Starting a business can be tough. Although the rewards can be huge, not to mention the advantages of working for yourself and pursuing your passion, the downside is the immense workload that can come with owning your own business. If you own a small business which is expanding, it might seem daunting when you start considering all the different elements that make up a company. Below, you’ll find a list of some of the most common and useful consultancies you might want to consider working with to successfully grow your business.
HR – What it is and Why You Need it
Your business might be of a size where you can employee a specific person to manage your HR needs. This would be a HR generalist, with a wide range of skills from recruitment to disciplinarians. It wouldn’t be of use to hire an employment law specialist, for example, if you need your HR employee to cover a wide range of issues.
However, if you are not of a size where hiring someone specific is on the cards, a consultancy will be able to help. They can work with you on everything to do with managing your employees, including writing their contracts. There are important legal issues surrounding many aspects of HR, such as working hours, wages and benefits, so if it isn’t an area of business that you’re familiar with, it’s worth talking to a company who specialize so you don’t run the risk of breaking the law or having to deal with employee tribunals.
There are also potentially thornier issues which a HR consultancy can help you with. You might be very adept at managing your employees, but there are sometimes issues which require expertise. For example, discipline and verbal warnings. Although this will be written into your employees’ contracts, it is useful to seek guidance on how you want to manage your disciplinary policy.
A consultancy will advise you on a range of issues and can give you support when it comes to everything employee-related, from dismissals to suggestions regarding flexible working patterns and statutory leave.
Outsourcing IT For Your Small Business
You may have someone in your business who’s quite savvy with computers, but a specific IT consultancy will manage so much more than routine repairs and troubleshooting. Online security is a big issue for all businesses today – particularly so for small businesses, where there may not be a designated IT person to ensure that internet security is at its peak. A consultancy will be able to make sure you have all the right software to protect your computers from malicious attacks.
Another aspect to digital security is data. You don’t want either your company’s or your customers’ persona data leaked or stolen. An IT firm will be able to advise you on the best ways to protect your information online, the safest way to store data, and how to encrypt it if necessary. They will also give you solutions for programs which you may not be aware of and could solve a problem your business is having. They should also provide training, although this is something to be aware of and ask about when you are making your initial inquiry.
An IT consultancy may give you bullet-proof internet security, but it is worth considering a company such as InovioPay to manage your transactions. This data is particularly sensitive and you want to be assured that your business is in safe hands when it comes to protection and payment service providers – both for yourself and your customers.
How To Outsource Your Marketing
Similarly to IT, it might be that you feel quite confident when it comes to marketing, and there are many resources you can draw on which will guide you through successfully advertising your business. However, a marketing company will have the knowledge to target specific groups of people so, if you are looking to expand your business and want to advertise to a new market, they will be able to offer you advice on how best to approach your new client-base.
A good marketing company will also find a design and approach that’s right for your company, building a unique marketing strategy that’s specific to your needs. It’s not just about finding new customers, but also keeping the ones that you already have. They will have expertise in social media marketing, analytics and search engine marketing, as well as many more ways of contacting both existing and potential clients.
However you choose to manage your business, it is always worth investigating your partner options, especially when you are considering expansion. A phone call or email will take minimal time and might be of huge benefit in the long run, so it’s always worth getting in touch with companies – they will be happy to discuss your needs and any potential help they can offer.