What Types of Business Support Can Be Outsourced?
Small businesses rely on many different functions to operate.
Some of those functions are directly connected to the product or service the business provides. Others support the business behind the scenes through financial management, legal compliance, technology, marketing, administration, and other areas.
A business owner may handle some of this work personally, assign it to employees, use software, or work with outside professionals.
Many types of business support can be outsourced.
What Does It Mean to Outsource Business Support?
Outsourcing means hiring an individual or company outside of the business to perform a specific service or provide specialized support.
That support may be ongoing or temporary.
A business might work with a bookkeeper every month, hire an attorney for a specific legal matter, bring in a marketing professional for a campaign, or use an information technology provider when technical support is needed.
Outsourcing can be used for a single task, a project, part of a business function, or an entire area of support.
Financial Support
Financial work is one of the most common areas small businesses outsource.
This can include services such as:
Bookkeeping
Accounting
Tax preparation
Tax planning
Payroll support
Financial reporting
Cash flow support
Financial analysis
Business advisory services
The type of financial support a business needs often depends on the complexity of its operations and how much financial work is already being handled internally.
Some businesses may only need annual tax preparation. Others may need ongoing bookkeeping, payroll, reporting, or advisory support throughout the year.
Legal Support
Businesses may use legal professionals for both routine and specialized matters.
Legal support can include:
Business formation
Contract preparation or review
Employment matters
Intellectual property
Regulatory compliance
Lease agreements
Business transactions
Disputes
Risk management
Small businesses may not need an attorney involved in daily operations, but they may need legal guidance when making decisions with legal consequences.
The appropriate type of legal professional can also depend on the specific issue involved.
Human Resources Support
Businesses with employees may need help managing responsibilities related to hiring and employment.
Human resources support may include:
Hiring processes
Employee policies
Handbooks
Benefits administration
Performance management
Employee relations
Compliance support
Training
Workplace procedures
A small business may not have enough employees to justify a full internal human resources department but can still face many of the same employment responsibilities as a larger organization.
Outside HR professionals or service providers can help fill that gap.
Marketing and Communications Support
Marketing includes many different activities, and businesses often outsource portions of this work based on their needs.
Marketing support may include:
Marketing strategy
Branding
Graphic design
Website development
Search engine optimization
Social media management
Content creation
Advertising
Email marketing
Public relations
A business does not necessarily need to outsource all of its marketing.
An owner may create their own content while hiring someone to build the website, or manage the overall marketing direction while using a designer for specific projects.
Different providers may specialize in very different parts of marketing.
Technology Support
Technology has become part of nearly every business operation.
Outside technology support can help businesses select, implement, maintain, and protect the systems they use.
Services may include:
Information technology support
Cybersecurity
Software implementation
Cloud services
Website maintenance
Data management
System integrations
Technical troubleshooting
Hardware and network support
Technology providers may also help a business determine which tools are appropriate for its size and operations.
As businesses adopt more software and connected systems, understanding how those systems work together becomes increasingly important.
Insurance and Risk Support
Businesses face risks related to property, operations, employees, customers, professional services, cybersecurity, and other areas.
Insurance and risk professionals may help a business understand potential exposures and evaluate available coverage.
Support can include areas such as:
General liability insurance
Professional liability insurance
Property coverage
Workers' compensation
Cyber insurance
Commercial auto coverage
Industry-specific coverage
Risk assessment
Insurance needs vary considerably depending on the type of business, location, employees, assets, and services provided.
Administrative and Operational Support
Some businesses outsource work that helps keep everyday operations moving.
This may include:
Virtual assistant services
Scheduling
Document management
Customer support
Data entry
Project coordination
Process documentation
General administrative assistance
Administrative outsourcing can be especially useful when the business has recurring work that needs to be completed but does not require a full-time internal position.
Operational professionals may also help businesses improve how work moves from one step to another.
Sales and Customer Support
Parts of the sales and customer experience may also be supported by outside providers.
Examples can include:
Lead generation
Sales support
Customer service
Appointment setting
Customer onboarding
Customer success support
CRM setup and management
The right arrangement depends heavily on the business.
Some owners may want to maintain direct control over sales conversations while outsourcing the systems or administrative work around them. Others may use outside providers for a larger portion of the process.
Business Consulting and Advisory Support
Consultants and advisors can help business owners work through specific decisions, problems, or areas of development.
Support might focus on:
Business strategy
Operations
Leadership
Process improvement
Financial performance
Growth planning
Organizational structure
Technology selection
Specialized industry issues
Consulting relationships can vary widely.
Some professionals provide broad business guidance, while others focus on a very narrow area of expertise.
Understanding the provider's specialty is important when determining whether the service matches the business's needs.
Industry-Specific Support
Some outsourced services only apply to certain industries.
A construction company, healthcare provider, restaurant, professional practice, retail business, or manufacturer may each need professionals with specialized knowledge of its industry.
Industry-specific support might involve:
Licensing
Regulatory requirements
Safety
Compliance
Specialized technology
Certifications
Industry-specific financial practices
Operational requirements
General business knowledge can be useful, but some situations require professionals who understand the rules and practices of a particular industry.
A Business May Use Several Types of Support at the Same Time
Outsourcing is rarely an all-or-nothing decision.
A small business might handle its own marketing, use an outside bookkeeper, work with a tax professional annually, consult an attorney when needed, and rely on a software provider for technology.
Those relationships may also change as the business changes.
The support needed when a business first opens may be different from the support needed after hiring employees, adding locations, introducing new products, or increasing the complexity of operations.
Finding the Support That Fits the Business
The number of services that can be outsourced can make it difficult for a business owner to know where to begin.
A useful starting point is to look at the work currently happening across the business and consider where additional knowledge, time, or specialized support may be needed.
From there, the owner can explore the types of professionals and service providers available within that area.
Pathway Professional Network is designed to make that exploration easier by organizing professionals, services, and educational resources around the different areas in which small businesses may need support.
Instead of expecting one provider to solve every business problem, owners can learn about the different types of support available and identify the professionals who fit the specific needs of their business.
