If you’ve ever felt stuck doing all the things in your business while wondering why growth feels out of reach then you’ve come to the right place because I’m going to show you how to spend smart to scale smarter.
As a business owner, your time is precious. But here’s the kicker, most solo operators spend way too much time working in their business instead of on it. They’re caught in a cycle of never ending business admin tasks, process juggling and inbox overwhelm. I know you understand what I’m talking about.
This is the daily struggle of coaches, thought leaders and sole traders trying to scale without a team, systems or strategic support. The bottom line here is that you won’t and never will scale without help. You’ve seen them, I’ve seen them, the ads all over the internet to hire a VA for $5 -9 an hour. The only problem there is that the person you hire is a box ticker and if you’re wanting to scale you need more than that. And while that can be a great first step for certain tasks, it’s not the solution if you need growth, structure and strategy. So what is the real difference between an OBM and a VA?
Virtual Assistant (VA): Task Manager
A VA is your box ticker. Their primary task is to do what is expected, by the due time, tick it off and rinse and repeat. They’re brilliant at this and help you to stay on top of the more common admin tasks such as email, calendar, data entry. But here’s the thing: you still have to give them instructions, and you must be super clear every time when it comes to your expectations to get the outcome you want. That means the mental load of thinking, planning, and managing remains on you, every day, day in, day out.
A great VA is worth their weight in gold, and they cost a lot more than 5-9 bucks an hour. However, if you’re stuck writing out the SOPs they need and you’re still delegating every little thing to them you haven’t saved any time. You’ve just shifted from business owner to project manager.
Online Business Manager (OBM): Your Strategic Partner
An OBM is more than VA. They’re, they’ve morphed into the one who:
- Spots bottlenecks and fixes them, then lets you know about it.
- Manages your team and projects without needing your daily input because they’re the project managers.
- Organises your operations so the business runs smoothly and provides ideas and solutions to help you improve and scale up.
- Support you as a solution provider and strategic partner.
OBMs often come from high-level admin or corporate roles and bring years of management experience. They know how to lead. And because they typically work on retainers or packages, they’re invested in your long term business success.
5 Signs It’s Time to Invest in an OBM
If you’re not sure whether you need a VA or an OBM, here’s a checklist to help you get started.
- You’re the bottleneck – You’re the only one who knows how everything works. Nothing moves without your say-so.
- You’re hiring help but still overwhelmed: You’ve got a VA (or two), but you’re still directing all the work.
- Projects stall: You’ve got great ideas, but no one to execute them end-to-end.
- Your systems are a mess: Things happen… but not in any documented, consistent way.
- You want to scale, but can’t see how: You’re too busy surviving to think about thriving.
If any of this sounds like you, it’s time to stop looking for cheap labour and quick fixes (which aren’t) and partner with someone who sees your vision and knows how to make it happen.
The Cost of Not Hiring an OBM
Hiring a VA when you actually need an OBM is like trying to build a house with only a handyman. Helpful, yes but you need a project manager to get the job done right.
Investing in an OBM is about choosing growth over grind. Yes, you’ll spend more but you’ll finally stop spinning your wheels. You’ll have space to breathe, create, and lead again and it won’t take long before you see a ROI.
Ready to Talk About What’s Next?
If you’re ready to move from task-doing to real delegation, I’d love to have a chat with you. Since 2011 I’ve helped many Australian and offshore small business owners build structure, streamline systems and stop being the bottleneck in their business. Book your call here.
