Why Outsourcing Is a Strategic Growth Tool for Businesses

Author: Daniel Hooven, CRO

Outsourcing helps businesses access specialized talent, manage costs, expand capacity, and scale operations without building every capability internally. 

As companies grow, their needs do not always develop at the same pace as their ability to hire. A business may need stronger financial leadership, additional accounting capacity, better technology, or specialized expertise long before it makes sense to build a full internal team. Outsourcing provides a flexible way to meet those needs while allowing businesses to focus their resources on growth. 

Access Expertise and Address Talent Shortages 

Experienced professionals can be difficult to find, and not every business needs or can justify another full-time executive. Outsourced and fractional models provide access to experienced CFOs, controllers, technology executives, human resource leaders, and other specialists without adding permanent positions. 

Talent shortages make this approach increasingly relevant. The AICPA’s 2025 Trends report found that accounting degrees awarded declined 6.6% in the 2023–24 academic year, while the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects approximately 115,300 annual openings for accountants and auditors through 2035. 

Outsourcing can help businesses navigate these challenges by supplementing existing teams, maintaining continuity, and providing expertise that may not be available internally. Rather than replacing employees, it often gives them additional support and allows them to focus on where they provide the greatest value. 

The Cost-Benefit of Outsourcing 

Hiring an employee costs considerably more than their salary. Benefits, payroll taxes, recruiting, training, and other employment expenses all contribute to the total investment. 

Consider the cost of building an internal accounting and finance team. According to Robert Half’s 2027 Salary Guide, the national midpoint starting salary for a CFO is approximately $273,000, while a corporate controller is approximately $188,000. The BLS reports a median annual wage of approximately $51,000 for bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks. 

These figures reflect salaries alone. According to BLS employer compensation data, benefits accounted for 30% of total private-industry employer compensation costs in June 2026. 

Outsourcing offers an alternative. Through a defined agreement, often with a flat, predictable monthly fee, businesses can access professional support without directly assuming the employment expenses associated with additional hires. 

While outsourcing is not always less expensive, it can improve budget predictability, reduce administrative burdens, and allow businesses to align costs more closely with their needs. For growing companies, that flexibility can be as valuable as potential savings. 

Scale Your Business Without Overbuilding 

Growth rarely follows a straight line, and staffing needs often change along the way. A company may need stronger financial reporting before hiring a full-time controller, better HR support before establishing a department, or specialized technology expertise without building an internal team. 

Outsourcing allows businesses to expand capabilities as needed without immediately committing to permanent positions. It can also serve as a bridge to future hiring, with outside professionals helping establish processes, improve reporting, and prepare functions for an eventual internal transition. 

This flexibility gives business leaders time to make thoughtful staffing decisions rather than reacting to immediate pressures. 

Outsourcing Does Not Always Mean Offshoring 

One common misconception is that outsourcing automatically means sending work overseas. Some providers use offshore or “right-shore” resources; others rely on domestic teams, and many use a combination. 

At its core, outsourcing simply means engaging an outside provider to support a function, role, or area of expertise. Businesses should understand how and where services are delivered when evaluating potential partners. 

Build the Right Team for Your Business 

Hiring internally may be the right answer, but it is not the only option. Businesses can hire, outsource, use fractional leadership, supplement existing teams, or combine these approaches based on their needs. 

The goal is not to outsource more. It is to build the right combination of internal talent, outside expertise, and technology to support the business today and prepare for future growth. 

Ultimately, outsourcing gives business leaders greater flexibility to manage costs, access expertise, and scale operations without having to build every capability internally. 

How Can Squire Help? 

Looking for ways to add expertise or capacity without building every function internally? Contact us at info@squire.com to learn more about Squire’s outsourced accounting, advisory, and technology services. 

About Squire  

Squire is an audit, tax, and business advisory firm with offices and teams across the Mountain West. With 50+ years of experience, we provide outsourced CFO and controller support, bookkeeping, payroll, sales tax, transaction support, ERP implementation and technology integration—helping businesses operate efficiently, stay compliant and achieve their financial goals. For more information, visit www.squire.com.  

The information contained in this article is provided for general informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute accounting, tax, legal, investment, or other professional advice. The information may not be applicable to your specific circumstances. You should consult with a qualified professional before taking any action or making any decision based on this information.