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