What to Outsource First in a Small Business (And What to Keep)
If you’re running a small business, chances are you’ve had this thought at least once:
“I know I need help… but I don’t know where to start.”
Outsourcing sounds like the logical next step when you’re stretched thin - yet for many business owners, it also feels overwhelming, risky, or even a little uncomfortable. Handing things over can feel like losing control, especially when you’ve built everything yourself.
The good news? Outsourcing doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing. When done intentionally, it can create breathing room, clarity, and momentum - without disconnecting you from your business.
Let’s break it down.
Why outsourcing feels harder than it should
Outsourcing isn’t just a practical decision, it’s an emotional one.
For many small business owners, business is personal. You’ve likely spent months (or years) wearing every hat, learning tools the hard way, and figuring things out as you go. So when someone suggests delegating, it can bring up questions like:
Will they do it as well as I do?
What if it takes longer to explain than to just do it myself?
Am I even ready for support yet?
These concerns are completely normal. Outsourcing feels hard because it requires trust, clarity, and a shift in how you see your role within the business from “doing everything” to directing what matters most.
The mistake most small business owners make when outsourcing
The most common mistake? Outsourcing too much, too soon - or the wrong things first.
Some business owners jump straight to outsourcing tasks that are tied to their brand voice, values, or strategy (like messaging or big-picture marketing decisions), without having the foundations in place.
When that happens, support feels messy instead of helpful. Things come back needing constant revisions, and the owner ends up feeling more frustrated - not less.
Outsourcing works best when it starts with low-risk, high-impact tasks that free up your time without disconnecting you from the heart of your business.
What to outsource first (high-impact, low-risk tasks)
If you’re wondering what to outsource first in a small business, start with tasks that are time-consuming, repeatable, and don’t require your personal decision-making every time.
Admin and inbox management
Email, scheduling, file organisation, invoicing follow-ups. These tasks quietly eat up hours each week. Outsourcing admin support can instantly lighten your mental load and help your days feel more manageable.
Social media scheduling
You don’t have to hand over your entire social presence straight away. Starting with scheduling alone means your content still sounds like you, but you’re no longer scrambling to post manually or forgetting altogether.
Email marketing execution
Writing the strategy and ideas can stay with you - but formatting emails, uploading campaigns, setting schedules, and managing lists are perfect tasks to delegate.
Content formatting and uploads
Blogs, captions, podcasts, lead magnets… the creation often gets all the attention, but the uploading and formatting takes just as long. This is one of the easiest wins when outsourcing.
These tasks don’t require your creative brain, but they do take time. And that time is better spent on growth, clients, or simply having a bit more space in your week.
What not to outsource yet
Not everything should be handed over early on.
Messaging and positioning
Your brand voice, values, offers, and direction are the foundation of everything else. Until these are clear and documented, outsourcing them can create confusion rather than consistency.
You don’t need to do everything forever, but in the early stages, keeping control of why you do what you do helps ensure any support you bring in is aligned.
How to know you’re ready to outsource
You’re likely ready for support if:
You’re constantly behind on admin or marketing
You’re doing tasks that don’t actually require you
Your business growth is limited by time, not ideas
You feel mentally overloaded, even when things are “going well”
Outsourcing isn’t a sign you’ve failed - it’s often a sign your business is growing.
Preparing before you delegate (this is the missing step)
This is where outsourcing either works beautifully… or completely falls apart.
Before you delegate, ask yourself:
Do I know how I want this task done?
Is there a repeatable process, even a simple one?
Am I clear on what “done well” looks like?
You don’t need perfect systems - just enough clarity to set someone else up for success. Even a rough checklist or example goes a long way.
If you’re not sure what to prepare first, the Before You Outsource Guide walks you through exactly what to have in place so support actually works.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I outsource first as a small business owner?
Start with admin, scheduling, and execution-based tasks that take time but don’t require your decision-making or creative direction.
Can you outsource marketing early?
Yes, but focus on handing over the execution first (scheduling, designing, uploads) rather than strategy or messaging until your foundations are clear.
What should founders keep control of?
Vision, messaging, positioning, and key decisions should stay with the founder until they’re clearly defined and documented.
Outsourcing doesn’t mean stepping away from your business - it means creating space to lead it properly.
Start small. Be intentional. And remember: the right support should make things feel calmer, not more complicated.
And when you’re ready for backup… you know where to find me 😉