Let me tell you – outsourcing used to make me cringe. The idea of handing off work to strangers felt like admitting defeat when I started my handmade candle business back in 2019. I was that person burning midnight oil (pun intended) juggling Etsy listings, Instagram reels, and customer emails while my kids asked if I’d morphed into our kitchen table. But after my third “mommy, why does your laptop glow in the dark?” comment? I cracked faster than a soy wax pillar.
My first outsourcing disaster? Hiring a $5/hr “social media guru” from a freelance site who posted a TikTok of my lavender candles… with a Nickelback soundtrack. My DMs blew up with “Is this 2003?” jokes. (Lesson learned: Cheap ≠ cheerful.) But then I tried outsourcing email management to a VA in Texas through Upwork – she’d previously worked at a Trader Joe’s and had that perfect blend of hustle and “ma’am, your coupon code’s expired” tact. Game. Changer.
Here’s what actually worked from my 3-year trial-and-error spree:
- Bookkeeping: Hired a CPA firm in Omaha via a Facebook moms’ group rec. Saved me $2K in deductible misses last tax season. They speak QuickBooks and “I forgot to track PayPal fees” fluently.
- Product photography: Found a San Diego college student on Fiverr. Paid her in Venmo and free candles. Now my website looks like a West Elm catalog (without the West Elm prices).
- Inventory hell: Partnered with a 3PL warehouse in Kentucky. Cheaper than storing boxes in my garage next to the snowblower. Added bonus: No more “Mom, why does my bike helmet smell like lemongrass?”
The real turning point? When I outsourced website redesign to a boutique agency. Yes, it cost more than my first car (a ‘98 Corolla, if you’re curious). But watching them implement SEO magic while I drank iced coffee at my kid’s soccer practice? Priceless. Now when someone Googles “non-toxic birthday candles,” my site appears before Etsy listings. Take that, algorithm.
What I wish I’d known sooner:
- Start with ONE repetitive task that makes you groan (for me: answering “What’s your return policy?” 47x/day)
- Test small – try a Bark.com freelancer before committing to agencies
- Time zones matter. My 2am genius idea won’t vibe with someone’s 9am school run in Manila
Funny thing? The more I outsourced, the more creative energy I had. Last month, I finally launched those coffee-scented candles I’d been dreaming up since 2020 – while my VA handled Black Friday prep. Turns out letting go of control doesn’t mean losing your vision. It means trading nickelback-tier help for people who make your business sing.
Still nervous? Try this: Next time you’re drowning in Shopify alerts during dinner, Google “[your task] + freelance [your state]”. Someone’s out there craving exactly that gig. Might even be another burnt-out parent trading naptime for side hustle magic. Trust me – your future self sipping Dunkin’ while your team crunches numbers? She’ll thank you.