If you’re starting a new Business or beginning your time as an entrepreneur, you probably already know how important it is to wear many different hats. Not only do you need to run the business, but you also need to complete the many tasks that are usually covered by an entire company. It’s no wonder this can feel overwhelming.

However, many small companies or entrepreneurs struggle to find the funds to hire a large team. Thankfully, a new hire isn’t the only way you can get more tasks done. Outsourcing some work to an agency or freelance professional is one way to take some tasks off your plate and stay on schedule for getting things done.

Outsourcing is helpful for many different professionals in many different industries. Here are seven signs it might be time for you and your company to give outsourcing a shot.

1. Your employees aren’t sure exactly what their roles are.

In a small company, it’s natural for employees to take on many different roles. When there are fewer workers, it means the tasks are divided among a smaller group of people. However, most individuals will complete tasks still related to their larger job, meaning jobs typically don’t move from department to department.

Unfortunately, sometimes employees keep taking on new duties that aren’t related to the job they were initially hired for. If your marketing manager is also doing your accounting, it may be a sign that you don’t have enough people on your team. If you’re not prepared to hire a full-time employee, you can outsource the work to someone else.

Outsourcing the “extra” jobs will allow your team members to focus on what they do best. When they’re not trying to squeeze in a million different tasks and assignments into their day, they can concentrate on their most important projects and give each item the attention it needs. This can ensure your work is completed to the highest standard possible and your employees aren’t feeling overwhelmed.

2. You’re struggling to maintain your budget.

Meeting the requirements of your budget is one of the most important parts of growing your business. If you’re spending more money than you’re bringing in, you won’t have the necessary funds to grow and develop a profitable and fruitful business. Eventually, you’ll run out of cash and need to close the business down.

Outsourcing is one way you can free up some room in your budget. When you’re hiring full-time employees, there are additional costs you need to consider. Not only do you need to pay their salaries, but you also need to pay for benefits, paid time off and taxes. These items aren’t your responsibility when you outsource your work.

While this option could mean laying off some of your employees, it will allow you to free up some space in your budget so you can become more sustainable. Find what jobs or positions don’t necessarily need to be in-house and see if you can replace them with a more affordable outsourced option.

3. You don’t have room for creativity.

As a business owner, creativity is important. You need to consistently come up with fresh ideas if you want to stay relevant to your industry. However, if you’re feeling overwhelmed, you may not feel compelled to think outside the box. Instead, you’re probably focused on just getting things done accurately and on time.

Choosing to outsource can help you improve your creativity in several ways. First, when you outsource, you’re able to take some tasks off your plate. This will give you some space to breathe, allowing you to come up with new ideas and improve your processes and strategies. Outsourcing will also give you a fresh perspective and view for your company. With an outside individual working on your team, you can tip from a different vantage point.

If you’re struggling to come up with new ideas, consider how outsourcing can help. Whether you choose to outsource the creative process or you just want to free up your time to come up with the ideas on your own, outsourcing can give you the break you need to come up with better ideas to attract your audience and get new business.

4. Your team is struggling to get their work done.

Every once in a while, it’s natural for your staff to feel a bit overwhelmed with their work. Whether you’re launching a new product or service or you just have an unusually busy week of client work, employees can expect to have some rush work every now and again. However, if your employees are constantly stressed about the amount of work they have on their plate, they may become unhappy with their job.

Taking some of their tasks off their hands through outsourcing can allow them to get the much-needed break to stay happy with the job. Because employee happiness directly relates to your team’s retention, ensuring your team is satisfied with their job means you can focus on growing a strong, committed community of employees.

Outsourcing is also great to use during busy seasons to prevent your team members from becoming unhappy or dissatisfied with their jobs. Instead of piling on more work to your full-time employees, considering outsourcing some of your work when you know a particularly busy event is coming up will allow your team to stay on top of their projects.

5. You don’t have any time for yourself or your family.

As an entrepreneur or business owner, you probably expect to spend a bit more time at work than the average person — especially when you’re just starting out. However, if you find yourself waking up before the sun rises and not getting home until your family is already tucked away in bed, you may be stretching yourself a bit too thin.

While your dream of being a successful business owner may seem like the most important thing right now, you need to have some free time if you want to avoid burning out. Outsourcing certain tasks that you don’t enjoy or that you don’t truly have the time for will allow you to focus on what you do best while you’re at work and the people you love during your time off.

Consider outsourcing smaller tasks, such as administrative duties or things you don’t have any experience in. If you need to teach yourself how to do marketing or accounting, you’re going to end up wasting much more time than if you just hired a professional. Always consider outsourcing if doing it yourself doesn’t make sense.

6. You don’t have the budget for a full-time expert.

There are many different parts of running a business that require an expert. However, not all small businesses have the funds to hire one full-time. Even if you can’t afford to keep a professional on staff full-time, you should still have access to a professional to ensure your business is growing the way it should.

When you outsource work to a professional, you’re only paying for a certain number of hours each week or month. This means that while a freelancer or consultant may charge more per-hour than you’d traditionally pay for a full-time employee, you’re not going to be paying for all their time. While it may originally seem like outsourcing is more expensive, you’ll end up spending less to still work with professionals, and save time at your company which translates into cost savings.

Consider what work needs to be completed by a professional, such as your accounting, but doesn’t need to be done in house. Outsource these options to stick to your budget while still working with high-quality individuals.

7. Your customers are starting to complain.

Running a successful business means keeping your clients happy. If they’re not pleased with the products and services you’re providing, you’ll struggle to stay up and running for much longer. Even if you’re happy with your work, your clients and customers have the ultimate say in determining what’s successful and what’s not.

If your customers have started to complain about what you’re delivering, it’s probably a sign you’ve bitten off more than you can chew. Whether you entered an industry you didn’t belong in, or you’ve started to slip in quality, outsourcing will allow you to take the necessary steps to pull yourself back on your feet and improve your customers’ opinions of you.

Be sure to listen to your customers’ complaints or suggestions. Genuinely taking the time to understand where their issues lie can allow you to make the right changes the first time around. Do what you can to solve their problems and look for hidden opportunities where outsourcing may help.

Outsourcing can be necessary for many different companies to grow efficiently. Because outsourcing your work allows you to get more done with a smaller staff and less money, it can be a great alternative to hiring full-time employees. However, if you want outsourcing to work for you, you need to use it strategically.