Forming a distributed team (or transitioning your current team to remote work) comes with many benefits for small business owners. Not only do you save a lot of money on office space, equipment, and transportation, but the lack of geographical restrictions also means your company can access a larger pool of talent. Plus, employees typically enjoy the freedom and flexibility of working remotely, which is great for morale.

Of course, just like anything else in business, building and managing a successful team of remote workers requires effective strategy and decision making, and SMBGU wants to help you succeed. Here are some key steps you will need to take throughout the process:

Protect Your Assets

Let's face it, lawsuits happen right and left in our world of increasing conflict, and the last thing you want to do is put all you've worked hard for at risk. With that in mind, it's important to choose a business structure that will help you get established and keep you out of harm's way.

For many small businesses, that means a limited liability company, or LLC. The rules and fees for this vary by state. Thankfully, you don't need to know your way around legalese to get things rolling, since you can go through an online service that will ensure you meet the requirements
where you live.

Determine What Jobs to Hire Out

For some businesses, not all tasks can be handled by remote workers. For example, if you own a restaurant, your cooks will need to remain at your brick-and-mortar location. However, whatever kind of business you run, chances are you can think of some tasks and projects that can be done remotely, such as web design, marketing, accounting, and data entry.

Use Your Network

As with any employees, you will want to make sure any candidates you're considering for a remote position are qualified and reliable. Start by asking for referrals from your network of professionals, family, and friends. If you need additional help finding good candidates, Business.com suggests turning to online job boards and job sites.

Invest in Tools

Along with putting together a team of remote workers, you will need to manage your team effectively for the long-term success of your business. One way to ensure this happens is to get all of the tools necessary to ensure smooth operations on a daily basis. Project/task management software like Asana and Wrike, communication tools like Slack and Zoom, and accounting software like QuickBooks and FreshBooks are a few of many types of worth while options.

Create a Hierarchy

As the business owner, you have the final say on matters. But you will need several people on your team who can help other team members with questions and concerns. Otherwise, you will be the one having to answer every inquiry, which is the sort of situation Success Magnified
explains can increase stress and cause burnout (plus, it's simply not practical). Instead of setting yourself up for trouble, consider directing team members to a virtual assistant when they want to take time off, a project manager for task-related issues, and an accountant for payroll concerns. Alleviate your workload for your personal and professional benefit!

Provide Feedback

Feedback is important for any company that wants a healthy team, but it's downright critical when you have a distributed team. Regularly check in with all of your workers to let them know when they are doing a great job on particular tasks. And if you notice repeated errors or poor
execution in specific areas, politely point those out as well.

Furthermore, ask your team members to provide you with feedback on your performance as well. Not only will creating a culture of feedback help your business remain efficient, but it will also show your team members that you are invested in their success.

More companies are realizing the benefits of building a distributed team. To succeed, however, you need to ensure that you have healthy cash flow, strategically choose which jobs will be performed remotely, and use your network to find good hires. Lastly, provide your team with the
right tools, establish a clear hierarchy, and offer feedback on a regular basis.

Check out SMBGU for a wide range of relevant, informative and inspiring content that will help
your business blossom!

Article submitted by Tina Martin Creator of Ideaspired