My 5 tips on when to ask for help to grow your small business

It can be challenging to admit that you need help. You don’t have to be declining in your business to admit it either. 

There are more than enough reasons to feel stuck in your small business and realize that you need it to grow. It might be for a good cause, like adding more to your business team, or bad, like when a pandemic overturns all your hard work (cough, cough).

My small business is less than a year old, and I’ve had to ask for plenty of help throughout the last few months. Many business owners are happy and willing to give support, both for free and for a price. 

But the main point is when you should ask for help as a small business owner? We think we need to do everything ourselves, and relinquishing control can be overwhelming. 

Please remember this tip: giving over control is not a sign of weakness. You will benefit more by having an expert handle a fault of yours than doing it yourself. That’s not to say you shouldn’t or can’t improve those weaknesses, but as a business owner, you can utilize your resources when you need them.

Asking for help will help your business grow, both to your potential customers and showcase your expertise. 

Here are my five tips on when to ask for help when growing your small business.

You can’t make a decision

I came across this dilemma a few times when starting and growing my small business. One notable time came when I couldn’t decide on my brand colors color palette for the life of me. 

I don’t know why it was so hard for me to decide, but I kept on waffling between what I wanted and what I needed for my brand identity. Looking back, I probably was too close to the problem and couldn’t make an objective opinion. Nevertheless, I needed a helping hand to get me over the hurdle that prevented me from growing my business.

Not making a decision isn’t bad, but it can cause your small business to stagnate. When something little is not allowing your small business to grow and flourish, it’s time to bring in a consultant on the matter at hand. 

You’ve hit a plateau

Nothing you do is bringing in sales, contributing to your following, or gaining trust from your audience. No matter what has caused the plateau, you might need some outside help to get moving again.

As a business owner, you might not even have to pay someone if you have the right network of people. That said, you should see if you can pay someone because they are more likely to provide you more tips and solutions to your problem. If you can’t, I’d consult a few Facebook groups that you are a part of to see if they have a solution for your situation.

Now, I wouldn’t worry if the plateau lasts less than a few months. Business strategies will fluctuate throughout the seasons, but if you experience anything beyond that, you might consider doing an audit to figure out what you can do to improve your sales.

You don’t know how to start

I see this with many businesses across industries. It is mostly about getting their business off the ground or marketable. Many courses and coaches can help you implement successful business strategies.

No matter if you’re starting in your small business, whether it’s creating viral Pinterest pins or SEO keyword strategies, it can be a daunting task. While each business owner has a few studies that they excel at, they can’t seem to grasp the functions that tend to overshadow even the most significant wins. 

If you can’t afford a virtual assistant to handle tasks for you, consider apps or courses that can help you strengthen those weaknesses. You don’t have to tackle your weaknesses as a business owner by yourself.

DIY is not cutting it anymore

When I started my small business, everything I tackled was considered DIY. There was so much I had to learn, but as I grew, I needed to upscale a few things in my small business to make my business legitimate.

I traded and bartered many of my skills to understand better some of the DIY concepts that I started. Building my website was one of those skills. I had a few things on my website. Still, it took working with professional web designers to understand why my website wasn’t converting. 

Even when I learned about specific skills, I needed to learn and grow my skillset from professionals through courses or meetings. 

You want to start something new

Starting something new in your business is excellent! I’m so happy that you found another way to leverage your skills and talents. A new tool doesn’t mean that it can be overwhelming, and you need some help to get things off the ground.

I wouldn’t consider this as a setback. I would see this as more of a learning opportunity. Learn from the best when you can and find your way to incorporate your skills into a new format.

Remember to start small and grow with your skillset. You might begin slower or more inexperienced than you’d hoped. Still, it can help you learn and be an expert in a skill that you never thought you’d be learning throughout your experience.