You have a genius business idea. You can envision your ideal customer. You see the need for this brand in the market. You have brainstormed your first product launch. But no matter how determined or passionate you are about your new startup, you can’t do it all alone.
Many startup founders think they must carry all of the weight of their new business on their own shoulders. And while you are the ultimate decision-maker, pulling in outside resources is necessary. Your startup will only flourish as long as you’re flourishing. Pulling all-nighters will eventually creep up on you. Before you know it, you’ll be burned out by your own passionate dream.
One way to avoid this burnout is to bring in outside help. Doing so will alleviate pressure and allow you to strategically focus on more important tasks. Being personally involved in every aspect of your business is only going to hinder it. By assessing your own strengths and weaknesses, you’ll be able to see areas where hiring experts would be most beneficial. Below are four helping hands your startup may need to truly thrive.
1. Financial Experts
For many entrepreneurs, number crunching isn’t the most enjoyable task. It’s tempting to rush through it or procrastinate from doing it all together. However, being financially smart is critical for every startup, no matter whether you have investors or are looking to obtain funding in the future.
Accounting can take up a lot of time, especially if your business is growing rapidly. By giving this task to an expert, you can prioritize your startup’s growth. Firms that specialize in accounting for startups can handle the day-to-day financial tasks that require attention. This can include everything from bookkeeping to tax compliance to month-end reconciliation processes.
Depending on your industry and the longevity of your startup, you may find that you need additional financial advisory assistance such as acquisition support. Hiring an outside accounting firm will allow you to fall asleep knowing your company’s finances are in the hands of experts.
2. Marketing Pros
Your startup is only as good as your consumer base. Think about it: Without customers, you can’t make a profit. Approximately 20% of all startups fail within the first year, highlighting the importance of winning over consumers early. While this isn’t necessarily meant to scare you, it does prove the need for exceptional marketing.
Hiring a marketing firm can accelerate your startup, allowing you to focus on product or service development. Marketing entails everything from email campaigns to traditional print and TV advertising to social media ad creation. A marketing firm can help you solidify your ideal persona audience, homing in on the platforms where they are more inclined to be. They can create and test campaigns, pivoting as needed and optimizing tactics based on your startup’s needs.
A good chunk of your overall budget will be going toward your marketing efforts. To ensure you get the most bang for your startup’s marketing buck, it makes sense to rely on the experts here.
3. Content Creators
Audiences today are content-obsessed. They want to be delighted, engaged, and educated all at the same time. This is a big ask, particularly for startups that are simply trying to get their name out into the marketplace.
Publishing consistent, new content is essential to establishing your startup’s presence. Yet producing blog posts, compiling e-newsletters, and developing client-facing documents can easily become a full-time job — and you already have one. Fortunately, hiring content creators is relatively easy in today’s world.
Using sites like Upwork and Indeed, you can quickly hire freelance writers based on your needs. If you’re looking for regular blog content, you may feel more comfortable hiring a long-term freelancer so they can get to know your business. Alternatively, if you need to create an investor presentation, you can assign this one-off project to a freelancer with that specialty. Your content creation needs will be satisfied, and you can focus on running your new enterprise.
4. Social Media Specialists
If the idea of TikTok scares you, then this is an area where you’ll definitely want to invest in outside assistance. A social media marketing agency will enhance your startup’s presence on all relevant social platforms. They will create buzzy, share-worthy posts, videos, and graphics that will engage your target audience. Because such agencies are tuned into all the latest trends, they can quickly adapt them for your brand.
Besides posting on your channels, a social media marketing agency can also help you establish relationships within your brand’s community. If you’re looking to partner with an influencer for a product collaboration, for instance, they can help manage the process. They can work with the influencer on ideating the content as well as the branded promotions behind the partnership.
No startup today can afford to ignore social media. From an audience growth standpoint, hiring a social media marketing agency is really a no-brainer in today’s social-first world.
Takeaways
Being a startup founder is a 24/7 job. You likely have a hard time shutting your brain off from your business no matter how hard you try. If you’re still holding tight to all the reins, though, now is the time to release them. Hiring outside experts can be a game changer, both for your own sanity and your startup’s success. Relying on trustworthy experts who understand their individual fields allows you to focus on your own well-being and on your business’ growth.
Lynn Martelli is an editor at Readability. She received her MFA in Creative Writing from Antioch University and has worked as an editor for over 10 years. Lynn has edited a wide variety of books, including fiction, non-fiction, memoirs, and more. In her free time, Lynn enjoys reading, writing, and spending time with her family and friends.
