Outsourcing short term projects is an effective way to promote the growth of your business without having to expand your budget. You might be looking to outsource short term projects either because you lack the time or skills needed to perform these tasks yourself, or you may be hesitant about bringing in a new part time contractor for a long term period of time. Either way, short term outsourcing is the most popular way for a small business to go about getting projects done quickly.
Here are a few steps to keep in mind before you decide to outsource short term projects to an outside contractor or agency.
You first need to find out which job you want to outsource. Usually, small business owners tend to outsource short term projects that will not jeopardise long term growth. Never outsource core business projects on a short term basis that are critical to your company’s functioning, like financial planning or tasks that involve making major business decisions. Stick to short term outsourcing tasks like marketing, technical support, payroll, customer support and other similar tasks.
Once you’ve discovered which job you would like to outsource for a short period of time, determine a budget. Get an estimate by looking through the prices of several different outsourcing companies or individual contractors. After you come up with a suitable number, add on to that budget price to make sure you’re safe if any unexpected costs come up.
Look up several outsourcing companies, compare their strengths and weaknesses, and find out which one best compliments with your business module and with what you’re trying to achieve. After you have found the right company or individual, take baby steps. For outsourcing short term projects like social media marketing, give the outsourced person or company a test run. Write down what you want them to achieve during a certain time period, and wait to see the results. If everything runs smoothly, and if you receive the results you were expecting, then feel free to keep this person or company as your go-to source for outsourcing short term projects.
Make sure to read over your outsource provider’s contract, and look out for any hidden fees associated with doing business with that person or company.
