If simply reading about the requirements surrounding employees leaves you wide-eyed and breathless, don’t despair. There are alternatives to hiring an employee – good alternatives that are cost-effective and workable for almost any small business.

For instance, can you clean up your act and work smarter rather than hiring someone? Learn new time management skills. Get your office organized and streamlined, even if that means hiring a professional organizer for a few days.

Upgrade your technology with contact management software for more efficient scheduling. Invest in a first-rate telephone answering system instead of hiring a receptionist. Investigate new accounting software to smooth out procedures for billing and receiving.
Another alternative – refocus your business. Drop some of your less profitable accounts so you can concentrate time and effort on your most profitable clients. Do the same with product lines the services you offer. By redirecting your business, you can often bring in more revenues and actually work less.

If you’re eyeing an administrative assistant for your enterprise, look instead at the possibility of an executive office suite or business incubator. In office suites, several small businesses share resources. You rent a private office, but use the same receptionist. Many suites provide administrative and accounting services. Look in your local yellow pages for office suites. Or try these two Web sites to search for executive office suites in your area: www.offices2share.com and www.officefinder.com.

Business incubators are similar to executive office suites, except that they have a vested interest in your success. Most incubators offer marketing and technical support as well as management assistance. In return for those and other support services, they take a cut of your business. Incubators are especially attractive to start-up businesses. But if you’re thinking of changing the direction of your business, an incubator could be worth a look. For more information about business incubators, check out the National Business Incubation Association online at www.nbia.org.

Finally, think about the option of hiring a personal – rather than a professional – assistant. Marty Nemko, wrote in the May 2000 issue of HomeOfficeMag.com, “Fifteen years ago, I did something that has improved my quality of life more than anything – I hired a personal assistant.”

Nemko’s assistant makes meals, runs errands, handles routine tasks and tends the plants. That frees his hours to concentrate on business. A personal assistant could do the same for you and may be just the alternative you need to an employee. Give Nemko’s article, “A SOHOer’s Savior,” a read. You’ll get a firsthand look at the pros, cons and how-tos of taking on a personal assistant.  You can access this article online at www.entrepreneur.com.