Questions to ask when considering if you should outsource your business finances

Business owners often find that they have more to do then the hours to get it done in. This is especially true for businesses that are in the earliest stages of development. Many business owners find that they must take on several different job descriptions just to keep their business up and running. One of the major tasks is the management of the business finances which can include: everything from paying taxes to bookkeeping. However, most business owners find that they simply don’t have the time to take care of all these tasks as their business grows. The constant demand of business finances leaves many business owners wondering if they should outsource these tasks.

However, this is a decision that should not be made lightly. Every business owner who is considering outsourcing their business finances needs to take several different factors into account. The costs of outsourcing should be compared with the other options that are available such as hiring an in-house employee. Only after careful consideration is made should the decision as to whether or not to outsource business finances be made.Here are some questions to ask when ask when considering if you should outsource your business finances-
• What are the overhead costs if I don’t outsource? It is important to understand that there are costs to every action that you take. While it will cost you money to outsource your business finances it will also cost you money to keep them in house. Most business owners automatically think about hiring an employee to handle the business finances. However, you should keep in mind that this can cost your business up to 25% above the salary you pay them. This is because there are overhead costs for every employee you hire.
• Do I have the technology to correctly manage my business finances? In addition to the costs that come with hiring an employee it is important to take any additional costs in mind. If you don’t already have the technology you need you will have to buy a software program to manage your business finances. This can be a significant cost depending on the type of software that you choose to buy. You will also have to spend money training whoever (and yourself), is going to be using it. One of the major benefits of outsourcing is that the company you outsource to will most likely have the latest in business finance software.
• How much money will I save? The decision to outsource most often comes down to how much money the business will save by doing so. Any business owner who is considering using outsourcing should get a concrete figure that represents both the cost of keeping the business finances in house and outsourcing them. In order to get an accurate figure for outsourcing you should consult with several different outsourcing firms and get a quote in writing for the business finance functions that you are considering outsourcing.
• How much time will I save? Money is not the only thing that can be saved by using an outsourcing business finance firm. There is also the time factor to consider. Keep in mind that any time you can free yourself up from doing tasks that is time you can spend working on your business. Most of the time the day to day tasks can be successfully delegated so that the business owner can work on making his or her business a success. You should keep track of how much you spend on business finance tasks and then determine if you could be spending that amount of time more effectively on something else.