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Most of the people I know are high achievers; and a large portion of them are "control addicts".   But the bad part about being in control of everything is that you often end up doing everything in your business.

This kind of behavior creates failure, not success.

One solution is to consider outsourcing - hiring an independent contractor to help you get things done.  Outsourcing can help lift a huge weight off your shoulders.

And it's not just a resource for larger businesses.  Businesses of every size are starting to acknowledge the need to spend more time perfecting their expertise while they free up time by giving work away.  This serves to help you build stronger relationships with prospects and retain current clients.

Why Outsource?

Outsourcing can help you make the most of all of your resources—people, time, money and energy—because you and your staff can focus on the what's most important to your business. When you outsource, in essence you're allowing other companies or individuals with different skill sets (e.g., accounting, human resources or information technology) to do what they do best for YOU. It’s a win-win situation for everyone.

As a result, you have more time to be laser-focused on your specialization which then enhances your credibility, and you become more attractive to people who are looking for the precise solution that you or your company offer.

Fitting Outsourcing Into Your Lifestyle

Outsourcing can definitely require an attitude shift and a willingness to give up a bit of control.  Realistically, it can feel uncomfortable at first.  But staying in a comfort zone is often what leaves some people stuck at the same level year after year.

Really think about your hesitation; what are your concerns about outsourcing?

Here are some common objections:

• Reputation. Business owners might worry what their customers, clients, staff and other stakeholders will think about their decision to outsource. You might also be concerned that the outside specialist will make some kind of drastic error that will harm your reputation.
• Security. Outsourcing may require that you consider sharing certain information to get certain tasks done.  Businesses may not be sure how to protect their intellectual property and other key data from fraud, tampering and other damage.
• Offshoring. A lot of outsourcing is done at the local or national level, but more and more is taking place using foreign associates. You might be concerned about language barriers, health and safety standards, work quality or the impact on your national economy.

With each of these concerns and any others you may have, take some time to answer the question, “What’s the worst thing that could happen if we outsourced?” and then ask yourself, “If that happened, then what?”

Many businesses have outsourced successfully and made mistakes that you can learn from. Do your research and be confident and intentional about your decision to move ahead.

How to Get Started with Outsourcing

Look at the activities you are spending time on that divert you from the core of your business. What’s draining you? Is it administrative tasks, technical support, accounting, human resources, internet technology or something else?

Determine how much time it's taking you to get these things done.  Are you generating profit by doing these yourself?  Could the work be assigned to someone else who has expertise?  What would it take to give up the work?

Start with these questions and begin looking into options for outsourcing to quality contractors.

Need help getting started?  For a complete course on how to find the right outsource partner, check out my brand new online course, "Outsource Your Service Business" on Udemy.com.  I will walk you through the entire process step by step.  For a limited time, you can get it at no cost here: http://udemy.com/outsource-your-service-business.

Ready to focus on what you do best and outsource the rest? The move to outsourcing requires a shift in thinking, some preparation and a slight learning curve, but in the end, you will emerge with a stronger focus on the "main thing" in your business. And it might just be the answer to growing your business to the next level.

Opening and running a business is a challenging endeavor, and this is especially true for the businesswomen of the world. In America, women only own 30 percent of all businesses, and sadly, first year capital funding for women running companies is 80 percent lower than our male counterparts. These overwhelming disparities make it imperative for female business owners to get ahead in as many ways as possible, but there are still many positive things going on for women in business, and smart business decision-making will continue to increase those positives.  Good networking, business education, and smart money moves like payroll outsourcing can mean a huge step that direction.

Employee Productivity

There's no doubt that doing payroll is a hassle. For business owners who choose to handle their payroll in house, they take on this hassle themselves. This is far from ideal because this hassle reduces workforce productivity. Just imagine how long doing all of the payroll activities (ie. paychecks, taxes) takes any employee; now imagine what they could be doing instead. It's important to factor in the big picture when running a business, and in such, business owners need to recognize that the cost of outsourcing payroll may be far less than the cost of the tasks that won't get done because time is being unwisely spent.

Money and Savings

Outsourcing a company's payroll is a quick and simple way to save money. Larger corporations likely have the funding and necessity of having large payroll departments, but smaller businesses don't have, nor do they need, the luxury of doing this. The labor costs related to having an employee handle payroll can become overwhelming. In fact, the money saved by outsourcing payroll can even help a company grow. Every dollar saved is a dollar that can be reinvested into the company, and there's no doubt that this will help a business grow exponentially in the long run.

Accountability

Any business owner who does her own payroll has felt the fear of wondering what will happen if something is incorrect on their payroll or taxes. Fortunately, when payroll is outsourced, this accountability lies with the payroll company. It is their responsibility to handle and correct any mistake that they make. If for some reason they choose not to, they can be held liable in civil court and made to pay damages. This peace of mind can go a long way.

Compliance

Ensuring accurate compliance with payroll and tax laws isn't the only legal worry that a person having their payroll done in house will have to consider. The simple fact is that if a company has their own employees handle payroll, they will need to provide security measures. No matter how much a person trusts their employees, they can't chance that certain abuses may be occurring behind their backs.

Payroll companies make a living by providing payroll services, so they have security measures in place that are designed to keep shady practices from occurring. If something like this does occur however, as mentioned earlier, the payroll company is fully accountable and will handle the issue accordingly. This takes a huge hassle off of the hands of the business owners and frees her up to manage the big picture and tend to the myriad other things that need her attention.


If you can identify one change that is almost certain to positively affect your business's growth, there's no reason to avoid making that change. Outsourcing payroll may seem like an added expense, but in reality, it will end up saving money and lessening the items on the critical to-do list. There are enough glass ceilings over female business owners as it is, there's no need to create an extra one.

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Having operated her small business for the past seven years, Akilah Richards knows first-hand the benefits of outsourcing.  She practices what she preaches by hiring outside help for various facets of her business, and will certainly add payroll experts to her list of priorities when she starts hiring employees.  Learn more about the benefits of outsourcing payroll from the payroll outsourcing specialists at NEBS PAYweb.ca.  

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/firechickenta99/3479600161/

Got a special project, a special event?  Have you decided to hire some help?

You will quickly discover that there are varying standards of excellence and performance.  Avoid drama trauma; do these 4 things.

1. Clearly state the scope of work.  Make sure you thoroughly outline the areas the vendor will be responsible for.  This can serve as a guide for the work that will be completed and can also help in narrowing your search to those who have specific experience in these areas.
   
   
2. Communicate expectations.  Openly share your thoughts and expectations of each section of the scope of work with the potential vendor so that there are no misunderstandings; everyone is on the same page.  Take a section/definition and ask the vendor, ‘What does this mean/look like to you?’  Clarify any differences and determine if you can comfortably continue with this vendor based on what you’re looking for and the outcome of this discussion.
   
   
3. Ensure the person you’re hiring can actually do the work.   Not only should they be able to perform the tasks, but the work performance should be above par.  Sometimes you’ll come across those who say they can do a variety of things, but they may only be proficient in one or two areas.  Unless you’re hiring for an entry level, on-the-job training position, don’t hire a novice.Go beyond reference checks.  Both a Motel 6 and Ritz Carlton have a place for you to lay your head, but the experiences are totally different!  Ultimately, the outcome is a reflection of you, your business, and your brand. If the vendor is responsible for the overall look and feel, and the experience of the end user, make sure they can deliver.
   
   
4. Make sure you are covered in the event of non performance.  After you’ve crossed the t’s, dotted the i’s, the final stroke is to make sure your contract with the vendor includes language that covers you in the event the vendor doesn’t perform.  Clearly lay out what will happen if the work is not completed per the written agreement and what recourse will be taken.
   
   

There you have it.  What have you done to successfully hire a vendor?

Latifah Abdullah is founder of Tibay International.  Using optimism, forward thinking, and passion for a woman’s well being, the Tibay Community provides tools, how to’s, and candid conversation on legacy wealth, business, finance, faith, fashion, and health – empowering women and women entrepreneurs to live a full, authentic life.

The community  uses a ‘whole person’ approach to provide business and personal resources to women and women business owners.