10/ 10/ 2002
by Jeffrey Moses
Once a company reaches a certain size, there are numerous routine tasks that do not financially warrant the time and energy of the company owner. For instance, dealing with paperwork--although an integral part of any company's success--usually pays nothing per hour, while contacting prospective customers or supplying services to existing customers might pay upward of $100 per hour.
To maximize financial possibilities, small business owners should consider the possibility of hiring a full- or part-time assistant, freeing them to focus on more long-term, financially rewarding activities.
While there are no firm guidelines on when you should hire an assistant, you might want to consider it if any of the following are taking up too much of your workday:
- Paperwork--organizing and filing sales receipts, invoices, etc.
- PR activities
- Answering phones
- Dealing with ad reps and answering routine correspondence
- Working on marketing tools (newsletters, Web site content, etc.)
- Routine chores such as photocopying, purchasing supplies, paying bills and cleaning
To save time during hiring, make a list of skills that your assistant should have. These may include: industry knowledge, specific prior experience, word processing/spreadsheet/bookkeeping skills, PR experience and knowledge of any particular software that will be used. When posting an employment notice with an agency or service, be sure to include these requirements.
