Managing your business can feel exhausting. And I'm not talking falling asleep before you get to the end of this week's episode of Real Housewives exhausted. I'm talking it's Monday morning and you just have SO.MANY.THINGS. on your to do list that you can't even bear to open your laptop.
And it's not because you don’t want to be productive. It's because you’re too overwhelmed to know where to start.
And let’s face it. Being a solopreneur, especially in the online space, can feel so dang lonely. You don’t have anyone to bounce ideas off of or turn to if you need a second opinion.
Wouldn't it feel good if you could bring in reinforcements before you felt totally burnt out?
An Online Business Manager could help you ditch that behind the scenes mess and never ending task list and help set you up for long term success (aka you’ll have enough spare time to rearrange your snack cabinet into color coded containers.)
What Is An Online Business Manager?
An online business manager (OBM) is an independent contractor who you can bring on to help run your operations more efficiently and effectively. They can also help you create and implement systems, making it easier for you to focus on the parts of your business that make you happy!
Think of an OBM as the the right-hand person every overwhelmed business owner wishes they had. They are the bridge between big-picture goals and the day-to-day operations that make those goals happen.
OBM's step in to manage projects, streamline systems, oversee teams, and ensure everything runs smoothly. Whether it’s keeping launches on track, refining client workflows, or automating tasks to save time, an OBM helps bring order to the chaos. It’s more than just delegation; it’s about creating a business that runs efficiently without the you having to micromanage every detail.
What Can An OBM Do?
An OBM's job description can be customized based on the needs of your specific business, but here are 4 main areas where they can help you:
1) Project Management
Want to create a new sales funnel? Ready to launch a new offer? You won't actually have to think about any of the logistics - just tell your OBM what your vision is and they’ll make it happen! No more projects grinding to a halt if you want to take a week off; they’ll keep your business running like a well oiled machine even while you’re on the beach sipping a cold marg.
2) Metrics Management
When was the last time you checked in on your email open rate? The number of people who read your latest blog post? How many people opted in to your freebie last quarter?
Your OBM can keep track of these metrics and present them to you monthly or quarterly so that you can work together to strategize any necessary changes.
3) Team Management
Do you dread opening Slack on Monday mornings because you really don't want to sort through the 230 new messages in there? Your OBM will be the new point person for the VA, podcast manager, and graphic designer. You'll no longer be bogged down by daily back and forth between team members.
4) Strategic Support:
Have you ever wished for a trusted partner to bounce ideas off for new services, courses or projects? What about a biz bestie to keep you grounded and make suggestions when things don't go as planned? An OBM can provide an objective sounding board when you're looking for a second opinion.
What Are The Benefits Of Hiring An OBM?
Running a business can be a lot of work. You have to manage your team, come up with new ideas, and make sure everything runs smoothly. But as your business grows, it can become overwhelming to handle all the tasks yourself. That's where an OBM comes in.
Here's How An OBM Can Help You Grow Your Business:
Improved Time Management
As a business owner, your time is valuable. You can't be everywhere at once, and you can't do everything yourself. An OBM can help you save time by managing day-to-day tasks and delegating responsibilities, allowing you to focus on the areas of your business that need your attention the most.
Growth Without Burnout
As a business grows, it becomes more difficult to manage all the moving parts. If you want to grow (without tearing your hair out!), you'll need to delegate tasks to people who are skilled in those areas. An OBM can create systems and processes that allow you to streamline operations. With their expertise, they can also help you identify areas where you can improve and come up with solutions that will help you achieve your goals.
Creating A More Systemized Business
An OBM can help you create structure and organization within your business, which can lead to increased efficiency and profitability. They can help you document standard operating procedures and implement processes that will streamline your operations, making it easier to manage the business.
How Do You Know If You’re Ready For An OBM?
Hiring an OBM can be a game-changer for your business, but most OBM’s run between $1500-3500 per month so it's important to know if you're ready to make that investment.
Many business owners who are ready to hire an OBM have teams or multiple independent contractors. They might run a blog or a podcast or are regularly launching new offers and products.
Some other signs that you might be ready to hire an OBM are:
➡️You're feeling overwhelmed
You're feeling burnt out and exhausted at the end of every week. You're constantly running in circles, doing the same things over and over again, but not making any forward progress.
➡️You're disorganized
Your business systems are a HOT mess. Your SOP's are non-existent. You spend your time searching for Docs in your Google Drive or trying to find out if a client signed their contract in your CRM, never really knowing where things are stored or how to locate them..
➡️Your team isn't happy
Your team is actually causing you MORE work. The constant Slack messages, missed due dates are making you wonder if this wouldn’t be easier on your own. But at the same time, your team doesn’t really know how to read your mind - there are no SOP’s to follow, so they’re really just trying their best but they don’t know exactly what you want them to do.
➡️You have no flexibility
You wanted to start your own business so that you could show up to your kids events, or meet your bestie for brunch, or binge the entire first season of Real Housewives of Salt Lake City on a Wednesday morning, if you felt like it. What’s happening now is pretty much the opposite of that.
What If I'm Not Ready For An OBM?
If you're not quite ready to hire an Online Business Manager, don't worry—there are still plenty of ways to get your business organized and running more smoothly.
Here are some options to consider:
Start By Documing Your SOPS. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) might sound overwhelming, but they’re just step-by-step guides for how things get done in your business. Start by jotting down the tasks you do repeatedly—like onboarding a client, sending invoices, or publishing content—and break them into clear, actionable steps. Read more about how to do that in THIS blog post. This not only helps you stay consistent and efficient but also makes it easier to delegate when you’re ready to bring in help. Even simple checklists or screen recordings can be a game-changer in keeping your business running smoothly without relying solely on memory.
Hire A Virtual Assistant. If you're drowning in admin work but not quite ready for an OBM, a Virtual Assistant (VA) can be a great first step. A VA can take repetitive, time-consuming tasks off your plate (like managing emails, scheduling social media, or handling customer support) so you can focus on growing your business. Even hiring a VA for just a few hours a week can free up valuable time. Just remember that you'll be the one directly supervising and delagating to the VA. While a VA follows instructions and completes assigned tasks, an OBM takes a strategic role in your business - managing projects, optimizing systems, and overseeing your team.
Book A Strategy Session. If you’re feeling stuck or unsure what to systemize first, a strategy session with an OBM (like me!) can help bring clarity. In a one-on-one session, we’ll map out the areas of your business that need structure, identify quick wins for efficiency, and create an action plan tailored to your needs. Whether it’s setting up workflows, refining your client experience, or preparing to hire support, a strategy session is a low-commitment way to get expert guidance and take meaningful steps toward a more organized, sustainable business. BOOK YOUR STRATEGY SESSION HERE.
Wrapping Up...
If you’re feeling stretched thin in your business, constantly putting out fires, or spending too much time managing the backend instead of focusing on growth, it might be time to consider an Online Business Manager.
An OBM helps bring structure, efficiency, and strategy to your business so you can step into your role as the CEO instead of getting lost in the daily details. Whether you're ready to hire now or just starting to prepare for the future, taking steps like documenting processes, outsourcing small tasks, or booking a strategy session can set you up for success.
If you’re wondering whether an OBM is the right next move for you, let’s chat—I’d love to help you figure out the best path forward!