How Small Businesses Build Profits (NAPSA)—Increasingly “in” among savvy small businesses looking for ways to grow and prosper, is the idea of outsourcing. Tens of thousands of small business ownersrely on specialty companies that find outsourcing referrals and get projects completed quickly andeasily. The primary advantage is financial. Outsourcing online can cost substantially less than searching for service contractors offline or hiring employees. Pricing is competitive, often allowing business owners who thought they couldn’t afford professionally created brochures or an e-commerce Website to purchase the services they require to movetheir businesses forward. Outsourcing Made Simple The challenges associated with finding, evaluating and outsourcing to an expert can be daunting. Traditionally, businesses have relied on personal networks or phonedirectories to find a good Web developer, accountant or designer. Shopping for services has typically meant multiple contacts and repeated project descriptions, followed by long waits for proposals. These tasks tend to take time and attention away from what really matters to small business owners—customer service, product quality and other core-competency issues. Since it’s inception, one company, Elance Online has connected nearly 100,000 businesses with service professionals based throughout the United States and the world. The platform that the company provides, called “Everyday Outsourcing,” is free to business owners who wantto hire outsourced expertise (buyers). The site charges a nominalfee to service professionals who wish to offer their services to buyers. A free resource for buyers, the business modelis based on a pool of qualified service professionals whosubscribeto belisted. The firm provides a simple way for buyers to publish their requirements and get competitive price quotes for their projects. Qualified service providers then review the project description, often within minutes of the posting, and place their bids. Before selecting a service provider buyers can browse portfolios and credentials or check feedback ratings left for providers by other buyers that have worked with them in the past. The Bottom Line For businesses interested in outsourcing professional services, the company offers an excellent means to support sustainable growth in an increasingly competitive business climate. Learn More You can get more information at www.elanceonline.com.
