Sometimes, your business really starting to take off can be a mixed blessing. On the one hand, this is great news! You want your business to succeed, so an increase in sales can only be good. On the other hand, how exactly are you going to handle all this extra business? It can take a while before your financial position catches up to your increasing success, and this can leave you without access to all the help you need to meet demand.
Even if you cannot afford to hire any new employees right now, there are still a few things you can do to keep the momentum going.
1. Explore Automation Solutions
So many of the repetitive tasks necessary to keep your business afloat could conceivably be automated using various software packages and apps. Email marketing? Automate it! Social media posts? Schedule them! Invoicing? There’s an app for that! Automated solutions are generally cheaper than hiring a new staff member. However, while they do reduce the time you spend on those tasks, you’re not totally free of the work.
2. Outsource Tasks You Don’t Need to be Hands-On With
Need a designer for a new logo? Or a writer for you blog posts? Maybe you need help with your latest marketing strategy. Outsourcing can be a budget-friendly alternative to hiring a full-time employee. Websites like Upwork or Fiverr offer freelancers for almost any task you can think of, and companies like Catalyst Marketing Agency enable you to have access to a whole team of professionals for less than the cost of hiring one employee, which means you can definitely get more bang for your buck and plug any gaps in your business by outsourcing.
3. Interns: The Unsung Heroes of Small Businesses
You may also want to consider hiring an intern. Interns are often hard workers willing to do whatever they need to do to learn new skills, gain experience, and set themselves on the path to future career success. Hiring one or two is a win for them and a win for you when you can’t afford to hire a permanent member of staff. Plus, you get to play mentor, shaping the future generation of the workforce, which is always a rewarding experience to have!
4. Cross-Training to the Rescue
If your business already has a small team helping you out, cross-training those who already work for you can help distribute the growing workload. It can increase flexibility and build a more resilient team who can do more and be more for your company going forward. Bonus: It breaks the monotony and keeps everyone engaged.
5. Try Productivity meetings
If you cannot afford any new employees, then you may still get by effectively by holding regular productivity meetings where you throw out ideas and suggestions on how you can improve processes to free up more time. Often, your employees who do the work day in and day out will know where efficiencies can be made. Listen to them and take action where you can.
6. Hire Freelancers for Smaller Projects
Sometimes, you don’t need an extra full-time hand. Platforms like TaskRabbit or GigSmart can connect you with skilled workers for short-term projects, so they are a very useful tool to have in your arsenal as to small business grows into a not-so-small one.
7. Get Your DIY On
If you can’t afford any more employees, it might be time to learn new skills yourself. There are countless online courses on everything from graphic design to bookkeeping. Although you might be the boss, rolling up your sleeves and getting even more involved in the day-to-day running of the company could be a great way to plug those pesky gaps. Plus, the more you can do, the better your business is likely to be. It might take some time, but hey, think of all the money you’ll save.
