Straight to the Outsource

Imagine that a sales genie hovers at the perimeter of your abundant inbox and offers to grant you three wishes: lower overhead, less trifling-matter management and more sales. You'd likely invite said sprite to take a load off and sit a spell, right? Well, outsourcing your sales function may be just the sprinkle of sales magic your company needs right now. Read on for an over-view on determining if outsourcing is right for your business.

• Bottom-line booster: Salaries and benefits are enormous expenses for any business. "Outsourcing allows your company to eliminate many of the costs associated with an in-house sales division," says Peter Groop, president of Fusion Sales Partners, a provider of outsourced sales teams in Baltimore. Groop adds that outsourcing permits a company to reinvest a greater percentage of its revenues back into the business. Less quantifiable but equally powerful, using an outside team lets executives laser focus on products and service, rather than employee management.

• Affordability factor: You're paying for performance, so make sure to select the right provider. "Outsourcing should be far more affordable than operating an in-house sales department," advises Groop.