There are 32 million small businesses in the United States. This can make it difficult to stand out among the competition.
Perhaps the biggest challenge for small businesses is that they have limited staff for essential tasks that keep the company going. Like all businesses, they need everything from accounting to marketing expertise and tech support.
If you run a small business, one of the best things you can do is know what services are available in your area. From there, you can determine which ones would be a net positive addition to your company.
Below is a local entrepreneur’s guide to small business services. The information is broken down into seven main categories. Keep reading to find out which ones may be an asset to help your company achieve its goals.
Communications
Communication services for small businesses include phone, internet, and customer database management. During the COVID pandemic, video conferencing and messaging platforms became essential. Popular ones include Zoom and Slack, but there are many others.
Companies continue to leverage their capabilities for staff working from home or in different locations. While many of these services are free, small businesses can benefit from paid features as well.
Human Resources
Many small businesses outsource HR functions. This includes managing payroll and developing hiring strategies to grow their business. Some provide targeted recruiting services.
You can also contact such companies to help you develop and put into place business policies. You can accomplish all this without hiring a full-time employee.
Financial
It is very common for small businesses to outsource financial managment. This includes banking and small business accounting services. This is usually inexpensive and can be a good way to get the most out of your tax filings.
Financial advisers also can handle payroll. Some also offer investment strategies for your business.
Marketing
Other common small business services include those for marketing, including social media outreach. This is essential for any business selling goods and services.
Marketing firms can work with you to develop strategies for reaching new audiences and better engaging existing ones. Most reputable marketing companies offer a variety of options for how hands-on or -off they are, to fit your budget.
Legal
Legal services are essential for every business. This involves preparing legal documents, like articles of incorporation, trademark registration, and contracts. This is all essential to ensuring your business is operating within full compliance with the law.
Besides document preparation, some of these companies offer legal advice. They can answer important questions and even represent you in a court of law.
Insurance
Small businesses need general liability, professional liability, property, and workers’ compensation insurance. You also may need things like cyber liability and business interruption insurance. Insurance companies can both write policies for you and recommend which ones are best for your business.
Operations
There are miscellaneous services that businesses can contract for. These include janitorial and grounds maintenance. They might hire a security service for their building.
You may find a commercial moving company to help with business relocation. This allows you to avoid handling the labor and logistics yourself.
Find Small Business Services Near You
Now that you understand the most valuable small business services available, you can look for ones in your area. They can take care almost any peripheral task, so that you can get back to focusing on providing the best services and products to your customers.
We hope you found this information helpful. If so, be sure to take a look at some of our other business posts, as well as those on home improvement, health, fashion, technology, and many other topics.
