What you struggle with

 

Every company has an Achilles' heel. Does your design look like a child's? Is HR a week-after-week headache? Does your team struggle to compile newsletters? If you can't objectively evaluate your weaknesses, ask a trusted peer.

 

Decide what to outsource according to two factors: First, can you hire an internal team member for less than the cost of an agency fee? If so, do you know someone who'd do as good a job as the prospective partner? If you can't answer "yes" to both questions, outsource it. Spending the time to recruit for a role you can barely afford isn't a smart bet.

Expertise you don't have

 

Your business might not have the budget to hire a head of engineering, but it might be able to retain an experienced individual as an outside advisor. And that's especially true if it's part-time work. Many professionals are happy to have a side hustle.

If it's an outsourced CMO, CFO or CISO you're looking for, entire agencies are built around those services. Check SCORE, a network of mentors and semi-retired professionals backed by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Just remember to vet C-level help more carefully than you might a casual advisor.

A lot of small business owners not experienced at specific tasks themselves have trouble assessing the quality of an external consultant's help. Find checklists, interview another leader to find out how she reviewed candidates or speak to candidates' references. Seeing a sample or hearing about firsthand victories (or failures) can be a huge help in making your decision.

Mundane tasks

 

Routine, mundane tasks are a not-so-sexy staple of every company. Be sure neither you, nor your best workers, devote time to tasks that don't fit the appropriate skill set or level of expertise. Automate what you can, and outsource the rest. These repetitive to-dos aren't building your teammates' skill levels; they're simply getting faster at doing template work. You need them on more demanding tasks.

Creative work

 

Say your company needs to develop some short branded videos. You or your VA could do it in a pinch, but amateur content doesn't get companies off the ground. It might be more expensive, but your best bet is to pay a specialist. The ROI payoff more than justifies the expense -- it will help your company grow bigger faster.

To find the help you need, turn to ON Outsource.

Outsourcing may add to your balance sheet, but it's hardly a waste. Every penny or minute you save is another you can spend elsewhere. Talk to enough entrepreneurs, and you'll realize: Sooner or later, you'll be glad you gave up some control.