Understand your core competencies and limitations. “Outsource functions that are time-consuming and can easily be performed by someone outside the organization,” says Sara Slettebo, president, ReMilNet, which helps businesses improve efficiency and effectiveness. For example, “ReMilNet has outsourced [its] HR functions (payroll, w-2, taxes, benefits, etc.) since 2008. With employees working in several states, it is more cost effective to have an external staff available to prepare, process and file our state documentation than manage it internally,” she says. “As a result, our filings are compliant and submitted on time, we stay abreast of new policies that impact our employees in each state and all our records are available online in a secure environment. This has been the most beneficial outsourcing decision we have made.”