We take pride in our independence as business owners. But the truth is, no business is an island. We all have dependencies — on clients, products, technologies, and more. 

 

While some level of dependency is inevitable, over-reliance on any one area can put your business at serious risk. What happens if your biggest client goes under, a product you’ve built your business around becomes obsolete, or a key supplier suddenly raises prices? 

 

That’s why a regular “dependency audit” is crucial. By examining where your business is most vulnerable, you can take steps to diversify, innovate, and build resilience for the long haul. 

 

At HireSmart Virtual Employees, we know that to serve our clients effectively and grow sustainably, we need to assess and adjust our dependencies constantly. We’ve learned a few things along the way that I want to share with you: 

 

• Identify Your Key Dependencies: List all the areas where your business is most dependent, including specific clients, products, technologies, suppliers, and employees. Be as comprehensive as possible.

 

• Assess the Risk Level of Each Dependency: Once you have your list, assign a risk level to each dependency. Consider factors like how much revenue they generate, how difficult they would be to replace, and how likely they will change or disappear.

 

Are You a World Builder in the Business Realm? 

 

• Develop a Diversification Plan: For each high-risk dependency, brainstorm ways to diversify or reduce your reliance. Could you expand your client base to reduce your dependence on a few key accounts? Could you develop new services to avoid being pigeonholed? Could you cross-train employees to reduce reliance on individual team members?

 

• Stay Ahead of the Curve: Dependency isn’t just about what’s happening now — it’s also about anticipating future shifts. Stay informed about industry trends, technological advancements, and market changes that could impact your dependencies down the line.

 

• Innovate Constantly: Always be innovating. Encourage your team to develop new ideas, experiment with new approaches, and stay curious about what’s possible. The more you innovate, the more options you’ll have.

 

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• Build Strong Relationships: While you don’t want to be overly dependent on any one relationship, building strong, mutually beneficial partnerships can help reduce risk. With a foundation of trust and collaboration, you’re better equipped to weather changes and challenges together.

 

• Embrace Flexibility: Rigidity is a recipe for failure. Build flexibility into your processes, your team, and your mindset. The more adaptable you are, the less dependent you’ll be on one way of doing things.

 

The ‘Virtual Employee’ or the ‘Virtual Assistant’ — Who Do You Need? 

 

We help our clients reduce dependency by providing them with skilled virtual employees. With our VEs on your team, you have access to a flexible, scalable workforce that can adapt to your changing needs without the overhead costs of traditional in-house hires. 

 

Our VEs go through a rigorous certification program before they start working with a client, so you can be confident they have the skills and knowledge to hit the ground running. At a bill rate of $9.50 per hour, they provide a cost-effective way to diversify your team and reduce reliance on any one individual. 

 

“First of all, they’re all very amazing,” said one client about his HireSmart VE team. “They do whatever they need to do to make things work. They’re very flexible. In the property management business, you have to be flexible. You have to be moving things around all the time and just staying with your purpose and what you’re supposed to be doing, and in addition to that they’re all very sweet, very nice, very caring. They care about what we think about them. They care about their work product.” 

 

When you have a team that’s flexible, diverse, and committed to your success, you’re positioned to overcome dependencies and build long-term resilience. 

 

VE Earns Trust of Client as Junior Accountant, Receives HireSmart’s ‘Ethics and Integrity Award’ 

 

If you’re ready to take control of your dependencies and future-proof your business, we’re here to help. Click here to schedule a consultation and learn more about how our VEs can help you diversify your team and reduce risk. 

 

Independence doesn’t mean being entirely on your own. It means being strategic about your dependencies and always staying one step ahead. With the right planning, partnerships, and mindset, you can build a truly resilient business and be ready for whatever the future holds. 

 

Cheers! 

   

Anne + The HireSmart Team