| "The high costs of operating a small business in | | | | afford it. |
| Germany can be alleviated" says Silvia Shields. Ms. | | | | The most recent German Labour Cost Survey1 |
| Shields is a professional Virtual Assistant. Her | | | | shows that 74.8% of compensation to employees |
| business, Just A Phone Call Away, may be the | | | | is the result of gross salaries and wages and only |
| answer to any number of cost issues that cause | | | | 56.7% of that amount is paid in direct |
| German business owners to lose sleep. And, | | | | remuneration to those employees. Further, |
| because she is a German native with over 20 | | | | employers are paying social contributions of |
| years experience working with German | | | | 24.6% and statutory social security contributions |
| companies, Ms. Shields understands very well the | | | | of 13.7%. These labour costs are some of the |
| nuances of the laws governing the way | | | | highest in Europe. |
| businesses operate in the country. | | | | By outsourcing the administrative functions to |
| Outsourcing, more commonly known as | | | | professionals such as Ms. Shields, companies are |
| consulting, is a cost-effective, efficient and | | | | better positioned to offset their high labour costs |
| proactive solution that has long been used for | | | | that, particularly for small businesses, could result |
| project management, customer service and | | | | in a less advantageous position with regard to |
| subject matter expertise. The same concept is | | | | compliance with Basel II regulations. This solution |
| now being successfully applied to the | | | | becomes viable when small businesses reap the |
| administrative functions every company requires. | | | | rewards of becoming more financially solvent |
| Virtual Assistance is a growing industry that has | | | | through outsourcing; therefore, receiving a higher |
| benefited from an infusion of highly skilled, expert | | | | ranking with regard to credit worthiness and the |
| administrative professionals who understand the | | | | ability to generate cash flow to cover all |
| need for cost-effective administrative support to | | | | operations. |
| small business owners who, before now, could not | | | | |