For the past 2 years, I (F24) have been running a single person marketing business. I usually have no problem getting clients to work with me but I have repeatedly come across clients who would like me to deliver something that I have little knowledge on.
Now, I know people who are great at it and can do an excellent job, but I’m too scared to outsource. I fear losing control of my business. On the one hand, I want to expand and grow, but on the other hand, I feel like an imposter for offering services that I cannot do myself.
How can I get paid for something I’m not doing? If the outsourced person decides to leave, how will I deliver the same results for my clients? These are some of the questions that stop me from outsourcing.
I know I can do so much more if I had help and if I could just allow other people to work on the stuff I’m not good at. I need advice on how to go about this and how you had overcome this fear in your own businesses.
Thanks in anticipation.
I am scared to outsource. Help!!
byu/Melodic_Newspaper_58 inEntrepreneur
Posted by Melodic_Newspaper_58
5 Comments
The fear of losing control is real, but here’s the thing…. you have to let go if you want to grow. No one scales a business doing everything themselves. Outsourcing doesn’t mean losing control, it means delegating the stuff you’re not good at to people who are. You’re still running the show, you’re still accountable to your clients. The key is finding reliable partners and creating processes that make it easy to switch if someone bails.
You don’t have to master every service you offer, just make sure whoever you outsource to delivers the same quality you would. That’s how you get paid for something you’re not doing.
This is a normal step on the ladder. At first you do everything on your own because you need to, and at some point you’ll get big enough to where delegating and letting go becomes a natural next step on the ladder. Your a bussines, not a freelancer. It’s going to be fine.
Can I offer you some help with that?
I totally get it-I’ve had my fair share of issues with outsourcing too. The key is to act fast. Start small, and if you see any red flags, don’t hesitate – replace them immediately. You’re still in control, and you’ll learn to trust the process over time. It’s all about finding the right people who match your standards.
Sit beside with the person you outsourced and listen to them explain. Get some ideas and maybe you can pitch in something!
You will also need to discuss and agree with your outsourced person how much cut % you’ll take and for them.
It’s not bad for your business by being honest with your client if you have little knowledge about their request. It’s better to let them know that your associate can contribute more/better deliveries than doing it yourself then not meeting your clients’ expectations. You got this 🦾
It’s completely normal to feel this way! The fear of losing control or feeling like an imposter is common when you’ve been doing everything yourself. Start small by outsourcing a task that’s not core to your services, and gradually build trust. Remember, outsourcing doesn’t mean you’re less capable—it means you’re being strategic and allowing yourself to focus on your strengths. Also, look at it this way: you’re still delivering value to your clients by ensuring experts handle the tasks you’re not as skilled in. It’s a sign of growth, not weakness! You’ve got this.