Hiring an Administrative Consultant

You've taken the leap and decided to hire an administrative consultant to help take that work load off your plate.  But chances are that you're not clear about what you want done and how to find the right organization to delegate those chores to.  Here are some good things to think about when looking for that perfect fit.

Simple administrative tasks are the easiest to delegate and quality or timeliness of work is the key measure of success.  These tasks tend to revolve around documents or files and can include things like:

• Typing, document formatting and proof-reading
• Producing presentations, newsletters and fliers
• Web research, data gathering and to-do lists
• Maintaining tracking spreadsheets

Small and medium sized businesses often outsource tasks requiring special skills that they either don't have the expertise or time to do themselves.  It might be something that is done only once a year or something that is very time consuming.  Examples could include:

• Planning a large meeting or event
• Creating a facebook page or blog
• Updating a web site

The administrative professional you hire will offer a variety of skill sets that can be used to accomplish these tasks and more.  Now you will need to find the right fit between that professional and your business.  Here are a few tips for finding that resource:

• Check the web site of your potential administrative professional - The web site of an administrative consultant represents her business.  Is it organized and well-designed?  Does it feel welcoming and professional?  Was there helpful information and resources available on the site?  This can be a good clue as to what sort of service you will receive from the consultant.
• Look in to the experience of the administrative consultant - You will want to seek out a consultant who is committed to serving your needs and expectations.  Check to see how long she has been in business or how her background lends itself to what you are looking for.  Testimonials are a good way to gauge the abilities of the administrative professional, but if she is new to the business a solid resume can give you the same information.  Referrals from  others you know is also an excellent source.
• Have an in-person consultation to establish personality fit - Most administrative consultants will offer potential clients a free initial consultation.  She will meet with you to go over what your specific needs are and the services she offers which can handle those tasks.  During that consultation, ask questions and listen to her questions to make sure that you are on the same page.  If it doesn't feel like a good fit, be up front and accept the same from the consultant.
• Be aware of pricing - Administrative consultants generally charge anywhere from $35 to $100 per hour or on a monthly retainer based on a certain number of hours per month.  This may seem like a large range, but remember that you are hiring a right-hand person to represent your business and take on those vital administrative tasks to keep you going.  Think about your own business: you know you aren't the cheapest and you wouldn't want to be.  You want to deliver quality and that expertise comes at a price.  An experienced, professional, discreet administrative professional will allow you to focus more on your core business and save you money in the long run.

A good example of an administrative consultant web site and service is Administrative Business Consulting.  Explore the web site and see what things you like and what things would fit well with your business.  There are a lot of things to consider when making this fundamental change in your business.  But the benefits can certainly outweigh the cost and consideration when you find just that right fit.