Outsourced Doers Review: Is This Your Ticket to Entrepreneurial Freedom or Just Another Fancy Expense?
Are you an online entrepreneur juggling many tasks? Surviving on lukewarm coffee and willpower? If this sounds familiar, you might have encountered the concept of Virtual Assistants (VAs). You may have heard of Outsourced Doers.
Let’s dig into Outsourced Doers. Are they the real thing, or just another service that promises a lot but delivers little?
Outsourced Doers: The Lowdown
Picture having a marketing expert show up to handle tasks that suck up your time but don’t qualify as “CEO work.” That’s the promise of Outsourced Doers.
- What do they DO? They connect you with trained virtual marketing assistants. Think of them as your remote marketing partner, ready to take on the digital landscape.
- Founded: 2015. They have experience in the fast-paced online business world.
- Headquarters: Sydney, Australia. The VAs are primarily in Davao City, Philippines. G’day meets Mabuhay!
- “The Doers Way”? It’s a growing global network for female entrepreneurs. Helping women while getting tasks done? Interesting.
- Mission Control: They aim to assist overworked entrepreneurs. Their “Doers” are virtual marketing assistants trained in over 150 marketing and admin tasks. They help you regain your life (or at least your weekends).
Show Me The Money: Outsourced Doers Pricing
Let’s discuss the cost. How much does it take to get a “Doer” to tackle your to-do list?
- The Price Tag: Outsourced Doers charges about $1,499 per month for a full-time virtual assistant. No part-time options available.
- Part-Time Help? No. If you only need help for a few hours each week, look elsewhere. It’s all in or nothing.
Let’s compare this to general Virtual Assistant rates to provide some perspective.
| Type of Virtual Assistant Service (US Market) | Cost Per Hour (USD) |
| Virtual Administrative Assistant | $18 – $35 |
| Data Entry Virtual Assistant | $8 – $25 |
| Website Management Virtual Assistant | $20 – $40 |
| Research Virtual Assistant | $20 – $35 |
Now, consider outsourcing in general. It’s not just for solopreneurs. Larger companies also make use of it.
- Average Monthly Outsourcing Cost (for a 40-employee company): Approximately $7,000 per month. The VA price suddenly seems reasonable.
- Retainer-based/Basic IT Outsourcing (for 40 employees): Typically $1,400 to $2,000 a month. This focuses on IT, not marketing.
- Hourly Outsourcing Rates: It ranges from $8 to $45 per hour, depending on task complexity. Marketing tasks usually cost more.
Decoding the VA: What IS a Virtual Assistant Anyway?
Let’s simplify. What are these “Virtual Assistants” we keep mentioning?
- VA Defined: A self-employed superhero providing administrative, technical, or creative help from their home office. They allow you to concentrate on the big picture while managing the details.
- Task Masters: VAs are highly adaptable. They can schedule appointments, manage emails, book travel, answer calls, handle social media, manage bookkeeping, and provide customer service. They are versatile for your business.
- VA Advantages: Hiring a VA means reclaiming time and increasing efficiency. Offload non-core tasks and boost your productivity.
- Becoming a VA: The Backstory. Want to join the VA ranks? Identify your skills, decide on services you offer, set up your home base, and market yourself to find clients.
- Skills Required: Organization, communication, and computer skills are essential. Refine these to enter the field.
- Philippine VA Wage Estimate: A VA in the Philippines typically earns between ₱25,000 and ₱35,000 a month. This rate is competitive, leading many outsourcing operations to choose this location.
- Virtual Marketing Assistant Salary (US Average): About $50,749 annually, or $24 per hour in the US. For reference.
- VA Beginners Welcome! You can become a VA with no prior experience. Focus on building skills to show what you can do. Every expert starts somewhere.
Outsourcing 101: The Big Picture
What is outsourcing? It’s a buzzword, but what does it mean?
- Is Outsourcing Legit? It has existed since 1998 with various locations. Not just a temporary trend.
- Does it Actually Work? Economists say yes. It involves skilled labor allocation, meaning assigning the right jobs to the right people.
- Outsourcing Rules? (Legality): No federal laws specifically regulate outsourcing in the US, so it is legally safe.
- Avoid These Outsourcing Tasks! Watch Out.
- New Market Development: Keep this in-house for the time being.
- Final Hiring Authority: Your instinct matters. Don’t outsource critical hiring decisions.
- Customer Service? Be Careful. It represents your brand. Outsource cautiously.
- Core Competencies: Never outsource what defines your business’s uniqueness. It’s like giving away your essence.
- Success Rate Reality Check: Approximately 24% of companies see increased efficiency through outsourcing. It’s not a guaranteed win for everyone, but still significant.
- Top Outsourcing Tasks:
- Information Technology (IT) – Always relevant.
- Web Design and Development – E-commerce needs regular upkeep.
- Social Media Marketing – Keeping up with changes requires dedication.
- Human Resources (HR) – Payroll and paperwork headaches can be outsourced.
- Call Center/Customer Service – Manage the volume carefully (see “Red Flags”).
- Digital/Content Marketing – Important for visibility.
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO) – Essential for online presence.
- Accounting – Handle the financials with experts.
- Most Outsourced Roles:
- Customer support representative
- IT support specialist
- Human resources specialist
- Payroll clerk
- Bookkeeper/accountant
- Tax preparer
- Personal assistant
- Computer programmer
- The Most Commonly Outsourced Task: IT services win top ranking.
- Average Outsourcing Cost (Company-Wide): About $7,000 monthly for a 40-employee business. Sizes vary this cost.
The Dark Side of Outsourcing: Risks and Potential Troubles
However, challenges exist in outsourcing. Be aware of potential pitfalls.
- Provider Dependence: Uh Oh. Relying overly on your partner can backfire. What if costs rise, or they disappear?
- Quality Control Issues: Keeping quality high from someone outside your control? Tough. Clear standards and monitoring are essential.
- Control Concerns: Handing over business functions means losing control. Can you handle not overseeing everything?
- Communication Issues: Language barriers and cultural differences can lead to misunderstandings.
- Hidden Costs: Unexpected charges and scope creep can arise. Always read the fine print closely.
- Privacy and Security Risks: Sharing sensitive information can lead to data breaches. Choose partners carefully.
- Service Failures: Missed deadlines and low-quality work can happen. Always have backup plans ready.
- Knowledge Drain: Too much outsourcing risks losing internal expertise. Valuable company knowledge may disappear.
- Cultural Clashes: Outsourcing can upset internal dynamics. Employees may feel insecure or confused. Manage expectations and communication actively.
- Ethical Issues: Labor practices in some outsourcing regions can be concerning. Respect for ethical sourcing is crucial.
- Top 10 Risks: Loss of control, communication barriers, hidden costs, vendor failures, and much more. It’s a risk buffet.
- New Risk Considerations: Think about reliance on a single vendor, third-party vulnerabilities, and compliance complications beyond the usual.
Outsourcing: The Benefits, Drawbacks, and The Ugly Truth?
- Benefits: The Bright Side. Cost savings and specialized skills are major attractions. Like finding a marketing expert without high prices.
- Drawbacks: The Dark Side. Job losses and quality concerns linger. Outsourcing can generate both pros and cons.
Outsourcing Backlash: Critics Speak Out
- Overhyped Hype Train: Some consider outsourcing exaggerated. Real costs and benefits are hard to quantify, they say.
- Quality Doubts: Will outsourcing degrade your products or services? Quality remains a significant concern.
- Job Loss Concerns: Outsourcing often leads to job losses. About 300,000 US jobs face outsourcing annually. That’s significant.
- jobs.
Thinking Outside the Box: Alternatives to Outsourcing
- Insourcing: Keep it In-House. Control and visibility are key here. You see everything because it is under your roof.
The Moral Compass: Ethical Outsourcing
- Unethical Outsourcing Sins: Violating laws and ethical standards. Not a good look.
- Unfair Labor Practices: Don’t Be That Company. Hiring workers improperly and unfair wages? Ethical no-nos.
Grace Lever: The Woman Behind Outsourced Doers
- Founder’s Story: Grace Lever started as a coach. She wanted to empower entrepreneurs. Talk about founder goals.
- Marketing Funnel Guru: Grace is a marketing funnel expert. She helps female entrepreneurs grow balanced, automated businesses.
- Empowerment Mission: She cares about helping entrepreneurs. It is about more than outsourcing.
Global Outsourcing Price Check: Where’s the Bargain?
Want to know where your outsourcing dollars stretch?
- Eastern Europe: $27 – $51 per hour. Good quality, decent price.
- South Asia: $22 – $44 per hour. Another cost-effective option.
- Southeast Asia: $24 – $35 per hour. Competitive rates here.
- India: $6 – $12 per hour. Budget-friendly king, but quality can vary.
The Verdict on Outsourced Doers?
Outsourced Doers is a solid option for female entrepreneurs needing full-time marketing support. They provide trained assistants. This is a mid-range price point. Their focus on female entrepreneurs is unique. But the lack of part-time options might deter some. Weigh the pros and cons. Consider your specific needs. Do your due diligence. Happy outsourcing!
