| Work smarter, not harderWhat is one of the | | | | applicable rate): $2500 ($25/sq. ft. is |
| best ways to work smarter without working | | | | conservative)·Annual Bonus (1 mo. salary): |
| harder? The answer is outsourcing. Whether | | | | $3000·Sick Time (10 days/year): |
| you need occasional or ongoing assistance, | | | | $1385·Other intangible costs (furniture, |
| outsourcing can save you money and time. | | | | testing, training & fees, sick children, |
| Graphic designers, copywriters, bookkeepers, | | | | etc.): $1200Total Typical Costs: $53,553/ |
| website programmers, office assistants, and | | | | $25.75/hr. total effective hourly rate at |
| other types of professionals are all readily | | | | 100% productivityAt a 75% productivity level, |
| available.And, there's a new way of hiring | | | | this employee's cost for actual work becomes |
| people - the World Wide Web connects | | | | $34.33/hour and at a 50% productivity level, |
| independent professionals and small | | | | it's $51.50/hour. A full-time staff person is |
| businesses that don't need or want full-time | | | | very unlikely to be 100% productive because |
| help. Try typing "Virtual Assistant" into a | | | | of idle time, errands, tasks, personal |
| search engine. You will find a vast array of | | | | matters, and a learning curve for certain |
| online resources. According to the | | | | functions. This is combined with an |
| International Virtual Assistants | | | | employer's inability to generate work due to |
| Association,"A Virtual Assistant (VA) is an | | | | distractions, staff meetings, company |
| independent entrepreneur providing | | | | functions, lack of time to delegate or |
| administrative, creative, and/or technical | | | | supervise, and sales fluctuations.So, |
| services. Utilizing advanced technological | | | | depending on the productivity level of a |
| modes of communication and data delivery, a | | | | full-time employee, you may be paying up to 3 |
| professional VA assists clients in his/her | | | | times his or her actual salary! You do the |
| area of expertise from his/her own office on | | | | math! What's the wise choice? Does an |
| a contractual basis." This means you can find | | | | in-house employee save money? In most small |
| a virtual assistant for almost any type of | | | | businesses, this method simply is not the |
| work. Are you a plumber who needs accounting? | | | | most cost effective.Entreprenuer, get your |
| Or a professional speaker who needs help | | | | life back!Outsourcing will save you money, |
| arranging your appointments? Perhaps you | | | | time, and energy. Virtual assistants and |
| would like some help writing proposals, | | | | other out-of-office professionals own their |
| designing a new website, or sending out press | | | | own equipment with the latest software, they |
| releases. You can find someone online for all | | | | pay their own taxes and benefits, they are |
| of these services.For many "around the | | | | experts in their field, they don't require |
| office" types of jobs, virtual assistants get | | | | morale building or training, and they aren't |
| paid $20 to $50 an hour. More specialized | | | | going to bring their personal problems into |
| services such as programming, legal | | | | your work space. Virtual assistants and |
| assistance, graphic design, or coaching can | | | | outsourced professionals offer even more |
| cost $75 to $125 an hour. This may sound | | | | advantages: they are loyal to their client |
| expensive at first. However, if you are not | | | | companies and will support your goals - they |
| in need of a person in your office 40 hours | | | | will help you generate ideas and allow you |
| every week, it becomes a very cost-effective | | | | more time to make your business more |
| solution.While I realize, costs fluctuate | | | | profitable.So, if you have employees that you |
| widely, let's look at some sample numbers to | | | | are happy with, then of course that's perfect |
| compare the typical costs of maintaining an | | | | for your business. Don't fix what ain't |
| employee versus outsourcing:Sample costs of a | | | | broke. However, if you find you are paying |
| full-time employee | | | | too much overhead or spending too much time |
| | | | managing, try a virtual assistant. If you |
| Employee Salary: $36,000/ $17.31 | | | | need a new type of service, but don't have |
| hr.·Two-week paid vacation: $1,385 to | | | | the in-house expertise, outsourcing is a |
| cover your employee's role (more if a temp is | | | | great option. There's a world of online help |
| hired)·Health Insurance (employer portion | | | | available at your fingertips.Wendy Maynard, |
| for 12 mos.@$150): $1,800·FICA Taxes | | | | your friendly marketing maven, is the owner |
| (7.65%): $2,754·Worker's Comp. (.61%): | | | | of Kinesis ( Kinesis specializes in |
| $220·Unemployment (State & Fed): | | | | marketing, graphic and website design, and |
| $309·Misc. costs (Vision, Dental, | | | | business writing. You can visit her marketing |
| Disability & 401K Matching, Profit Sharing & | | | | blog, Kinetic Ideas at: to harness the power |
| Stock Options): >$3,000·Office Space, | | | | of kinetic marketing? |
| Equipment, and Software (100 sq. Ft. @ | | | | |