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- Bad outsourcing is costing firms 30% more—fix it or risk falling behind
Bad outsourcing is costing firms 30% more—fix it or risk falling behind
Is your firm wasting money by outsourcing the wrong tasks?
Arun Mehra
March 21, 2025
In partnership with
Hi everyone,
Outsourcing is meant to make your firm more efficient. But done wrong, it does the opposite.
I see firms outsource the wrong tasks all the time. They send out high-value, client-facing work that should stay in-house, while drowning their local team in admin that should have been outsourced ages ago.
The result? Poor ROI, frustrated teams, and a firm that’s no closer to scaling than before.
What Should (and Shouldn’t) Be Outsourced
Did you know, 54% of small businesses are expected to outsource at least one core business function by 2025?
But then again, not all tasks belong offshore. The key is knowing where outsourcing adds value—and where it kills it.
✅ What works: Bookkeeping, payroll, accounts prep, tax computations—structured, process-driven work that benefits from offshore efficiencies.
❌ What doesn’t: Client relationships, strategy—anything that requires deep business understanding and personal engagement.
The difference between the two is pretty clear, yet, many firms get this backwards.
They hold on to compliance-heavy tasks, bogging down their team, while outsourcing high-value work that requires personal touch. This is where efficiency breaks down.
Low-Value vs. High-Value Work—Why It Matters
Time is a firm’s most valuable asset. Where you allocate it determines your growth potential.
Too many firms keep their senior team stuck in low-value, process-heavy tasks—bank reconciliations, VAT returns, payroll—work that, while essential, doesn’t drive revenue. The opportunity cost is massive.
Firms that shift their focus to high-value services—advisory, tax planning, business strategy—grow 3x faster than those bogged down in compliance.
And yet, firms hesitate to let go of routine work. Why? Because they see it as their “bread and butter.” But the real bread and butter should be client relationships, strategy, and value-driven services.
Offshoring should be a growth strategy, not just a cost-cutting exercise. Done right, it allows your team to focus on the work that actually builds client trust and drives higher margins.
Optimising Your Outsourcing Mix
The shift is simple: move process-driven work offshore, elevate your local team to higher-value roles, and watch your firm scale.
So, how do you get this right? It’s about structuring your firm properly.
Define your core work—What must stay in-house? Where does your firm provide the most value?
Systemize the routine—Streamline, document, and offshore tasks that don’t require your local team’s expertise.
Keep control—Outsourcing isn’t about handing work off blindly. Your offshore team needs training, quality benchmarks, and integration into your firm’s workflows.
How Samera Can Help
We’ve helped firms build offshore teams that actually move the needle—teams that don’t just take tasks off your plate but transform how your firm operates.
If you’re stuck figuring out what to outsource, how to do it right, or how to set up an offshore team that truly works for you, let’s talk.
Cheers,
Arun
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