Essential services every small business should invest in
No matter the size of a business, there are certain essential services that business owners rely on in order to keep them running smoothly.
Unfortunately, for small or start-up businesses some essential business services can carry a large price tag so it’s no wonder that so many try to manage as much as they can in-house, or even do without them altogether. But is saving a few pounds in the short term going to help you move on and expand in the longer term?
In-house or external, we’ve picked some of the essential services that your business can’t do without.
Payroll
It’s vital that your employees are paid in full and on the agreed payday. If you already employ an accountant or bookkeeper, then you may have already outsourced payroll duties to them. If this service is beyond your pay scale, there are services that deal with all kinds of payroll matters and some can produce payslips for as little as a couple of pounds per item.
You may think it’s more cost effective to tackle payroll matters yourself, but you’ll find that you have to source a comprehensive payroll software which includes full training and online or telephone support in case of any issues. Payroll can be a rather complex subject, so attempting it yourself may not be worth your time!
HR
Hiring new employees can take up chunks of time that you maybe can’t afford. Do you have the time to dedicate to advertising and finding suitable candidates? Is your employment law knowledge up to date? This is where an HR specialist can help. They’ll know all about employment law, what to do about long term sickness issues, maternity and paternity leave and all other human resource matters. Whether you consult an HR firm or hire your own HR assistant, it’s a role that needs to be filled in your business.
Office cleaning
Keeping cleaning in-house might seem like the perfect way to keep costs down, but it’s easy to let standards slip if there are more pressing matters in hand. Bleaching the loos and emptying the bins every other day can seem unimportant at the time, but it doesn’t take long for dirt and grime to build up, particularly in high traffic areas like carpets. Hiring cleaning equipment rather than buying it can save money for one off tasks, but day to day cleaning is always on the to-do list! Hiring a commercial cleaner is a great way to get your office looking brand new and will improve staff performance too.
Regular investment in a professional commercial cleaning service will ensure you don’t have the hassle of delegating cleaning tasks, or worse still, tackling them yourself! Your time will be freer to dedicate to growing your business. As first impressions count, your premises will be clean and tidy, projecting a professional image to all who visit.
Security
It’s fair to say that in the digital age, most businesses have some fairly valuable and expensive equipment on site. Equipment that, if lost or damaged through fire, flood or burglary, would be inconvenient and pricey to replace. Also, with many businesses having confidential information on file, security has to be a big consideration. Security devices can be relatively cost effective these days, whether you opt for full CCTV or an intruder alarm system. Bear in mind the safety of your employees too; you have a duty of care to them, so having extra safety features on site helps to ensure their wellbeing as well as giving them peace of mind.
IT support
Your business will need an adequate level of IT support. Smaller businesses often find it more difficult and more expensive to cope with any IT issues, and days can be wasted when equipment or software fails. There are many free resources available, so some businesses are reluctant to pay for IT services. But in order to project a professional image you should at the very least have your own email host. Can you really take any business seriously that uses a free email provider?
