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Outsourcing conjures up images of large corporate organizations and tenders
for jobs such as cleaning services, facility management, etc. But outsourcing
can include anything from word-processing services, database management, website
content management to copy and fax services. The list is limited only by your
imagination. The services outsourced by a small business will usually be
provided by a business support services provider.
What kind of services can a small business outsource? Whether you are a one man
business running from a home based office or have your own premises with some
staff, the services that can be outsourced include administrative services,
event planning, accounting/bookkeeping, recruitment, payroll, procurement and so
much more.
The best way to find out what you can personally outsource is to keep a work
diary for a few days. While this may be time consuming and tedious, it will show
up all those tasks that can be performed by somebody else while you get on with
the business of growing your business.
The best way to find out what you can personally outsource is to keep a work
diary for outsource your admin tasks a few days. While this may be time
consuming and tedious, it will show up all those tasks that can be performed by
somebody else while you get on with the business of growing your business.
The benefits of outsourcing for a small business owner are numerous. You save
money by not having to pay a full time salary for services you only require part
time. You also save money on equipment, and the inevitable huge phone bills that
will result from having a not too busy assistant sitting in your office with
nothing else to do but call his/her friends. And most importantly you give your
self more time to make more money and reduce your stress levels.
Finding a good business support services provider is essential to reaping the
full benefits of outsourcing. So you need to research your potential provider
and ensure that their work methods are compatible with yours. A good provider
will take the time to learn about you, your business and your customers. In no
time, you’ll wonder how you ever did without one.
Some questions to ask when choosing a business support services provider for
your business:
What are the fees and fee structure? If you know you will need their services on
a regular basis, ask about retainer rates.
What is their confidentiality policy? This is very, very important, as you want
to ensure that anyone carrying out work on your behalf maintains a strict
confidentiality policy.
When is payment to be made? This could be at the end of the project or, if you
are using a retainer service, then it may be once a month.
What is the method for sending/receiving work? Given today's technology you
would be surprised at how many options there are for sending and receiving work.
Thanks to the internet, it’s now much easier to work with your business support
services provider. Communications technologies now mean that you don’t have to
physically be in the same place to collaborate. You can send work to your
provider via email, fax or regular mail. You can also keep up to date with
developments via email. There are also various collaboration tools available on
the internet which allows you to share files.
Bill Gates, Time Magazine, March 22, 1999 VOL. 153 NO. 11 - "As a business
manager, you need to take a hard look at your core competencies. Revisit the
areas of your company that are not directly involved in those competencies, and
consider whether Web technologies can enable you to spin off those tasks. Let
another company take over the management responsibilities for that work, and use
modern communications technology to work closely with the people -- now partners
instead of employees -- doing the work. In the Web work style, [you] can push
the freedom the Web provides to its limits".
Adebanke Alawaye is a Business Development Consultant with a background in
investment banking, software programming and customer relationship management
for a leading marketing firm in the UK and Nigeria. She has been involved at
various times in the provision of project management services. She has developed
and implemented business plans including setting policies and strategies for
various start-ups. She is also the brain behind
http://www.purplesharks.com
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