What Is an OBM and Why Does Your Small Business Need One
As a coach, you know how important it is to stay focused on your clients and deliver the best results possible. But what about the behind-the-scenes tasks that keep your business running smoothly? That’s where an OBM comes in. In this article, we’ll explore what an OBM is, how it can benefit your business, and how it differs from a VA (virtual assistant).
What Is an OBM?
An OBM, or Online Business Manager, is a professional who provides business management and operational support to small business owners, with a focus on helping them grow and scale their businesses. Unlike a VA, who typically handles administrative tasks and other smaller projects, an OBM works closely with the business owner to develop and implement strategic plans and processes that drive growth.
Why Should Business Owners Look at Hiring OBM’s?
There are several key benefits to working with an OBM, including:
- Expertise and experience: OBMs have specialized knowledge and training in business management and operations, and can help you navigate complex challenges and identify new opportunities for growth.
- Time savings: By taking on critical tasks and projects, an OBM frees up your time to focus on what you do best – working with your clients and delivering results.
- Accountability: OBMs act as strategic partners and accountability coaches, helping you stay on track with your goals and objectives.
- Scalability: As your business grows, an OBM can help you develop and implement processes and systems that enable you to scale your operations and meet increasing demand.
How Does an OBM Compare to a VA?
While both OBMs and VAs provide support to small business owners, there are some key differences to keep in mind:
- Scope of work: OBMs typically focus on higher-level tasks and projects, while VAs handle administrative tasks and other smaller projects.
- Strategic planning: OBMs work closely with the business owner to develop and implement strategic plans and processes that drive growth, while VAs may not be as involved in strategic planning.
- Responsibility: OBMs take on a greater level of responsibility for the success of the business, while VAs are typically more task-oriented and may not be as invested in the long-term success of the business.
If a VA is your office assistant, then an Online Business Manager would be the equivalent of the Office Manager, but subcontracted so now you only use an OBM when you need one!
What Operational Tasks Can an OBM Help Business Owners With?
The goal of the Online Business Manager is to take over the daily operations of a business to free up the business owner so they can lead the company and concentrate on
- Project Management & Planning– managing a launch, setting up a new online program or membership portal, establishing a website from start to finish and any other one-off projects that you may need to move your business forward.
- Operations Management – making sure there are systems in place for billing, client relationships, workflow, communications, and ensuring that those systems all talk to each other effectively to cut down on duplicate tasks and save you time and money! Process and Policy implementation also come under operations management.
- Metrics Management – tracking stats so that you know exactly what’s working in your business and what isn’t, managing the numbers and making sure things are effective – after all, what gets measured gets done!
- People Management – outsourcing, managing, and tracking the completion of the day-to-day tasks of your team, hiring, employee management and Payroll.
- Resources Management – The resources you use within your business are valuable and essential for its success. Sometimes these need to be procured or researched – OBM’s can help with this.
- Marketing & Sales Support – from setting up your marketing systems such as email marketing, social media platforms or sales funnels, to helping you plan and execute your marketing strategy, OBM’s are able to take on a wide range of marketing activities.
Wearing many hats!
The Online Business Manager covers the roles of project managers, office managers, human resources managers, accounts managers, operations managers and online experts. You get exactly what you need when you need it!
This is not about handing over your business, but rather hiring an experienced and skilled professional to manage the areas of your business that take up more time and bandwidth than you have available. Sometimes as a business owner, you are great at the core money-making activities but either don’t know how or don’t have the time to run the office environment.
Online business management is different from the general administration provided by a VA. An OBM is more invested in your business operations and its ability to run smoothly. An OBM understands your business model and takes steps to ensure they fully understand your business needs. It’s like having an Operations Manager working alongside you.
We understand your struggles, being a business ourselves. We manage the same things that you manage within your business, We understand the frustrations and challenges that come along with running a business.
Once a business has gotten to a stage where managing the day-to-day takes more time than growing the company it’s time to hire an OBM.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire an OBM?
The cost of hiring an OBM can vary depending on a number of factors, including their level of experience, the scope of work involved, and the complexity of your business. However, it’s important to remember that working with an OBM is an investment in the long-term success of your business, and can provide significant returns in terms of time savings, increased revenue, and overall growth. Our OBM packages start at $900 per month
In conclusion, an OBM can be a valuable asset for small business owners looking to streamline operations, improve efficiency, and achieve greater success. By working closely with an experienced OBM, you can develop and implement strategic plans and processes that drive growth and scalability, while freeing up your time to focus on what you do best – working with your clients and delivering results.
