There are countless outsourcing companies out there and unfortunately, price alone doesn’t give you a real indication of value or quality. There’s a bit more that goes into determining which service will best help your business so we’re here to provide a simple guide to get you started.
Affordability and Flexibility
The price you’re willing to pay is always up to your own budget. Something you might not have considered is the idea of flexibility. You might be considering outsourcing for temporary busy periods or miscellaneous projects, so if you’re concerned about locking yourself into a contract, see if there is a company that provides more freedom.
For example, Outsourcing Angel is not only lock-in contract free, there are also Prepaid Packages that let clients purchase prepaid hours that can be used over 6-months as opposed to set monthly payments.
Do They Have Values You Believe In?
In the same way that you’d carefully contemplate any sponsorships or collaborations, you should be selecting an outsourcing company considering the values that they have. Do they have values that you agree or identify with?
This could be respect, honesty, or accountability. It could be something like the values of loving what you do and doing what you love, which is the core of Outsourcing Angel.
Do They Care About Their Staff? Do They Pay Their Staff Well?
Don’t forget that your work is being outsourced to real people with family, friends, and loved ones that they care about. These offshore staff are often the breadwinners of their household so it’s always a good idea to take the time to do a quick background check of the outsourcing company. Find out if there’s any information on how they treat their staff.
Are they being paid a good salary? Are they being provided support? Don’t be afraid to ask the company yourself – companies that treat their staff well will be open to the inquiry and will often have a more loyal and motivated team!
Are Their Staff Working In A Good Environment?
This is an extension of the point above, but working in a good environment is just as important for offshore staff as it is for your local team. It nurtures talent, enthusiasm, and motivation to produce the best possible work for clients.
For example, at Outsourcing Angel, on top of being paid salaries often twice their country’s standard rate, staff are able to work from home. Instead of commuting for hours on end through cities with poor infrastructure, or even spending weeks and months away from home, staff can maintain a healthy work-life balance which improves their happiness and work morale. They also have a supportive online network to ensure that even without a physical office, no single member ever feels isolated.
Do They Provide You Continued Support With Their Service?
Don’t underestimate the value of continued service! Many outsourcing companies will act as little more than a recruitment service where they will just match and go. This can leave you in sticky situations especially if you’ve never worked with offshore staff before.
As a bare minimum, look for outsourcing companies that:
Provide proper onboarding services (i.e. initial training)
Provide tools and software to help you work with your VA effectively (e.g. project management platforms)
Offer training and advice to help you work well with your VA
Offer support if problems or conflict arise
(Of course, Outsourcing Angel covers all of the above and much more!)
Good luck with your search!
Outsourcing can bring a lot of value to your business, so make sure you’re doing it right by selecting the ideal company to work with. We hope this guide gave you a good idea of how to get started and what to keep a look out for. Good luck with your search for the best!
