If your firm has more work than hands, outsourcing can be very rewarding, and it has its challenges. Some firms embrace it; others are wary. Firms that choose their partner carefully tend to do well. Those that choose on price alone can be let down.
Here are the pros and cons to weigh.
The pros
Lower costs
An outsourcing firm can often do preparation work for less than it costs you in-house. Look for one with a good reputation that is willing to work your way. A good partnership saves money and meets deadlines.
A team on call
Once you have a partner, you have an extra team when you need it. You don't hire specialists for the whole year; you send work when it comes up.
Smoother delivery
You don't need to ask your team to work late in the busy season, and deadlines are easier to plan around. Clients get their work on time.
The cons
Communication takes effort
Your outsourcing partner isn't in your office. Agree how records will be sent, how questions will come back to you and who to call, before the first job.
Managing the work
You still need to allocate work, check it and keep it moving. That takes management time.
You become a client too
While your client waits on their work, you wait on your partner's. You'll answer their questions and agree fees before each new piece of work.
Weigh these against your firm's needs, and start with a small batch of work to see how the partnership runs.
See how we work with firms, or our prices.