiring a single person to do everything for you. Some businesses or processes require expertise or extensive experience in a certain field. Unless your startup specializes in a certain field, it’s best left to the professionals.
Startup outsourcing will help you with your staffing requirements by expanding the talent pool from which to get the people you need. Whether you’re looking for a finance expert, a web programmer, or a digital marketing professional, Outsourcing ensures that you get the right talent that fits your specific needs. Broadening your search also helps cut down costs and provides more options.
You Need a Cost-efficient Solution
For many startups, outsourcing is a solution that helps significantly reduce overhead costs. Aside from staffing, you get access to an outsourcing company’s resources and services. This is comparatively less expensive than hiring a full-time employee in-house. It’s also easier to hire people for freelance or project-based tasks if you have seasonal staff requirements. Outsourcing companies also offer back-office services like payroll, accounting, and office management, to name a few.
You Need More Time
If 24 hours in a day doesn’t feel enough to meet your deadlines and you feel like a candle burning at both ends, it’s time you asked for help. Startup outsourcing companies can provide the help you need by helping you hire people—plus onboard, train, and manage them if need be. As a founder, you should set the direction of your startup, but it doesn’t mean you have to steer by yourself.
You’re Looking for New Ideas
Startup teams start with good ideas, but you can’t expect them to have new, innovative ideas all the time. Often, even weekly brainstorming sessions don’t help, and only a fresh set of eyes can help you and your team get a new perspective. Viewing the business from the outside looking in can provide valuable insights that you may not have considered. Ideas from someone who is able to distance himself or herself from the business can help you identify areas for improvement and processes or strategies that you can double down on.
The Future of Startups is Outsourcing
Startup founders should look beyond the negative connotations about outsourcing and focus on strategies that will make their business thrive. There are advantages and disadvantages to startup outsourcing, but with proper planning and delegation, it will more than pay for itself in the long run. Diversifying your organization ensures that you have the necessary competencies and a healthy mix of perspectives that can help take your business to the next level.
Schedule a call with us today to see how startup outsourcing can optimize your business for easy scaling and healthy growth. Focus on the more important things like strategy and business direction and leave the dirty work to us.