You’ve been working hard at running your small business and feel ready to take it to the next level. But you have enough on your plate as it is.
So how do you scale up without getting overwhelmed?
You bring in help—the kind of help that will move you forward.
One person who can help is an OBM or an Online Business Manager. By now, you may have heard I’ve been certified as an OBM. I help small business owners by managing projects so they can grow their businesses. We’re different from virtual assistants in that we work at a managerial level. You can learn more in this post about how an OBM benefits your business.
Not every business is ready for an OBM, so I thought the following guide would help. Read on for tips to know when it’s best to bring one in, so you can level up.
When should you hire an OBM?
You should bring in an OBM…
1. When you’re ready to focus on growth
If you know your business has the potential to scale up or make it big, you need to set aside time to actively make it happen. Easier said than done, right? But it’s only when you’re past the “doing it all” stage and ready to be a master delegator that you will have time to focus on the big picture.
2. When your business is growing too big (or too quickly) for you to solo it
There’s nothing like the excitement of realizing your customers can’t get enough of your product or service. But this new wave of business can easily overwhelm your capacity. This is a great time to think about bringing in an OBM to get your business running smoothly.
3. When you’re ready financially
OBMs help clients save money by creating efficiencies and streamlining systems. But hiring one is still an investment in your company’s growth. Rates start at $1,500 per month for a good OBM and your business should be able to afford that comfortably.
4. When you need more support at a professional level
Do you need someone to talk to about strategy or ideas at a higher level? When you’re a business owner, it’s hard to get the right support from someone who understands and can help. With an OBM, you’ll have a partner and a colleague who “gets it” so you don’t have to figure it all out on your own.
But do you feel ready?
You might agree with the 4 points above and still feel you’re not ready to bring in help. That’s a common feeling.
It’s hard to make changes and there are misconceptions that everything needs to be perfect before bringing in an OBM. It doesn’t.
To work with an OBM, you don’t have to:
1. Have everything already organized
That’s what an OBM is for—to help you streamline and get organized. Don’t worry about getting your business to a state of readiness. We love organizing the chaos.
2. Be making megabucks
We free up your time to help you make the big bucks. While you should bring in enough revenue to hire an OBM (we don’t want to stress the business financially after all), you don’t have to be making millions.
3. Worry about losing control of your business
You’re still running the show… really. As an OBM, I have no intention of taking your place. I want to enhance your position and free up your workload, so you can fill your role as the CEO focused on growth.
4. Spend a lot of time training your OBM
With the right Online Business Manager, you should be getting back some of your time instead. When I come in, I use my experience to either work with your existing systems or create new ones with your oversight. Plus, any help or subcontractors I bring in are already trained by me or are specialists in their fields. All of this means we don’t add extra work for you.
If you’re ready to let go of the things you don’t enjoy doing, hire an OBM and get your life back. It’s time to focus on the vision that led you to starting your business in the first place.
We can help. Feel free to contact us if you have questions.
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