What is nice about outsourcing is that costs are usually directly proportional to sales. Thus, no sales, no costs. The disadvantage of outsourcing is quality control, so you will have to keep a very close eye on quality when you outsource.
Automate & Use Technology We live in a time where you cannot afford to do something manually if you can automate it. Automation software often has free trial periods or versions, but this is one thing I am willing to spend on. Paying for good software is worth every cent.
Most software is cloud-based, which is precisely how you want to build your business. If any piece of hardware fails, you should be able to connect with a new piece of hardware and immediately have access to everything. Automation software should also significantly reduce your staff overheads.
I cannot imagine running a business today without good accounting software such as Xero or Sage One or communicating with your clients and mailing list without proper email marketing software such as Mailchimp, or still running payroll manually when you can use online platforms such as Simple Pay or Sage Business Cloud Payroll.
I cannot imagine not having access to basic design software such as Canva to help you to quickly design a post or advertisement or having appointment scheduling software such as Calendly for clients to book consultations. And who could run a business today without a proper cloud-based video conferencing service such as Zoom?
Cloud storage such as Google Drive, One Drive, iCloud, or Dropbox has become necessary for businesses. And as I mentioned, if a piece of hardware fails, you should be able to access everything from a new piece of hardware immediately. Start from day one with a basic, cloud or onlinebased business phone solution such as Euphoria or Vox. You can even connect this to your cell phone number, but it looks like you are a big and professional business.
Build a Professional Brand from the Start You don’ t need to spend a fortune to look like a professional or an established business. Start with the basics. Ensure your business has a logo, email domain, professional email signature, basic website, office number, and an office address.
Have business cards, ensure you are visible on social media, run your business in a separate entity with its own bank account, and make sure
26 AUG 2021 SA Real Estate Investor Magazine