Outsourcing Can Be for Small Businesses Too

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Small businesses frequently need help with small projects that may not require a full-time employee. Fortunately, a number of websites have sprung up in recent years that can help you get the temporary help you need to move your company forward.

Elance, Guru, oDesk, vWorker and Freelancer.com are just some of the resources out there.

For starters, think about what projects to outsource and what to do in-house. If it’s core to your mission, you want to maintain as much control as possible.

But if you have a job that’s a good candidate to be farmed out, be prepared to spend some time finding the right candidate and getting them up to speed. Be sure to draft a complete, detailed proposal to increase the odds that you’ll attract the right people.

Once you’ve found a promising candidate, give them small tasks to make sure they’re a fit before giving them more substantial tasks. And make sure everything is in writing before you start to make sure there are no misunderstandings.

Adapted from 5 Tips for Outsourcing Work Online by Maryalene LaPonsie at Small Business Computing.