5 Steps To Successful5 Steps To Successful

Small Business OutsourcingSmall Business OutsourcingSmall Business OutsourcingSmall Business Outsourcing

By Gourab NandaGourab NandaGourab NandaGourab Nanda

Co-founder and CEO of MyBusinessAssistant

The Questions Most Small Business The Questions Most Small Business

Owners AskOwners Ask

How can I develop an

effective outsourcing

strategy?

How to select the best

outsourcing solution for

my business?

How to evaluate the

complex web of options

and vendors?

Should I go for

on-shore or off-shore

solutions?

What services should I

outsource?

Step 1: Create A Wish ListStep 1: Create A Wish List

� This list of non-core tasks is

unique to you business

� Involve your core team to � Involve your core team to

prepare the list

� List activities that do not

require YOUR direct

expertise and time

Step 2: Prioritize Your List Step 2: Prioritize Your List

� How important is the task for your business?

� How much time do you spend on those tasks?

TaskTaskTaskTask ImportanceImportanceImportanceImportance Time SpentTime SpentTime SpentTime Spent OverallOverallOverallOverall PriorityPriorityPriorityPriority

Customer

Support5 4 9 1

Website

Maintenance3 3 6 2

Bookkeeping 3 2 5 3

Step 3: Define Skill SetsStep 3: Define Skill SetsTaskTaskTaskTask SkillsSkillsSkillsSkills TimingTimingTimingTiming Special needsSpecial needsSpecial needsSpecial needs

CustomerCustomerCustomerCustomer

SupportSupportSupportSupport

USA based agents with

good communication

skills to respond to

customer issues

24/7 support on phone

and email. Email

should be responded to

within one hour

Agents must be

qualified enough to

understand our

product

Website Website Website Website Good creative skills for Anytime, anywhere as Should be able to Website Website Website Website

MaintenanceMaintenanceMaintenanceMaintenance

Good creative skills for

design and expert level

PHP programming for

application

maintenance

Anytime, anywhere as

long as the work is

done as per scope and

schedule

Should be able to

work in sync with

online marketing

team

BookkeepingBookkeepingBookkeepingBookkeeping QuickBooks certified,

must understand e-

commerce business

transactions

Books must be up to

date within the first

week of every month

for the previous month

Should be available

for monthly phone

meetings to discuss

cash flow issues

Step 4: BudgetingStep 4: Budgeting

� Roughly allocate money to your wish-list tasks

� You may not share this estimate with the vendors

TaskTaskTaskTask Monthly SpendMonthly SpendMonthly SpendMonthly Spend

Customer Support $450

Website Maintenance $300

Bookkeeping $250

TOTALTOTALTOTALTOTAL $1,000$1,000$1,000$1,000

Step 5: Points To Consider During Step 5: Points To Consider During

Vendor SelectionVendor Selection

Integration

•Vendor’s capability to work in sync with related teams

•E.g.: Web team should constantly coordinate with online marketing team

FlexibilityFlexibility

•Vendor’s ability to cater to temporary/seasonal/business-specific needs

•E.g.: Offering additional agents during an ad campaign

Scalability

•Vendor’s capacity to ramp-up as your business grows

•E.g.: Seamlessly adding more people when you acquire a new customer and need additional support

Select What’s Best For Your BusinessSelect What’s Best For Your Business

� Share your wish list and points with potential

vendors

� Listen to what each has to offer or suggest

� Don’t jump to the lowest cost option � Don’t jump to the lowest cost option

� Be creative in your outsourcing strategy

� Get the best of on-shore and off-shore services

Thank You.Thank You.Thank You.Thank You.