Ask James Caan: Should we outsource to get our firm off the ground?

 
James Caan
12 August 2013

Our small business agony uncle gives his advice on when and what to outsource.

Dear James:

My business partner and I have salaried NHS jobs but have been grafting for two years to get our Medical Legal Firm to a level where we can leave our posts and commit to the business full time. We find it difficult to progress as there are only two of us, but cannot afford more staff yet. We have a reasonable marketing budget and are keen to move things forward. Is there any advice you have regarding outsourcing work to marketing companies to help us progress? - Alex Tincombe

James says:

Outsourcing is a good option which can improve the productivity of your business. I am not advocating the relocation of your whole operation, but you can identify components that can be outsourced without a loss in quality and brand values.

One of the most important aspects of starting a business is knowing where your weaknesses are and filling in the gaps.

Outsourcing your marketing, as you have suggested, will mean you have experts on your side. A good agency has the ability to create a winning marketing strategy and the contacts to spread the word effectively.

I cannot stress enough the importance of picking the right agency. Take your time choosing and make sure the brief is detailed.

At this stage, you need to be getting out there and winning as much business as possible. Finally, the most important piece of advice I can give is to have belief in your idea.

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