Now more than ever, it takes a village to run a business. The old model of one person doing everything is no longer feasible in most cases. There are just too many moving parts to any given business for one person to keep track of, much less manage effectively.
This is where having a great team of support staff comes in. Support staff can be defined as any employee who isn’t directly involved in generating revenue for the company but who plays a vital role in keeping the company running smoothly.
Here are four support staff positions that every business should fill.
Legal
It’s widely agreed that today’s society is a litigious one. And this is bad news for businesses in particular. Take product liability for instance. If you sell a product and it hurts someone, you could be facing a lawsuit.
Or take your employees. You’re responsible for making sure they’re treated fairly and that their rights are protected. If you don’t, you could be dealing with an employment lawsuit.
The point is, there are a lot of ways for a business to get into legal trouble. And the best way to avoid it is to have someone on staff who knows the ins and outs of business law. A corporate lawyer will help you steer clear of any legal pitfalls and can represent you if you do end up in court.
Accounting
For a business, money is everything. So it only makes sense that you would want someone on staff who is good with numbers and knows how to manage money effectively.
An accountant will keep track of your finances and make sure that you’re complying with all tax laws.
An accountant can also help you save money by finding ways to minimize business spending. And if your business is ever in financial difficulty, an accountant is the perfect person to develop a plan to get you out of it.
Cleaning
Imagine what your workspace would look like if you didn’t have a cleaning staff.
A clean and orderly workplace is important for several reasons. For example, it makes for a professional appearance that will make a good impression on clients and customers.
Also, it means a healthy work environment by reducing the amount of dust and allergens in the air as well as preempting pest problems.
Plus, it can boost employee morale by making the workplace more pleasant to be in.
IT
In today’s business world, technology is everything. And if you don’t have someone on staff who knows how to manage and maintain your technology, you’re going to be in big trouble.
From keeping your computers running smoothly to setting up and maintaining your network, an IT person is vital to keeping your business running like a well-oiled machine.
And in the event of a technology breakdown – such as a data breach – an IT person should be able to get things up and running again quickly.
Having a great team of support staff is critical to any business. These are just four of the most important positions to fill. So make sure you take the time to assess your needs and hire accordingly.