Outsource these three tasks to make your small business less stressful
Running a small business comes with perks like being your own boss and the excitement of (hopefully) creating something valuable. However along with this comes stress, in part because a small business owner often has to be a jack-of-all-trades.
Inevitably, some of the wide array tasks managed by a small business owner will be ones you dislike (even hate!) or just aren’t good at doing. Since a small business owner should play to their strengths for the best chance of success, it can help to offload some of your many jobs. So what are three tasks you can outsource with relative ease? Let’s have a look.
Accounting
Accountants are happy living in a world of numbers and spreadsheets, but a lot of other people aren’t. If you’d rather have someone else track your expenses and manage your VAT and company accounts, outsourcing this work to an accountant can be a huge burden lifted. An accountant can help with bookkeeping, payroll, VAT returns, annual accounts and a host of other tasks.
If you’re trying to save money, you might prefer a small accountancy business as they are often cheaper, but bear in mind that non-chartered accountants are not obligated to have a professional indemnity insurance (PII) policy.
PII protects you, the client, if your accountant is negligent and you have grounds to sue them for giving poor advice or service. As a result, your accountant needs PII cover. Before choosing an accountant, ask if they have accountant professional indemnity insurance; you can even ask to see their certificate of insurance as proof.
PR & Marketing
Being your own best cheerleader is important for a small business owner, but many people may find this hard to do. If you find it difficult to promote yourself to the world then look for a freelance PR person to do it for you. Many are willing to work part time and can help manage a Twitter or Instagram account, send out press releases and even brainstorm with you for ideas to promote your business. Best of all, they can toot your horn for you.
Blog Writing
Regardless of the line of work you’re in, the chances are good that you have a website. And Google likes it when websites produce fresh content on a regular basis. If writing isn’t a keen interest of yours or you can’t find the time to produce a steady stream of blogs, it may be worth teaming up with a freelance blog writer who can churn out pieces for you at least once a week. If you find the right person, they’ll get to know your style, your business and the types of content pieces that work the best to promote your business and put you on the map with Google, all whilst providing entertaining reading for your customers and other visitors to your website. These blog pieces can also then be promoted by your PR person on social media!
Final Thoughts
Once you've outsourced these tasks, you should have more time and mental space to think about your business. And hopefully you'll feel less stressed.
If you still find it difficult to manage your stress levels when running a small business, be sure to look after your mental wellbeing. Read the article "How to stop stressing about work outside of work" for some targeted tips if you're anxious due to work.