How to Know When and How to Outsource for Your Handmade Business

Unlock Your Business Potential by Delegating Tasks and Focusing on What You Do Best

Maximize growth by outsourcing the right tasks at the right time. As a handmade seller, you’ve likely found yourself balancing product creation, marketing, social media, customer service, shipping, and everything in between. While it can feel satisfying to do everything yourself, the reality is, that trying to manage all aspects of your business can be exhausting and unsustainable. Outsourcing can be a game changer, helping you scale your business and reclaim your time. But how do you know when it’s the right time to outsource? And how do you get started?

In this post, we’ll explore why outsourcing is crucial for your handmade business, how to recognize when it’s time to take that step, where to start, and platforms to find top-quality freelancers.

Why You Should Outsource

As a business owner, your time is your most valuable asset. Outsourcing allows you to focus on what you do best—whether it’s product creation or strategy—while delegating tasks that may not be in your wheelhouse. Here are the main benefits of outsourcing:

Focus on Core Competencies: Outsourcing allows you to spend more time on tasks that grow your business, such as creating new products or developing marketing strategies.
Expertise on Demand: By hiring professionals, you gain access to skills and knowledge that you may not possess, like graphic design, SEO, or financial management.
Scalability: Outsourcing helps you expand without the need for full-time employees. You can hire freelancers for specific projects, allowing you to grow at your own pace without a heavy overhead.
Cost-Effective: Hiring a freelancer is often cheaper than employing someone full-time, particularly if the work is project-based or seasonal. You pay only for the work you need.

How to Know When It's Time to Outsource

It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that you can do everything yourself—especially in the early stages of your business. However, there are telltale signs that it’s time to outsource:

You’re Constantly Feeling Overwhelmed: If you’re always busy but don’t seem to be making progress, it’s a sign that you need help. By outsourcing, you can delegate the tasks that are draining your time and energy.
Certain Tasks Are Not Your Strengths: Are you spending hours trying to design a website or create marketing graphics? If so, these are perfect candidates for outsourcing. Not only will it save you time, but professionals can often do these tasks much better and faster.
You Want to Focus on Growth: If you’re at a point where your business is running smoothly but you want to scale, outsourcing is a great way to free up your time so you can focus on long-term goals, like expanding your product line or launching new marketing campaigns.
You’re Struggling to Keep Up with Demand: Is your business growing, but you can’t keep up with orders, customer service, or social media? It’s time to get help! Hiring a virtual assistant (VA) or customer service rep can help keep your business running smoothly as it grows.

Where to Start with Outsourcing

When you're ready to begin outsourcing, it can be overwhelming to figure out where to start. Begin by identifying the tasks you dislike or those that take up too much of your time. Start small by outsourcing one or two areas, then expand as you become more comfortable.

Here’s a step-by-step guide:

List Out Repetitive Tasks: Create a list of all the tasks you do on a regular basis. Highlight the ones that are repetitive, time-consuming, or those that you’re not passionate about. This could include answering customer emails, social media management, or bookkeeping.
Identify Areas Outside Your Expertise: What's your bissest struggle right now? If you're stuggling with website design, SEO, or accounting? These are all great tasks to outsource to experts who can handle them more efficiently than you can.
Set a Budget: Outsourcing can be cost-effective, but you’ll still need to set a budget. Start by outsourcing a few hours a week or project-based tasks to see how it impacts your business before committing to a larger investment.

Platforms to Find Freelancers

Once you’ve decided what to outsource, it’s time to find the right freelancers. Thankfully, there are plenty of platforms to help you connect with professionals. Here are some of the top sites; (I've tired all of the ones listed below, so if you have a specific questions, email me.) :)

Fiverr
Fiverr is ideal for task-based projects like logo design, social media graphics, or simple website updates. You can find freelancers offering services starting at $5, though prices vary based on expertise. The platform is easy to use and offers a wide range of services.
Visit: Fiverr
Upwork
Upwork is a large freelance marketplace where you can hire professionals for both short-term projects and ongoing work. Whether you need a virtual assistant, graphic designer, or marketing expert, Upwork allows you to post job listings and browse freelancer profiles. It’s great for both simple and complex projects.
Visit: Upwork
Onlinejobs.ph
This platform specializes in connecting businesses with virtual assistants (VAs), particularly from the Philippines. VAs can handle a range of tasks from customer service to social media management. The rates are often more affordable, making it a great option if you’re on a budget.
Visit: Onlinejobs.ph
Toptal (formerly Elance)
Toptal offers access to highly skilled freelancers, from developers to designers and financial experts. This platform is more expensive but ideal if you need specialized, high-quality work done. It’s a great choice for scaling up your business or handling complex projects.
Visit: Toptal
Freelancer.com
Freelancer is another large platform similar to Upwork. You can post job listings and freelancers will bid on your project. It’s a good option for both small and large projects, and it offers flexibility in terms of payment options (fixed price or hourly).
Visit: Freelancer

Real-World Example: My Outsourcing Journey

When I first started outsourcing for my clean beauty business, Orglamix, I began by hiring a virtual assistant to help with customer service. I noticed that I was spending hours on end every week answering emails and managing orders, which left me little time to focus on creating new products. Outsourcing this task freed up my time and allowed me to grow my business.

Pro Tip: Track Your Time to Find Outsourcing Opportunities

One of the best ways to determine which tasks to outsource is by using a time tracker like Toggl, Clockify, or Harvest. These tools help you monitor how much time you’re spending on different activities. Once you’ve logged a few days or weeks, you can analyze the data to see if there are any tasks consuming more time than expected, like admin work or social media, that could be easily outsourced. Look for tasks that are repetitive and outside your zone of genius to outsource first.

Later, I outsourced social media management through Fiverr, which helped maintain a consistent presence on Instagram and Pinterest without requiring my constant attention. Each step in outsourcing has allowed me to focus on my strengths and grow the business more efficiently.

Don’t feel like you need to outsource everything at once! Start with one task & gradually expand as you see results. Outsourcing is an investment that pays off when done strategically.

Final Thoughts

Outsourcing isn’t just for large businesses—it’s a smart strategy for handmade sellers looking to grow sustainably. By delegating tasks outside your expertise, you can focus on what you do best and free up valuable time. Whether you start by outsourcing customer service, social media, or bookkeeping, taking that first step can make a huge difference in your business’s growth.