Help Wanted!
3 Ways to Get the Help You Need (Without Hiring An Employee)
   By Lee S. Schaffer

If you feel overworked, overloaded and overwhelmed, you’re not alone. Plenty of small-business owners have days when they scream for help.

But not all help comes in the form of a permanent employee. Sometimes, you just need a temporary infusion of extra hands to get a big project completed. Other times, you need someone to pick up the slack on mundane chores while you focus on the critical tasks of running your business.

Whatever your needs, you can find the right helping hands. This Focus Workshop will show you how to get:

• Temporary Help

• Virtual Help

• Personal Help

1. Temporary Help
   Temp workers fill gaps. Temps can handle seasonal workloads. They can fill in for permanent employees who take vacations or family leaves. They can step in to help out on big jobs that overload your small business.
   
   Temporary staffing services are your best bet for finding temp workers. You tell the service what type of work you want done, and the firm delivers the workers you need. You pay the staffing service, not the actual workers. So the burden of hiring, payroll and other personnel issues doesn’t fall on your shoulders.
   
   Some staffing services offer specialized employees. For instance, Accountemps, specializes in financial staffing. Other companies, like Manpower Inc., offer a range of worker competencies. If the tasks you need completed require special skills, look for a staffing agency with expertise in that area.
   
   Temporary staffing can be quick fix to your workload woes. But don’t rush into a decision. Before you call a staffing service, have a firm description of the job position you need to fill. That will help you get the most qualified worker.
   
   Here are other considerations:
    

   • Get references.

   • Look for an agency with a low worker turnover rate.

   • If the first temp you hire doesn’t work out, what action will the agency take to guarantee your satisfaction?

   • Does the agency perform employee background checks and confirm resume information?

   • Use a service that carries workers’ compensation and liability insurance for workers.
      

2. Virtual Help
   Virtual assistants are like secretaries on steroids. They’re trained, qualified professionals who work as independent contractors. And they happily handle every imaginable business detail, including:
    

   • Invoicing

   • Database management

   • Sales letters

   • Order processing

   • Research

   Because virtual assistants (VA) are independent business owners, they work in their own offices, not in yours. You don’t have the headaches of an employee—no payroll taxes, no personnel benefits, no training. Communication is handled via e-mail, instant messaging, phone, fax and snail mail. That means you can work with a VA across the country.
   
   When you contract with a VA, you pay only for the actual time she (or he) works on your project. Rates vary, depending on the VA’s location, experience and the project. Expect to pay at least $35 per hour. That’s a bargain compared to the costs of an employee’s wages, benefits, office equipment and training.
   
   If hiring a VA makes sense for your business, choose one who’s certified by a VA organization. These groups test for skills and ensure ethical standards. They can also help you locate a VA. Check out these resources:
    

   • AssistU

   • International Association of Virtual Office Assistants

   • International Virtual Assistants Association
      

3. Personal Help
   Many solo entrepreneurs simply need more time to run their businesses. If that describes you, then buy yourself some time by hiring personal, rather than professional, help.
   
   Consider a personal assistant, also known as a concierge. These professionals handle routine tasks such as running errands, making travel arrangements, tending plants, setting up home offices and tackling odd jobs. Paying a concierge $25 to $40 an hour (the going rate) frees you to generate more revenue for your business. Find out more from the National Concierge Association.
   
   Or hire a personal chef. The chef comes to your home with groceries and cooking utensils in hand. She prepares, packages and freezes the meals according to your preferences. Voila! Ready-made, cooked-to-order meals at a fraction of the cost of restaurant dining. Find out more at www.personalchef.com.
   
   So do what you do best—run your small business. Hire out the rest: house cleaning, yard work, home fix up, dog walking and anything else that buys you more time.
   
   

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