You’ve known for a while that you need to hire a new team member.

But you’re not entirely sure who’ll really move the needle and improve the way your business runs. After all – teams are expensive and maybe you’ve been burnt before by hiring someone who really didn’t work out. So..

Is a VA what you need right now, or
is it time to work with an OBM?

Read on for a full clarification of the differences between the roles – plus how to determine which one is right for you at this stage in your business.

Although both a VA and an OBM have a ‘get it done’ mindset, and are focused on supporting you to build and run your business, there are some key differences in the roles:

So how do you know if you need to hire a VA or an OBM?

A few questions to help you decide…

 

1️⃣  What  Stage  of  Growth is  your  Business  at?

You’ve worked hard to establish your offer, find clients and get the money coming in the door… now it’s time to focus on building a foundation for growth.

If you are making a consistent 10k+ per month, have big plans for where you want to go next and know you can’t get there on your own, then this is the right time to bring in an OBM. They will work with you to lay out the right plan, team and structure to get you to the next level.

If your current revenue is less than this but your growth is strong, you could work with an OBM on a project or consultancy basis to build a strong and streamlined foundation to grow your business sustainably.

 

2️⃣  Who  is  Currently   Managing  the Team?

If you are like many of the business owners I speak with, you don’t realise how much time and energy it takes to manage the day-to-day of your business.

Creating plans. Making sure you have the right people and resources in place to get stuff done. Checking in with the team to ensure they are on track (and working together when things are off track.)

If you need help with a specific area of the business or a new tool, then a VA will help. But until you have an OBM in place, all the day-to-day management of the business and team lands on your shoulders, which can be a huge drain of time and energy
 

3️⃣  Where  are  the  Bottlenecks?

In the early days your own hustle is enough to carry you through – you work hard and get it done. But when you reach the early 6-figure mark the hustle actually starts to get in the way.

There is only so much of your time and energy to go around – and if you are the ‘hub’ of everything that happens in the business… well, you become the biggest bottleneck.

Recruiting a new VA may remove some tasks from your to-do list, but an OBM will work with you to get ‘all the things’ off your plate, so that you can get back to growing the business and doing what you love

Ultimately, there comes a point when your business becomes bigger than you working as a lone ranger.

Where what you did in the early days – the hustle and the ‘do it all yourself’ mentality – is no longer effective… it actually starts to get in the way and stall your growth.

So if you are ready to take things to the next level and get yourself freed up from the day-to-day, let’s talk!

And for more information on the OBM role, check out What is An OBM? and 101 Ways an OBM Can Help Your Business