Every business was a ‘start-up’ at the very beginning of their journey.
Start-ups usually have plenty of new ideas, an innovative product or service to share and either an individual or small team ready to make their mark in the business world.
Start-ups are some of the hardest working groups of people in business.
For those already established, the dim distant days of a company’s new beginnings may have been lost in the midst of time. However, for a start-up the pressure to be successful is palpable.
Start-up businesses are the smaller cogs in the vast economic machine, shaping industries through innovation and bright new ideas.
However, start-ups often face significant challenges as they navigate through the complexities of launching and scaling their businesses. One area a start-up can struggle with is the need for flexible back-office support.
With a head full of ideas and a new product to launch or service to share, start-ups realise very quickly that running a business involves an enormous amount of administration and back-office input.
From answering telephone calls and vast quantities of emails, to writing policies, ordering stationary, business promotional materials, starting up bank accounts, setting up trade accounts, establishing social media, building a website, networking, advertising – the list is literally endless and never ending.
However, not all start-ups have the finances available to employ full time employees to cover the multi layered back-office function and may seek to outsource roles to freelancers. Some businesses may seek individuals to support in separate areas not realising that there is a way to outsource all of their back-office support in one place.
Online Business Managers (OBM) or Online Business Management Teams (OBMT) have become recognised as go to people/places in recent years for outsourcing full back-office support. With their ability to have access to remote workers and or teams of freelancers at their fingertips, OBMs/OBMTs can be a one stop shop for a business start-up.
An OBM or OBMT understands the needs of start-ups and can provide comprehensive support to support their success. Here are some of the ways in which an OBM or OBMT such as Virtually Smart Ltd can offer strategies and initiatives which can help support start-up businesses on their journey to growth.
Strategic business planning
Start-ups require a solid foundation to thrive. An OBM or OBMT can support start-ups by offering strategic business planning services. This can include helping define goals, target markets, and competitive positioning. Working closely with start-up founders, an OBM or OBMT can provide valuable insights, market research, and expertise to develop robust business plans which align with a company’s collective vision and set them on a path to success.
Funding opportunities
Access to capital is crucial for start-ups to fund their businesses, develop their products or services, and drive growth. An OBM or OBMT can support start-ups by providing guidance on funding opportunities and seek out grants through financial institutions and or local government sources.
This can include preparing business plans, financial projections, and connecting start-ups with potential investors, venture capitalists, or crowdfunding platforms. By accessing relevant funding opportunities, an OBM or OBMT can help start-ups secure the necessary resources to enable them to grow and thrive.
Executive and Management support
At the head of every business is a business owner and or management team. These are usually very busy people with a multitude of tasks to tackle.
An OBM can offer individual Executive support just as an in-person PA would. From arranging meetings, answering, and fielding telephone calls, filtering email, diary management, arranging travel, taking minutes, managing the management team daily requirements and offering a full suite of Executive support; an OBM can be an essential part of the senior leadership team’s daily function.
HR and recruitment management
An OBMT can be crucial when it comes to HR and team management. From generating attractive and robust employment adverts, writing employee contracts, ensuring all employment laws are adhered to, staff onboarding and team management an OBMT can be a crucial support for a start-up’s growth.
An OBMT can ensure that the employment process is seamless and professional. From the very first stages of recruitment, to the sift, arranging interviews, onboarding and right through to performance management and staff surveys; an OBMT taking control of a start-ups HR and recruitment function can relieve a lot of pressure form the business owner and or management team.
Digital marketing strategies
In the modern business landscape establishing a strong online presence is paramount for start-ups to gain visibility and attract customers. An OBMT can play a vital role in developing comprehensive digital marketing strategies for start-ups.
Online digital marketing strategies can include establishing search engine optimization (SEO), social media marketing, content creation, building websites and email marketing to create a cohesive brand identity. The ability to harness online digital marketing strategies can help drive targeted traffic to a start-up’s website or online platforms.
Technology and infrastructure support
Start-ups often face resource constraints, including limited technological infrastructure and IT expertise. An OBMT can offer valuable support by providing technology solutions tailored to the specific needs of a start-up.
This can include assistance in setting up cloud-based systems, e-commerce platforms, customer relationship management (CRM) software, and other essential tools. By equipping start-ups with the right technology infrastructure, an OBMT can help streamline operations and support scalability.
Collaboration and networking opportunities
Collaboration and networking play a vital role in the success of start-ups. An OBMT can source and create opportunities for start-ups to connect with like-minded entrepreneurs, industry peers, and potential partners. This could be achieved through hosting online events, webinars, or establishing communities where start-ups can share experiences, exchange ideas, and explore potential collaborations.
The layers of support an OBM or OBMT can offer start-up businesses are an easy way for a start-up to have all their back-office requirements in one place, without the need to take on a team of individual employees to take on the same function. An OBMT can offer the flexibility a start-up requires to establish themselves in the business landscape and beyond.
By offering strategic business planning, guidance on funding opportunities, Executive and SLT support, comprehensive digital marketing strategies, technology and infrastructure support, HR and recruitment support and collaboration opportunities, an OBMT can play a crucial role in propelling start-ups towards growth and success.
Written by Katy-Jane Mason for and on behalf of Virtually Smart Ltd.
