Editor’s Note: Here at Dispatches, we are always looking for ways to help our readers do things. For some of our readers, that means helping navigate the working world, for others, it means assisting in the ever challenging question,“what’s for dinner?” For still others, it means figuring out how to balance family life with everything else. In an effort to aid in all of these endeavors, we have collaborated on this article written specifically for our readers.
All businesses are living, breathing systems. They have an ebb and flow. Don’t forget you started your business because you have a product or service and are the most qualified person to provide that product or service. This does not mean you excel at every aspect of running a business. We’ve talked a lot about marketing at Dispatches because that and design are what we excel at providing.
We are also advocates for outsourcing tasks you aren’t comfortable with doing or are not very good at doing.
Outsourcing can remove added stressors and ultimately let you focus on what you are good at.
Accounting and Financial
J & A Creative Group outsources our accounting and financial elements to a local firm Accounting Plus, who we cannot recommend highly enough. Even if you aren’t local, we highly recommend partnering with a financial expert.
For starters, it’s important to have a set of fully organized accounts for your tax return. You have to provide the government with a lot of information come April 15, and an accountant can help you gather it all professionally. If you wanted to get a mortgage for a business office, you will likely need an accountant to help you prove you can make repayments.
Also, an accountant can help you figure out what expenses can be claimed on your taxes and which ones can’t be claimed. Unless your business is accountancy, it is unlikely you’ll know every tax code, but an accountant most certainly will.
Improving Businesses Processes
It’s impossible to fully improve, streamline and tweak business processes internally. It requires an unbiased viewpoint and well-trained staff. A service like Six Sigma Master Black Belt offers companies large and small a way to improve their processes and more importantly save time and money.
Because, as is normally the case, training staff and managers internally can be a costly endeavor, particularly if you are the only staff member. Internal training, or taking time away f your business to attend process training on your own can take you away from the projects that bring in revenue.
Cloud Computing
Cloud computer can save you time and space and if used correctly regularly backup your data.
It’s understandable if you have some trepidation when handing over things like business data to the cloud. Or even an IT management company.
First, this will save you space as you won’t need a server on-site. It will save you time because the server will (if you partner with the right company) – it’ll be looked after and upgraded by your outsourcing provider removing server maintenance from your to-do list.
Second, you have a service that can fully look after and schedule data backups on a regular basis. Traditional storage solutions are prone to failure and loss, but cloud computing is much safer. Sure, data can still be lost – but you can create backup, after backup, after backup! You don’t have to worry about storage space either. With the right company, your part of the cloud is fully upgradeable at a moment’s notice.
Event Management
Business events are vital, whether you’re a big business or a smaller one. They’re good chances to network and build up solid corporate relationships in a friendly environment. Your business has to get out and about to stay relevant and meet potential clients and customers, and this is one way to do so.
But, when done alone, it can become a real annoyance. Booking a venue, sending invites, sorting the catering, the list is long. Event planning is similar to planning a birthday party but on a higher level. It’s like organizing 10 parties at the same time.
This is where an event planner can help you. Obviously, you’ll need to be involved through every stage of the process, but the event planner will handle the details. You’ll have final say on location and food, but you won’t have to go out searching for and booking these things.
Outsourcing should make your business life easier. When used correctly, you will be able to run your business as usual and accomplish other tasks at the same time.