What Consultants Can Outsource - And What They Shouldn’t

A practical guide for consultants unsure where to start

If you’re a consultant, you’ll know that tricky balance between wanting to scale and not wanting to let go of the reins. You’ve built your business on your expertise and relationships, so how do you decide what to outsource and what to keep close?

At The Remote Assistant, we work with consultants at every stage of that journey. Many come to us unsure where to start, worried that handing things over might remove their voice and personal touch. In reality, outsourcing the right things can give you more focus, consistency and headspace, without compromising what makes your work distinct.

What to keep

There are some things only you can do. These are the parts of your business that rely on your insight, voice and personal credibility:

• Client relationships: Maintaining authentic contact with your clients is central to your reputation. Outsource the admin around it, but not the connection itself.

• Strategy and direction: Whether it’s deciding on new service offerings, fee structures or partnerships, these decisions come from your experience and goals.

• Thought leadership: Articles, talks and ideas should reflect your voice. You can get editing support, but the original thinking needs to be yours.

What to delegate

The time you spend on routine or reactive work is time you’re not using for higher-value activity. These are the areas where outsourcing has the biggest impact:

• Inbox and diary management: A virtual assistant can prioritise emails, schedule meetings, and create breathing space in your day.

• Proposals and follow-ups: Once you’ve set the tone and structure, support can manage responses, proofing and submission.

• Social media: Keep ownership of the message, but delegate content creation and scheduling.

• Document management: From version control to filing systems, structured admin saves hours of confusion.

The consultant’s reality

Sales Agency, Managing Director, Geoff Hutchins - whose full case study you can read here - describes the impact of outsourcing clearly:

“Working with Tom has enhanced my business. He streamlined systems, introduced new tools, and manages daily operations, giving me back time and headspace to focus on improving client experience.”

That’s what outsourcing should do: remove the pressure so you can focus on the thinking, relationships and delivery that matter most.

If you’re unsure where to start, take a look at our Consultancy Support page for examples of what we help with - from inbox management to marketing support - and how we help consultants build capacity without losing control.