Outsourced vs. In-House sales development for early stage start ups in 2023: Pros and Cons

In the world of B2B SaaS, start-ups usually have two options for building and maintaining their sales development efforts: outsourcing the work to a third-party vendor or building an in-house team. Both has its own set of pros and cons that should be carefully considered before making a decision.
So what are they?

Outsourced sales development Pros:

1. Scalability: Outsourcing sales development allows companies to quickly scale up or down their sales efforts as needed. This is particularly important for early-stage start-ups that may not have a clear idea of their sales needs yet.
2. Cost Savings: Outsourcing can be more cost-effective than building an in-house team. Companies can avoid the cost of hiring, training, and managing employees by outsourcing to a vendor.
3. Expertise: Outsourcing sales development allows companies to tap into the expertise of experienced sales professionals without having to hire them as full-time employees. This can be especially valuable for companies that are just starting out and may not have the sales expertise in-house, especially for the founders with no prior sales experience.

Outsourced sales development Cons:

1. Communication: Communication can be a challenge when working with an outsourced vendor. This can lead to misalignment, missed opportunities, and ultimately, lost sales.
2. Control: Outsourcing sales development means giving up some control over the sales process. Companies may not have as much input or oversight as they would with an in-house team.
3. Integration: Integrating an outsourced sales team with the rest of the company can be difficult. There may be differences in culture, communication styles, and expectations that can make it challenging to work together effectively.

In-House sales development Pros:

1. Control: Building an in-house sales development team gives companies complete control over the sales process. They can set their own goals, implement their own strategies, and make changes as needed.
2. Communication: Communication is typically easier with an in-house team. Teams can work together closely and build stronger relationships with other departments in the company.
3. Company Culture: An in-house team is more likely to share the same culture and values as the rest of the company. This can lead to better alignment and a more cohesive sales effort.

In-House sales development Cons:

1. Cost: Building an in-house team can be expensive. Companies must pay for hiring, training, and managing employees, as well as providing benefits and other perks.
2. Expertise: Building an in-house team requires finding and hiring the right people with the right skills and experience. This can be a challenge, especially for early-stage start-ups that may not have a lot of resources to devote to hiring and managing + training new sales reps.
3. Scalability: Building an in-house team may not be as scalable as outsourcing. Companies may not have the flexibility to quickly scale up or down their sales efforts as needed.

Given the current economic situation in 2023, early-stage start-ups may be more inclined to consider outsourcing sales development. With the ongoing uncertainty and massive lay-offs happening in tech sales, cost savings and scalability are likely to be top priorities for many companies. However, it's important to carefully evaluate the pros and cons of both options before making a decision. Ultimately, the right choice will depend on the specific needs, goals and stages of each individual company.

Don’t know which option is better for you?

Get in touch with our team, and we will evaluate your situation to provide our expertise on what would be the best for you.