Most of these roles can be undertaken by virtual contractors, and if you look overseas - you might be able to get these contractors at a fraction of the cost than it would be to hire in the United States.
Consider areas like customer service, telemarketing or even tech support - these are areas where you may decide to outsource. But how might you do that?
Well, there are a number of options from contractor sites like Guru to sourcing companies like Cognizant. These resources can easily get you the workers you need outside of the United States.
We're going to explore these options and examine some of the benefits of doing so. Therefore, if you're ready to learn much more - then read on for all the answers!
Generally speaking, businesses will do this to save some money on labor costs, taxes and additional employment benefits which prospective employees in the United States would either legally require or demand to take on the job.
Not only this, but it can also save you money on premises costs such as energy, rent, health and safety requirements etc.
While there will also be an ethical or moral debate on outsourcing, it is a completely legal tactic that many businesses do, and it is not especially difficult to get involved with.
Contractor sites are quite simple - they are there to put prospective clients in touch with prospective freelance workers.
These sites include things like:
These sites are usually very easy to use and communication between the two parties tends to be very good quality.
These specific companies primarily focus on IT and technology matters and are used by giants of the business world like Facebook, Google and Amazon. However, you can use sourcing companies for other business needs.
The way these sourcing companies operate is by having a headquarters in the United States, normally in New York City, but refer their clients to countries like India - allowing for a reduced salary requirement.
This can, and has, led to a number of media scandals and raised numerous legal/ethical questions.
However, it is not an illegal practice and can be an option for you, especially since companies like this have years of experience and can provide added value.
You also do not need to worry about your office requirements, health and safety considerations, discrimination laws, energy bills, mortgage or rent for your business buildings etc.
Outsourcing can be a very useful method for small businesses, because it allows you to get the talent you require to run your business, at a cost that you can afford.
You may also find that the work ethic overseas is much more stable and efficient than domestic workers.
It's also worth noting that sourcing companies like Accenture can provide additional value to your business because workers and other companies see them as a reliable source for services.
This can lead to your business expanding over time as more and more trust in the business world is built up.
As many businesses must focus on their customer service for trust with their customers and to build a reputable brand, customer service is something that must be of a very high quality.
However, if a customer is struggling to communicate with their customer service agent, this can lead to frustration at the business and they are likely to avoid conducting business with you again - and will likely write poor reviews and tell their friends and family.
This goes without saying that this is a detrimental hit to your business, so it's worth thinking about.
This is also the case for your own communication to the employees, if it is ever needed, as you may want to give specific directions for tasks.
Other potential drawbacks include ethics and morality. Many people have long scrutinized businesses for ignoring domestic workers and opting instead to pay a largely reduced rate overseas.
Many people consider paying reduced rates overseas to be somewhat exploitation of foreign workers, along with ignoring the requirement of employment to domestic workers, which many critics believe is anti-American.
The reason you need to consider this is because domestic politics may come into play and prevent outsourcing, or may force changes in the law for how it operates.
This can become problematic if you build your business structure with overseas workers.
