Is it the right time for you to hire a team or outsource?
Or should you keep powering away on your own…at least for a little while longer?
This is a huge decision, especially for service-based business owners.
In this post, I’m going to walk you through exactly how to know when it’s time to hire a team.
No more wondering or guessing, just 10 sure-fire signs it’s time to take that next step!
10 Signs: How to Know When it’s Time to Hire a Team
The hiring process can be scary, but please, please, please, don’t let that hold you back.
When you can finally stop trading time for money, you’ll quickly wonder what on earth you were so afraid of and why you waited so long!
Sign #1: You’re Overwhelmed and Overworked.
Do you find you’re working through every lunch break, missing family dinners, and having to put in extra time nearly every weekend?
Do you feel like you’re never really getting ahead, despite putting in more hours than ever before?
If so, this is probably the #1 sign it’s time to outsource or hire a team.
According to a recent Gallup poll, the average small business owner works 52 hours a week. So if you’re feeling overwhelmed and overworked, you’re in good company!
According to a recent Gallup poll, the average small business owner works 52 hours a week. So if you’re feeling overwhelmed and overworked, you’re in good company!Click To TweetSign #2: You Don’t Feel Like You Can Take Any Time Off.
In the same vein, do you feel like you can never really take any time off?
According to an OnDeck study, only 57% of small business owners are planning to take a vacation this year.
According to an OnDeck study, only 57% of small business owners are planning to take a vacation this year.Click To TweetIf you feel like you can’t take a vacation – or worse yet, you feel like you can’t even take a sick day – you’ve got a problem!
Hiring just one team member can make a huge difference, allowing you to take time off without feeling like your business is going to implode!
Sign #3: You Have Too Many Ideas and Not Enough Time.
Do you lay awake at night with business ideas swarming around your brain?
Do you regularly dream up new service offerings, but just don’t have the time or energy to actually implement them?
If so, it’s definitely time to bring someone on to your team.
By offering these new services – and having a dedicated team member there to manage the work – you’ll start bringing in extra cash with very little extra work on your part!
Sign #4: The Quality of Your Work is Suffering.
When you have too much work and not enough time, something’s gotta give.
You may find yourself rushing through client work, simply because you have no other choice.
But the problem is that eventually, your clients are going to notice – if they haven’t already – and suddenly you’re going to find yourself with too few clients and too little work!
Sign #5: You Have The Cash Flow to Support a Team.
Speaking of money: Do you have extra cash at the end of each month, or are you constantly struggling to make ends meet?
If the former is true, you’re likely in a good position to start hiring or outsourcing.
That said, sometimes it’s worth taking the risk to hire someone…even if it means things are going to be a little tight in the short term!
Sign #6: You’re Saying No to New Clients.
This is the dream of every small business owner…right? Having TOO much business and TOO many clients?
The problem is, if you turn down business regularly, clients are going to get frustrated and are going to stop calling altogether.
So, if you regularly find yourself saying “no” or booking clients way into the future, it’s likely time to hire a team!
Sign #7: You Don’t Have The Skills for Certain Tasks.
When you first started your business, you likely taught yourself a bunch of new skills so you could do everything yourself.
But there are certain tasks that are often best left to the pros: skills like SEO, graphic design, or accounting, for instance.
So, if you’re currently doing ALL the things – but aren’t exactly excelling at all of them – it’s probably time to outsource or hire a team member!
Sign #8: Your Recurring Tasks are Falling Through The Cracks.
Let me ask you a few questions:
Is your inbox overflowing with unanswered or unread emails?
Do you have a long list of phone calls you need to return…some from weeks ago?
Are you months behind on your bookkeeping or invoicing?
Oftentimes, it’s these neglected recurring tasks that are the first sign it’s time to get some help!
Sign #9: You’re Losing Your Passion for Your Business.
Do you miss waking up excited about your day’s work?
Has your passion for your business been replaced with a sense of dread or overwhelm?
If so, you could be on a direct route to burnout.
And one of the best ways to avoid this is to bring on some trusted team members who can share the workload and the stress with you – so you can get back that passion you once had for your business.
Sign #10: You Don’t Have Time to Focus on Big-Picture Stuff.
Sometimes, it’s not the admin tasks that fall through the cracks (see #8).
Instead, you may find yourself getting all the little things done, but at the expense of the big things – things like finding new clients, developing new products, and basically just building and growing your business.
Hiring a team or outsourcing will allow you to delegate those everyday tasks so you can focus on the big stuff!
Hiring a team or outsourcing will allow you to delegate those everyday tasks so you can focus on the big stuff!Click To TweetWant to make even more time for big-picture stuff? Then you may want to consider systemizing your business. Find out exactly how to do this in my post, How to Systemize Your Business to Grow and Scale in a Manageable but Profitable Way.
Final Thoughts
I trust this post has helped you figure out how to know when it’s time to hire a team.
This isn’t always an easy decision…but once made, it’s one you’re very unlikely to ever regret!
Ready to hire a team, but aren’t sure where to start? Check out these helpful posts:
10 Steps to Build a Team When You Have No Clue How to Get Started
Successfully Manage a Remote Team with These 10 Tips
Are you ready to hire a team or outsource? Which of the signs above struck a nerve with you? Share in the comments below!
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I am definitely guilty of #2, #3 and #8. Thanks for such an insightful article, Kim.
Thanks for 10 Sure-Fire Signs It’s Time to Hire a Team or Outsource shared with us.
It’s always a good idea to ask help to someone who knows. Turning away clients or no time offs means your booming, so that means, it is time to expand.
I have just started a Digital marketing agency and this information was very much useful for me to make my team.
Thanks for sharing this. It really helped a lot.