Outsourcing sales is an efficient way for businesses to convert leads into closed deals without the heavy investment of building a full in-house sales team. Many companies, particularly small businesses, can benefit from this approach. But what exactly is outsourced sales, and how can it help your business grow?
What Is Outsourced Sales?
Outsourced sales refers to hiring an external team to handle part or all of the sales process on your behalf. This can range from handling outbound calls, emails, and messaging, to managing the entire sales cycle, from finding leads to closing deals. The level of involvement depends on your specific needs. You might just need help with email campaigns, or you may want full-cycle support, including lead generation, outreach, and deal closure.
The beauty of outsourced sales is its flexibility—you don’t have to hand over the entire process. You can decide how much or how little you want to outsource based on your business’s current needs.
Why Consider Outsourced Sales?
For many businesses, especially small ones, the priority is often turning existing leads into paying customers. Marketing efforts can be expensive and don’t always guarantee a return on investment. You may spend thousands of dollars generating leads, but without the resources to close those deals, that investment is wasted. Outsourcing part of your sales function can help bridge this gap and ensure that the leads you generate turn into actual business.
Additionally, outsourced sales allows you to test new strategies or verticals without committing to hiring a new in-house team. It’s an efficient way to pilot new approaches while keeping costs down.
Tailored Solutions for Your Business
Outsourced sales isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. The amount of involvement can vary based on what you need at any given time. For example:
- If your business already has a strong pipeline but struggles to close deals, outsourced sales can focus on the bottom of the funnel.
- If your sales cycle is long and complex, outsourcing can help support marketing efforts in the middle of the funnel.
- If you lack leads altogether, marketing may be your focus, but outsourcing sales could still play a role in generating and qualifying leads.
Often, small businesses already have enough leads within their own network but struggle to close those opportunities. In that case, outsourcing the sales function makes more sense than investing heavily in marketing to generate more leads you may not be able to close.
Financial Efficiency
Outsourcing sales is also a smart financial move. Rather than spending large sums on marketing that may or may not result in sales, outsourcing can provide a more measurable return on investment. Many outsourced sales agencies work on a performance-based model, where you pay based on appointments or deals closed, rather than a blanket marketing fee with no guarantee of success.
Sales is a results-driven process. If the outsourced team generates leads or appointments, it’s up to you or the outsourced team to close the deal. This level of transparency and accountability is something marketing efforts typically don’t offer, where the best result might just be generating leads, not securing sales.
Get fun business stories in your inbox monthly!
Flexibility Without Overhauling Your Business
Another advantage of outsourced sales is that you don’t have to drastically alter your current business structure. If you already have an internal sales team, you can still outsource part of the process to test new strategies or markets without fully committing to a new department or hiring spree. This flexibility allows for testing and iteration without the heavy financial burden of restructuring your organization.
Make Outsourced Sales Work for You
Outsourced sales offers small businesses an efficient, cost-effective way to grow by leveraging external expertise without the need for a full-time, in-house sales team. Whether you need someone to help with outbound calls, manage emails, or handle the entire sales process, outsourcing can help you focus on what you do best—running your business—while driving growth in a targeted, scalable way.
Ultimately, the decision comes down to your business’s unique needs. Whether you’re looking to pilot new sales strategies, increase closing rates, or simply need help managing a growing pipeline, outsourced sales could be the key to unlocking your next level of growth.
Book Recommendation
Try reading No Ego: How Leaders Can Cut the Cost of Workplace Drama, End Entitlement, and Drive Big Results to learn more about leadership and creating a culture that cuts the costs of workplace drama!
Other articles you might like:
