Growing your business - when is it time to bring someone else onboard? | Nitro Marketing Blog

Well, to some that is the $10,000,000.00 question.

In your business are you the cook, copy writer, salesman, support, and head bottle washer? Now add to that family, friends and maybe another job on the side. Sound familiar?

Ok, now have you heard this one? "Most entrepreneurs fail because you are working IN your business rather than ON your business." That is a quote from Michael Gerber’s book, the E-Myth. Not only is the book a good read, but it touches on many key points.

How can you expect to grow your customer base, when you are so busy trying to maintain the clients that you already have, that you are running in circles?

One of the major time consumers that you will find chips away at your day is your customer service. You want to keep those clients happy and coming back for more but shesh! You need to get some work done too. How much is your time worth?

I know what you are thinking…at least some of you…Have you seen the cost of customer service help? Actually yes and it is totally worth it. :o)

Think about it, you hire them for 10 to 20 hours of service per week and that is now 10 to 20 hours you do not have to spend working in your business. Now if you take that time and work on your business how many new clients can you bring in?

How many programs can you develop? How many JV partners can you set up? Heck, even take a couple of hours and go out to dinner.

It does hurt a little to make that commitment at first, cut that first check. Ouch! But then take a look at your bottom line once your business begins increasing. Take a look at your stress level as it begins decreasing. The money goes up and the stress comes down…talk about finding balance.

Remember, your company cannot grow beyond your ability to serve your customers. By bringing in that additional help you can change not only the number of customers you can service but also the manner in which your customers are served.

What if you have had a totally awful day? Your servers crashed not once but twice, your e-mail campaign is backed up, you received a charge back and the CRM you used just made an “upgrade” that wiped out 2 weeks of work.

Now Jane Doe has a support request wanting to know why she is being billed for something. And John Smith wants all of his billing records from your company for the entire previous year because he is doing taxes and did not save any receipts.

Do you really think they are going to get the same response and quality of service on that day as every other?

Helpful and consistent support is what you need to keep your customers happy and coming back for more.

If you are finding yourself overwhelmed and all of this makes sense to you; maybe it is time to invest in yourself, your family and your business and make that next big step up from a one man show.

- Meredith