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Time Management
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Article 6: Get Help (For A Little While)
Solo entrepreneurs can quickly get buried under work if a large project comes in or a new client appears. These times call for extreme time-management tactics, such as finding extra hands to help handle the workload.
Your first reaction may be to hire an employee. Don’t do it. An employee will only consume more of your time in management duties, training and payroll preparation.
Instead, look for temporary help that can pitch in only when you absolutely need it. Here are two options: temporary staffing and virtual assistants.
Temporary staffing can be quick fix to your workload woes. Temp workers fill gaps. They can handle seasonal workloads. They can step in to help out on big jobs that overload your small business.
Some temporary staffing services offer specialized employees. For instance, Accountemps, www.accountemps.com, specializes in financial staffing. Other companies, like Manpower Inc., www.manpower.com, offer a range of worker competencies. If the tasks you need completed require special skills, look for a staffing agency with expertise in that area.
Working with staffing services is easy. You tell the service what type of work you want done, and the firm delivers the workers you need. You pay the staffing service, not the actual worker. The burden of hiring, payroll and other personnel issues falls on the service, not on your shoulders.
Another option is hiring a virtual assistant (VA). These are trained, qualified professionals who work as independent contractors. And they handle every imaginable business detail, including:
Invoicing Database management Sales letters Order processing Research
VAs are independent business owners. They work in their own offices, not in yours. Communication is handled via e-mail, instant messaging, phone, fax and snail mail. That means you can work with a VA across the country.
When you contract with a VA, you pay only for the actual time she (or he) works on your project. If hiring a VA makes sense for your business, choose one who’s certified by a VA organization. These groups test for skills and ensure ethical standards. They can also help you locate a VA. Check out these resources:
Most solo entrepreneurs juggle business needs with personal responsibilities. Many have found that it’s easier to hire someone to help with the personal, rather than the professional time crunch. Here are some ideas:
Consider a concierge, also known as a personal assistant. These professionals handle routine tasks such as running errands, making travel arrangements, tending plants, setting up home offices and tackling odd jobs. Paying a concierge $25 to $40 an hour (the going rate) frees you to generate more revenue for your business. Find out more from the National Concierge Association, www.conciergeassoc.org. Hire a personal chef. The chef comes to your home with groceries and cooking utensils in hand. She (or he) prepares, packages and freezes the meals according to your preferences. You get ready-made, cooked-to-order meals at a fraction of the cost of restaurant dining. And you don’t have to spend time shopping for groceries or cooking meals. It’s a great option for limited periods of time when your workload is at its heaviest. Find out more at www.personalchef.com. Hire out other personal duties, such as house cleaning, yard work, home fix up, dog walking and anything else that buys you more time.
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