by Lina Martinez
If your burning idea for a business venture is well on its way to becoming a reality, you might be starting to consider your management team. One of the easiest ways to save costs initially as a small business owner is to outsource some of the roles within that regular company team. Here’s a list of four roles that you might find will save you money to look for outside your in-house team.
HR
The list of what your HR consultant can do for you is almost endless, from dealing with employment procedure and regulations, to the legal requirements for breaks and holiday pay. Not only that, and you might not be thinking about this just now, but there are other legal instances that will be when you know you need HR support, for example dealing with disciplinary procedure. However, if you’re a small company, perhaps just you and a couple of others, paying someone to sit and wait for problems to arise is a waste of your money. If you choose to outsource this element of your business, it means that you can call on a private company as and when you need them. Not only that, but most HR outsourcing firms will have a consultant dedicated to you and your business, so you don’t have to explain what it is that you do every time.
2. Finance and accounting
Similarly to HR, if your finance department will consist of handling payroll, PAYE, and invoices, you don’t need a full-time member of staff to do this. Not only that, but by outsourcing your finance you will gain access to a level of expertise that might not be available to you on a salary you can offer as a start-up. Accounting is a more general competency, rather than one specific to your business and its needs. There are several different financial experts that any business needs to stay in contact with in order to thrive long term on top of a skilled accountant, including part-time CFO services that can help you to better understand your position and responsibilities. Investing in such a service could save you so much time, stress and pressure, as you'll be able to put your trust in a skilled professional who has years of experience rather than fumbling blindly through the task on your own. There are so many activities and responsibilities inside any business that will be beyond your skillset or capabilities, especially if you specialize in one key field. Therefore, it might make sense to keep your core team focused on the business development, and look elsewhere for other roles that would traditionally sit within management.
3. IT services
You can find companies that will help you design and implement software and any other technological needs that you have. On a more serious note, they will help you protect your business against fraud. If your company deals with personal data, you could be in serious legal difficulty if it transpires that you weren’t adequately protecting your computer systems against attack. An IT specialist will support you with this and ensure everything is up to regulation standard.
4. Marketing
This is often a skill that people think they possess. If you already have a Facebook, a Twitter, an Instagram, then do you need someone who is a specialist in Marketing to help you promote and grow your business? The short answer is yes. Without customers, or clients, you will lose reach and your business will fail. You might come from a background with the necessary expertise in marketing but, if not, then it’s worth having someone on your team, or outsourcing to gain access to this valuable skill. There are so many different marketing agencies and avenues that you can make the most of, so it's important that you can find the right style and method for your unique start up. If you want to attract younger customers who are hip and trendy, it's more than likely that social media marketing will be your best bet. Social media campaigns can be run by experts who even have contact with influencers and other important figures in the social media-sphere, so it can be a valuable pathway to explore. For those who are looking to reach out to older customers, it's best to seek out more traditional marketing methods such as billboard ads and leafleting. An effective billboard campaign can have a huge impact on your sales, so find a talented artist to create your newest marketing campaigns.