There are many tasks in business that are worth outsourcing. However, it’s important that you outsource the right company or individual for the job. Fail to source the right talent, and you could be wasting money on a service that’s not right for you. Below are just a few questions to ask yourself when choosing a company to outsource.
Do they get good reviews/testimonials?
To make sure a company or individual is as reliable as they say they are, it could be worth reading a few reviews and testimonials. You should be able to find these online on their site or simply on Google. If there are no reviews or testimonials, you may want to be wary of trusting the company. If they do have reviews and testimonials, consider how many of them are recent and how many of them are positive – lots of recent positive reviews is always a good sign.
Are they within your budget?
It’s important to set a budget before outsourcing a service so that you don’t end up spending money you don’t have. Some services will be upfront with their pricing, while others may require you to schedule a quote. It’s worth comparing a few different services to find the best deal. Don’t always go with the cheapest option – such a company may be compensating for a poor reputation or may only offer a basic plan.
Can they work within your timeframe?
It’s important that any company you outsource can be reachable when you need them, as well as being able to meet your deadlines. If you need to outsource a virtual receptionist to handle business calls, it could be important that they’re able to work during your company’s working hours. If you need to outsource a manufacturer to create a product by a launch date, it could be important that they don’t already have a large queue of orders so that they are able to manufacture your products in time for when you ideally need them. Be wary that 24/7 contact and the ability to meet shorter deadlines will usually cost you more.
Do they understand your industry?
When choosing a company to outsource, it could be important to make sure that they have an understanding of your industry. For example, if you’re outsourcing a developer to create a payment app, it could be worth looking for a payment apps developer rather than a general developer. Such companies are more likely to consider solutions to problems that are unique to your industry. You also don’t have to spend as much time educating them about your industry.
Do they support the ethical values of your business?
Finally, it’s important that any company or individual you outsource aligns with your company ethics. If environmentalism is a big part of your brand, you can’t be working with suppliers that have a high carbon footprint. Consider what your values are as a company and look for suppliers that support these values so that there is no conflict.
P.S. This post contains affiliate links.
