If you are running an early-stage startup, there might be some knowledge gaps in your core team. You might be strong on the technical side or a product whiz, but what about financial strategy, administration, or HR? Are you prepared to manage the day-to-day of your new business project, from recruiting new talent to bookkeeping to financial planning?
In a newly-launched startup, there is likely a knowledge gap you should fill in. While your in-house team focuses on developing products and services, you will need to create a partnership with outsiders to help manage your marketing team and funding. And the best way to create this partnership to fill in the gap between your startup ecosystem is by outsourcing, advised YEC Forbes.
Outsource whatever services you can so as to save on the highest business costs of all – staffing costs – while getting the support you need and the assurance that these functions are being taken care of by professionals.
See also: Essential Areas a Startup Must Focus On
Specifically, you can outsource the following 3 functions:
If your company has closed a seed round of funding or is earning more than $250K per year, you need a CFO to handle your financial strategy and run your accounting team. Even if you’re not yet funded or earning significant revenue, you might still be in need of CFO services. For example, if you’re in high-growth mode or have a lot of activity or expenses, you definitely need a financial professional to oversee your financials.
Depending on your needs, a consulting CFO might be able to help with financial projections, cash forecasts, operating budgets, financial plans, pricing, reporting, debt management, M&A, equity and debt negotiations and liquidations. Overall, CFOs help you with business planning, providing your business plan with essential rigor. Your business is creating a product or service; finance is not your business. Look for a professional CFO who has experience in working with startups.
If your financial status doesn’t warrant hiring a CFO, you still need financial support; at the very least, you’ll need help with your day-to-day accounting and regulatory compliance. Outsourcing your bookkeeping to the right firm will give you the support you need for cash management, AP/AR, financial close and taxes.
You can also hire a consulting group to provide accounting support on a project basis. So, whether you need help with audit preparation or generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), your accounting partner can give your accounting issues the attention they need — so you can focus on other things.
Any entrepreneur can attest to the fact that HR can be a total time suck. From recruiting to managing personnel issues, from compensation to benefits, from payroll to employee policies and procedures, human resources management can take over your entire schedule. And HR costs include much more than wages all HR functions, while non-revenue driving, have an associated cost. Outsourcing your HR functions is definitely a cost as well, but when you calculate it out per employee (and figure on the invaluable savings of staying in compliance) it becomes clear that this is a necessary business cost.
While your company is in its early stages, it’s essential to get support, but only as you need it. To outsource doesn’t mean you just hand over a function and forget about it. You’ll still want to be apprised of all aspects of your startup; hiring the right consulting groups will insure that you stay informed.
Remember, you don’t outsource to make a service disappear; you outsource to reduce your cost structure and keep your internal resources focused on your business. When you outsource necessary functions on an as-needed basis, you can concentrate your internal team efforts where they are most needed: growth. And the companies you hire will help you stay on track as your company grows to the next level.
Read also: Human Resources Department Checklist for Startups
