Outsourcing 101 (2 books in 1)

Book 1: What You Need to Know About Outsourcing: Is Outsourcing Really For You?
Book 2: 5 Simple Steps to Rock-Solid Outsourcing Deals

Finding the Right Company for Your Outsourcing Needs
One thing that people often forget when talking about outsourcing is that
outsourcing does not necessarily mean that you are going to take a portion of
your business overseas or to another country. While this is the type of
outsourcing that we hear of the most often, because it can provide huge profits
for a business, outsourcing can also take place between local businesses just as
easily. Overall, outsourcing simply means that you are contracting out a portion
of your company's work to another business.
In order to find the right company to outsource to, you first need to determine
what it is that needs outsourcing. As we talked about at the beginning of this
report, some divisions are much more easily outsourced than others. Tech
support, software design, office work, telemarketing, manufacturing, vehicle
maintenance--these are just a few examples of the jobs your business would have
an easy time outsourcing.
Now, while a lot of other businesses may have skills in the areas you are thinking
about outsourcing, there needs to be one big question in your mind. Will those
businesses do the work as well as my in house staff would? If the answer is yes,
the business you are going to outsource to is a great choice. Otherwise, steer
clear.
But how do you find out whether or not a business is the right choice to outsource
to? By contacting them of course! Although you could just take their word for it,
ask them for references and a list of the other companies they currently outsource
to as well as some of their past customers. If they will not provide such
information, break off contact and deal with someone else.
Once you get the information you requested, contact the businesses on that list
and ask them how happy they are with the services that the outsourcing business
has provided them. For contacts that used to do business with the outsourcing
firm, ask them why they decided to move away from the outsourcing businesses.
Asking questions is the single best way to find the answers that you want.
The right company that you should consider outsourcing to should meet these
criteria.
1. They can provide services that you would happily be able to call your own.
2. They can provide you with a comprehensive list of references--current and
past.
3. They can provide their services at a competitive price.
4. They have ample experience in the field you will be outsourcing and can
provide you with excellent customer service.
If, in fact, a company you are considering outsourcing to cannot or will not meet
all of these expectations, you should highly consider not doing business with that
company. Chances are that there are a number of alternatives out there who will
be more than willing to meet your requirements and provide you with the
services that you need.

Step 4: Negotiating the Outsourcing Deal
- Going it Alone
Step four will cover one method of negotiating an outsourcing deal while step five
will discuss another. For this section, we will go over what it takes in order for
you to negotiate an outsourcing deal by yourself (or with the assistance of others
in your company).
For the most part, a lot of businesses you are considering outsourcing to will
simply offer you their services at a flat rate. However, there will likely come a
time when you actually have to negotiate your contract if you are hoping to get
the best deal for your business. If this is the case, you will need to know a number
of important skills to help you deal with the process of negotiation.
The first thing you will need to know is how to properly read a contract. While it
is possible for anyone to be able to make sense of business contracts, it is
advisable that you have at least some background in contract law. After all, many
deals are made or broken thanks to a well written or poorly written contract. And
the last thing you want from your deal with an outsourcing business is a contract
that will not properly protect the interests of your company.
Most of the time, the negotiating process will begin when you have reviewed all of
the materials sent to you by the outsourcing business. At this time, you should
consider taking a trip to the outsourcing business to see what their business
climate is like and whether or not they would be a good candidate for your
company. Check out their products, see what options they offer you, and go from
there.
Many companies will present you with their standard contract. One which has
been drafted and used by most, if not all, of the businesses they h