Should You Outsource?

May 10, 2010 Grant Business, 2

Outsourcing work overseas has become a surprisingly common practice in the last couple years. Outsourcing to companies or individuals in India is an extremely popular choice, though there are several other countries to consider. One major advantage to outsourcing is price. For $5-$15 an hour, a skilled Indian worker can often do what you would need to pay an employee $30-$50 to do here. And because contractors in India, like in many outsourcing countries, lies on the opposite side of the world, your company will be producing even while you sleep.

Many entrepreneurs have turned to outsourcing as a way to accomplish the diverse tasks facing a business owner. Important jobs that don’t warrant a full-time position become prime candidates for outsourcing. Companies such as Brickwork India employ a full range of professionals, including writers, researchers, accountants and programmers. In the words of Bill Rancic:

“A word or two on outsourcing: it was a lifesaver. We couldn’t afford full-time in-house professionals, so we farmed out certain task to experts in the field. And why not? [We] couldn’t be expert in all aspects of our business, and besides, I’d rather know a little bit about a lot than a lot about a little.”

While outsourcing has traditionally been used by corporations seeking customer support and programming help, it has now become more diverse and applicable to smaller businesses. It isn’t uncommon for people to hire personal assistants stationed overseas. Though it may seem counterintuitive to have your assistant so many time zones away, the productivity made possible by work being accomplished while you sleep is a huge benefit. You can assign a project at the end of one work day and it will be completed the morning of the next.

As with hiring any employee, the outsourcing decision should be based on your needs. If there are necessary functions within your business that you are not capable of doing or don’t have time for, an employee should be hired. Hiring a part-time or full-time employee from your area is always an option, but if you would like to save money and have work done while you sleep, PMI Education suggests that you consider outsourcing.

india, international workforce, outsourcing, pmi education

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