Outsourcing can be a great thing. If done right it can help free up your time so you can work on growing your business. At the same time if you’re not careful it could quickly become your very worst nightmare. In order to get the most out of outsourcing you need a plan. Here are five things you can do to create an outsourcing plan of action.

What To Outsource?

Determine what you need to outsource. What is your goal? What do you want to accomplish? Goals are different for each person and business. You may want to boost your bottom line. You may want to stop working 70 hour weeks. You may want to offload jobs or tasks that you dislike but are a necessary part of your business. Determine your goals first, and then build a strategy that supports them.

Face Your Fears

Face your fears. Be honest about your fears. Outsourcing makes great business sense but it isn’t always easy. You may be afraid you’ll lose control or that you might hire the wrong person. Document these fears and then take steps to create a strategy which minimizes your possible risks and fears.

List Your Steps and Tasks

Create a comprehensive list of all of the steps and tasks required to run your business today. Then create a list of all the goals you have for your business and the tasks required to achieve those goals.  For example, if you want to publish an ebook then you’ll need to write the ebook, write a sales page, create a book cover, get it set up with a payment button, and market the book. Each one of these steps can be outsourced and included in your outsourcing strategy and plan.

Document Your Processes

Create an SOP or “standard operating procedure” for each task and job responsibility. Document the process from beginning to end. When you outsource that task your SOP makes it easy for your contractor to complete the job effectively and proficiently because they understand exactly what you need.

Start Slow

Approach outsourcing one step or contractor at a time. This will help you learn from any mistakes. Also consider using a test project with each new contractor. For example, if you hire a person to write an ebook you may first want to hire them to write an article or short report. That way your chosen contractor understands what is required and you can see if they are the right person for the job.

If you approach outsourcing in a planned and control way then you’ll minimize stress and find outsourcing to be the best way for a solopreneur to reach new levels in business!

Want to get started outsourcing your content? Download my tutorial so you can get started right.

So what do you think? Do you outsource? What tips do you have?