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Why DIY-ing your biz is costing you

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Written by Cat Dunn on August 30, 2024

DIY-ing feels thrifty, no?

Running a business often means juggling all the hats—marketer, accountant, operations manager, even IT specialist. But here’s the thing: doing it all yourself AKA DIY-ing isn’t just exhausting—it’s probably costing you way more than you realise.

The real cost of DIY-ing

DIY-ing might feel like the thrifty choice, but let’s break down how it’s sneaking extra expenses (and stress) into your biz and what to do about it.

1. What’s YOUR time worth?

Every hour you spend on admin, troubleshooting tech, or creating Canva graphics is an hour you’re not spending in your genius zone. Your expertise—coaching, creating, or leading—is where your value lies. When you're DIY-ing, you’re swapping high-value tasks for lower-value ones.

Reality check: If your hourly rate is $200 and you spend five hours tweaking a landing page, that’s $1,000 of potential income lost!

How to fix it: Set up automations and/or outsource repetitive tasks to a Virtual Assistant (VA) so you can focus on revenue-generating activities.

2. Imperfection is expensive

When you DIY something outside your skill set, the results are often less polished. A slapdash email sequence or clunky website might put off potential clients or give off the wrong impression.

Reality check: First impressions matter! Cutting corners on quality could mean losing sales or damaging your brand’s reputation.

How to fix it: Hire professionals where it matters most—whether it’s design, copywriting, or tech setup. Investing upfront in expertise pays off in the long run.

3. Stress is a biz expense

Trying to learn every tool, software, or strategy yourself is a fast track to burnout. And burnout has a ripple effect, impacting your creativity, productivity, and overall well-being.

Reality check: Stress leads to mistakes, missed deadlines and, ultimately, lost opportunities.

How to fix it: Build a team that supports your business operations and provides you with breathing space. You don’t have to scale alone.

4. DIY-ing can delay growth

When you’re busy doing everything, you’re not focusing on scaling your business. DIY-ing may save money in the short term but it often slows down progress.

Reality check: Spending weeks figuring out how to launch a course means delaying sales and impact.

How to fix it: Invest in systems and experts who can fast-track your goals. An Online Business Manager (OBM) can help you create and execute a growth strategy while ensuring nothing falls through the cracks.

5. Tech troubles suck up your cash

We’ve all been there. Spending hours Googling how to integrate two platforms or fix a broken automation. Time wasted on tech troubleshooting is money wasted - plain and simple.

Reality check: Missed opportunities while you’re stuck in tech limbo.

How to fix it: Bring in tech-savvy support who can implement solutions efficiently. Sometimes, the best investment is letting someone else do what they do best.

What’s your bottom line?

DIY-ing might feel like you’re saving money, but it’s often a false economy. The time, stress, and missed opportunities add up faster than you think. To grow your biz and keep your sanity, it’s time to ditch the “do it all” mindset and embrace strategic support.

Whether it’s outsourcing small tasks to a VA or hiring an OBM to take the reins of your operations, investing in help is one of the smartest decisions you can make for your business.

A woman in a slogan top DIY-ing by opening a box

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