Comments on: When to throw in the towel on a task

By: Risk Management

Risk Management — Mon, 03 May 2010 04:22:06 +0000

Payroll processing is a real huge disruption to your company, sometimes decision makers consider outsourcing this work to a pro.

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 01:17:45 +0000

I am completely at the end of my rope with both the tax accounting and basic recordkeeping. I am an expat American freelancer. What programs or systems do any of you use to save yourself money beyond simply outsourcing? My accountant charges me the equivalent of a thousand U.S. dollars to fill out and file one return, because my tax situation as an expat freelancer is so complex (they say). They claim I do not present the information the way they want. But they give me no guidelines, either. Back home in the States, my tax accounting charges were $300 a year. This is three times more. There must be a way to do some of the work myself, but the sheer number of records to be kept, and the currencies, different fiscal years, let alone knowing the tax legislation changes….all of it is truly beyond my capabilities. Tips?

By: Sarah

Sarah — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 10:25:24 +0000

I outsource cleaning, accounting (essential in Italy), and I’ve experimented outsourcing some article writing and content writing, with disastrous results. Won’t be doing that again.

In the past I’ve also used a virtual secretary on a pay per hour basis. She was great. She answered the phone (I got a virtual number that rerouted to her), did various menial tasks but also chased up overdue invoices. I think if you spent the time to train a virtual secretary or virtual assistant, he or she could be very useful for things like glossary and TM maintenance etc.

I’ve also contemplated hiring a sales professional on a commission only basis…. I’d be interested if anyone else has done this.

By: Corinne McKay

Corinne McKay — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 01:09:38 +0000

Thanks to everyone for your comments! I agree that in order for a task to be worth outsourcing, you have to dislike the task and you have to save time, money or hopefully both by outsourcing it. As Sara and Joan pointed out, it’s important to keep in mind that it’s OK to hold onto a task simply because you enjoy it and/or it’s good for you, even if you could outsource it for less that what you make. I could definitely make more money by outsourcing after-school child care and yard work/gardening, but those activities go a long way toward keeping me sane after a day at the computer! Thanks for your great tips and feedback!

By: Joan

Joan — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 20:15:49 +0000

I also have an S-corp and have for 11 years. I also have an accountant for the parts that are too difficult or time consuming. I do my own monthly federal payroll deposits online (I rely on the accountant to tell me each year the figure I should be depositing), as well as my quarterly paperwork (federal payroll-941, state- which I pay quarterly with the figure also provided by the accountant, and the unemployment). They are less intimidating than they used to be, and as long as the figures haven’t changed, with me as the only employee and no subcontractors, it doesn’t take me much time, since I can pretty much just copy from one quarter to the next (if anything changes, I ask the accountant to figure it out). At the end of the year, I have an extra form for federal unemployment. The accountant takes care of the W2-W3s and makes sure everything adds up. I keep the records on my expenses, but the accountant is there if I have questions about what’s allowable, and I send everything to him at the end of the year to actually do my taxes (I haven’t done that since I went into business for myself, too much room for error).
I used to outsource my lawnmowing, on the calculation that it took me longer than them I was better off, as a pure financial calculation, spending the time working, but since getting a manual lawnmower, have found benefits to doing it myself (exercise and being outside). Besides, half the time they ran over my plants ; /
As far as housecleaning, I don’t mind so much doing it myself and I’m a little paranoid about the idea of having a stranger in my house messing with my stuff.

By: Tapani Ronni

Tapani Ronni — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:11:17 +0000

I outsourced cleaning of our house to a company. Twice a month a nice and competent team of 3 people cleans the house in 2 hours, 6 hours of my time saved. I hate cleaning, everybody wins.
I also use a tax accountant, it is necessary because my business and my wife’s stock options make taxes complicated. He certainly earns his keep.

Tapani

By: céline

céline — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 08:11:03 +0000

I outsourced my accounting long ago because 1) I would have done it badly and I don’t want to get into trouble and 2) It bored the hell out of me. Last year, I bought an online tool which allowed me to cut my costs by half and keep better control of my finances. The result is that I get the best of both worlds: I am in charge of my finances, but the really specialised work (annual return and audit of company accounts) is undertaken by a professional.

I also outsource everything to do with the technical side of my website for similar reasons: it has to be done properly, as it is my main marketing tool, and it would take too much time and effort to do it myself.

By: Thierry

Thierry — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 07:26:50 +0000

For me, it’s also accounting. I wish I could also outsource the marketing and clients searching. It would make life so much easier…

By: Sara

Sara — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 06:54:04 +0000

Absolutely! I just attended a presentation on time management by a guy who interviewed some 50 CEOs to assess their habits and identify any common traits. Outsourcing (delegating) and learning to walk away early from projects that are doomed to fail stood out as two hallmarks.

I outsource all accounting (France and US), property management of a rental unit we own, cleaning, ironing, grocery shopping (thank god for online delivery), and sewing (I’m hopeless). All of these are well worth the money spent with big dividends in terms of time saved and stress avoided.

I do the things I know how to do AND enjoy myself, like maintaining my customer database, developing and updating my own website, walking my dog, and doing DIY projects at home (big money saver, that one).

I would love to outsource maintenance of TMs and glossaries and accounts receivable (some day…we can dream, can’t we?).