DIY Admin Work is Costing You More Than You Think...

Amanda Babcock
Jan 27
2 min read

As small business owners and entrepreneurs, we often take pride in wearing all the hats. From meeting with clients to handling invoices, we tell ourselves it’s part of the hustle. But have you ever stopped to think about what DIY-ing your admin work is really costing you? Let’s dive into why handling it all yourself might be more expensive than you realize.

Time vs. Money: What’s the Real Trade-Off?

Imagine you charge $150 an hour for your expertise. Now, picture yourself spending Tuesday morning organizing receipts, scheduling meetings, and updating your calendar. Those tasks could be outsourced for $49 an hour, yet you just spent three hours of your time on them costing yourself $450 in potential earnings to save about $120. It’s like spending $100 on gas to drive across town for a $5 discount – not exactly the deal you thought it was. Is it really worth it?

Laying on the sofa with a book over the face as a symbol of exhaustion.

The Cognitive Drain

Last week, I watched a fellow business owner try to troubleshoot a printer issue during a client call. Spoiler alert: the printer wasn’t fixed, and the client didn’t get the attention they deserved. This “multitasking tax” isn’t just frustrating; it’s a productivity killer. We’ve all been there, trying to juggle too much at once and feeling stretched thin – it’s exhausting and never as effective as we’d hope. How often do we underestimate the mental toll of constantly switching gears?

The Real Admin Cost

Then there’s Mark, (not a real person) a real estate agent who spends his Sunday evenings scheduling social media posts. Sure, he’s saving $500 a month by not hiring a social media manager, but he’s also missing out on prime house-showing hours – Mark could be closing deals instead of becoming a part-time content creator. when he’s most likely to land clients.

The Burnout Factor

One of the most overlooked costs of DIY admin work is burnout. And let’s face it, nobody’s their best self when they’re running on caffeine and sheer determination. When you’re constantly bouncing between big-picture strategies and tedious tasks, it’s exhausting. This kind of context-switching drains your energy and stifles your creativity, leaving you feeling depleted before you even tackle the work that matters most.

How to Break the Cycle

If this sounds all too familiar, it might be time to rethink your approach. Here’s how to start:

Track your time for a week. Write down every admin task and how long it takes.
Compare costs. Calculate your hourly rate versus the cost of outsourcing.
Start small. Hand off one or two tasks that feel like the biggest drains.
Reinvest your time. Use those extra hours for revenue-generating work or strategic growth.

The Bottom Line

DIY-ing your admin might feel like saving money, but it often comes at a steep price: missed opportunities, mental fatigue, and slowed growth. Your time and energy are your most valuable resources. By delegating the tasks that don’t need your unique expertise, you’re investing in the future of your business.