There are only so many hours in the day. Cleaners know this better than anyone. It always seems like there’s more to be done than you can possibly fit into 24 hours, which means certain tasks have to be delegated or else they wind up neglected.

Ideally, you spend time on tasks that directly add value to your business — things that only you can do, like developing a strategy for growth, training new employees and delighting customers. Meanwhile, simple and repeatable tasks — like payroll or dispatch — are better farmed out to others.

One way cleaners can ensure that these simple and repeatable tasks are done, and done well, is to outsource them to a virtual contractor. Virtual contractor services essentially function as the back-end, administrative wing of your business. They can help you with tasks such as payroll, scheduling, dispatch, answering the phone, bookkeeping and beyond — freeing your time and attention for those value-adding tasks mentioned above.

Virtual Contractors Aren’t Just Grunts

In addition to this timesaving potential, there are other reasons to hire a virtual contractor. One is that they bring genuine knowledge.

When you operate a trade-based company, you’ve clearly spent many years developing a technical skill set and attaining the necessary certifications. But you can’t be an expert in everything. No one can. It’s no slight on business owners to say that many of them simply haven’t had time to master things like accounting and cash flow management.

But virtual contractors have put in the time and the training to master those skill sets, meaning they can offer truly expert guidance, leaving you to focus on the things you’re proficient in.

A Cost-Effective Alternative to Full-Time Employees

Another important way to look at virtual contractors is to note that they can prevent you from needing to hire new team members. For instance, hiring a full-time receptionist to answer your phones means paying a full-time salary, in addition to health care benefits, vacation time, and so forth.

Instead, you can entrust a virtual contractor with your customer service functions. While this is obviously not a free service, it will likely be more affordable than paying a full-time salary and benefits.

Not All Virtual Contractors are Created Equal

A few words of caution: One, virtual contractor services don’t come prepackaged. They’re generally tailored to meet the needs of the client. You may be looking for someone to provide robust bookkeeping and accounting help, or you may just need someone to handle dispatch. You’ll need to find the virtual contracting solution that can accommodate your specific needs.

Additionally, note that different virtual contractor companies will offer different levels of service and expertise, so it’s important to do your due diligence in finding the right virtual contractor for you.

When you do so, though, it can open up a lot of time and money for you to run your company more effectively than ever.

About the Author

Amanda E. Clark is the president and editor-in-chief of Grammar Chic, a full-service professional writing company. She is a published ghostwriter and editor, and she's currently under contract with literary agencies in Malibu, California and Dublin.

Since founding Grammar Chic in 2008, Clark, along with her team of skilled professional writers, has offered expertise to clients in the creative, business and academic fields. The company accepts a wide range of projects; often engages in content and social media marketing; and drafts resumes, press releases, web content, marketing materials and ghostwritten creative pieces. Contact Clark at www.grammarchic.net.