A founder once told me he'd rather get a root canal than figure out his business development strategy. I laughed, until I realized he wasn't joking. The reality is that many business owners struggle with business development. Not because they're incompetent, but because running the day-to-day leaves little time to build effective outbound strategies from scratch.
I've spent years in the recruitment and staffing industry helping companies avoid costly missteps in this area, specifically by finding them the right external talent or partners who specialize in business development. Too often, businesses try to plug the gap with quick fixes: hiring a relative who "really gets social media," promoting their best salesperson into a leadership role without a plan, or investing six figures in a chatbot that generates zero qualified leads.
But there's a pattern I've noticed repeatedly. The companies that are absolutely crushing it? They're not necessarily doing business development better in-house. In fact, they're often not doing it internally at all. Instead, they've realized something both obvious and controversial: sometimes the smartest thing you can do is admit where you lack expertise and bring in specialized talent or external partners who know exactly how to make business development work.
After spending years helping companies navigate these decisions, here's the uncomfortable truth: outsourcing business development isn't simply about cutting costs. If that's your only goal, you're thinking far too small.
What Exactly Is Business Development Outsourcing?
Imagine you need heart surgery. Do you want your general practitioner figuring it out as they go, or do you want the surgeon who's done 500 of these procedures?
Business development outsourcing is basically that, except nobody dies if it goes wrong. Just your revenue projections.
You're bringing in external teams who eat, sleep, and breathe lead generation. These aren't random freelancers sending template emails. We're talking about people who've spent years perfecting the art of turning cold prospects into warm conversations. They handle everything from that first terrifying cold call to nurturing relationships that actually convert.
What I find fascinating is how many business owners think they can just "figure out" business development. Like it's something you pick up over a weekend. Meanwhile, these specialized teams have been testing email subject lines, refining call scripts, and building relationships in your industry while you were still trying to decide if you needed a CRM.
Top 5 Outsourced Business Development Companies (The Real Players)
The right outsourcing partner obviously won't be the same for different businesses, so here are the best outsourced business development companies to choose from.
1. Somewhere
Somewhere is the best outsourced business development partner overall. That’s because we combine cost-effectiveness with maximum results. Whether you need full-service business development, lead generation, sales development, or virtual assistant placement, we'll recruit exceptional remote professionals to handle the work.Â
We're very serious about how we handle the entire recruitment and management process, and we make sure you're getting dedicated team members who integrate with your existing operations.
The not-so-secret sauce is our rigorous vetting process. We screen thousands of candidates to find the top performers, which means you're getting experienced professionals at a fraction of what you'd pay locally. We've had clients achieve 70-80% cost savings compared to hiring equivalent talent in the US, while actually improving their results.
At Somewhere, we focus on long-term partnerships rather than quick wins. We take time to understand your business, your market, and your goals before building a customized approach.
2. Belkins
Services: B2B lead generation, cold email outreach, LinkedIn outreach, CRM consulting
Belkins has built a solid reputation in the B2B space, particularly for companies that need systematic lead generation. They've worked with major brands like General Electric and have experience across 50+ industries.
3. SalesRoads
Services: Lead generation, appointment setting, sales support
SalesRoads has been around long enough to understand what works and what doesn't. They're particularly strong in appointment setting and have experience in both B2B and B2C environments.
4. LevelUp Leads
Services: B2B sales development, outbound email, LinkedIn marketing, cold calling
Despite being relatively new (founded in 2021), LevelUp Leads has quickly built a reputation for delivering results. They focus specifically on outbound strategies and have developed expertise in multi-channel approaches.
5. Accenture
Services: Sales strategy, CRM implementation, customer analytics, sales operations
Accenture is the enterprise option on this list. If you're a larger organization that needs comprehensive sales transformation rather than just lead generation, they have the resources and expertise to handle complex projects.
The Real Benefits (Beyond Just Saving Money)
Access to Specialized Expertise
A while ago, I worked with a recruitment client, a SaaS company out of Portland. Brilliant product, strong leadership, but no clue how to approach business development. They needed talent who understood their market, could write outreach that didn't sound robotic, and could navigate B2B sales without leaving prospects wanting a shower afterward.
Locally, that kind of talent would cost at least $80,000, plus benefits, and carry the risk of leaving just as they became productive. Instead, we helped them build a specialized outsourced team. The investment was about a third of the local hire, and within six months, their qualified leads jumped 300%.
The CEO called me, a bit skeptical, asking if those numbers were real. They are, but only when companies stop trying to turn their accountants into cold callers and instead bring in professionals already skilled in business development.
Faster Time to Market
Building an internal business development team is a long road. You write the job description (which often takes weeks because even leadership isn't sure what they're looking for). You post it. Wait. Interview candidates who look great on paper but couldn't sell water in the desert. Hire someone. Train them for months. Watch them miss quota. Start over.
Or…
You can skip all that and engage people who already know exactly what they're doing. It's faster, smarter, and often cheaper in the long run.
Scalability Without the Headaches
Here's the reality few talk about: January hits, and suddenly you need ten business developers. By June, market conditions shift, and you only need three. If those are in-house hires? Good luck navigating that with HR. And your conscience.
With an outsourced team, you scale capacity up or down like adjusting a dial. No difficult termination meetings. No burned bridges. Just results that align with your actual business needs.
Risk Mitigation
Every permanent hire carries risk. Even with excellent interviews and assessments, you might still end up with someone who interviews like Don Draper but performs like… well, late-season Don Draper.
Trusted outsourcing partners, on the other hand, bring proven track records, references, and sometimes even guarantees. It's like meeting someone already vouched for by people you trust, except it's less awkward and far more profitable.
Should You Actually Outsource Your Business Development?
When Outsourcing Makes Sense
You're likely ready to explore outsourcing business development if:
- Your team is overwhelmed. Not just busy. Truly underwater. Expecting them to handle business development on top of everything else is like asking a juggler to toss in flaming chainsaws.
- You're expanding into new markets without a roadmap. I've seen companies attempt to break into healthcare using a consumer retail playbook. Let's just say it became an expensive learning experience. Specialized partners bring the knowledge you simply can't fake.
- Your business cycles wildly. Seasonal spikes, project-based surges, and market shifts can make full-time hiring risky and inefficient. Outsourcing lets you flex resources up or down without long-term commitments.
- Your budget can't support the expertise you need. When you're facing the choice between hiring someone at $100K or investing $30K in an outsourced team that already knows the territory, the math speaks for itself.
The key isn't simply saving costs, it's gaining specialized skill sets, speed, and flexibility without locking yourself into permanent overhead.
How to Choose the Right Business Development Partner (Without Getting Burned)
Some companies become so focused on potential cost savings that they rush into partnerships with any provider who promises quick results. That approach often leads to disappointment rather than success.
Look for Domain Expertise First
Broad claims of "B2B experience" aren't enough. Industry specificity matters far more than impressive marketing materials.
Evaluate Their Communication Style
Early conversations can reveal a lot. Are they responsive and engaged? Do they ask thoughtful questions about your business or simply deliver a one-size-fits-all pitch? A partner who struggles to communicate effectively during the sales process is unlikely to improve once the work begins, and that can impact your customer relationships as well.
Understand Their Pricing Model
Hourly rates alone don't tell the full story. A team charging $25 per hour but requiring 40 hours to generate 10 leads ultimately costs more than a $50 per hour team that achieves the same outcome in 15 hours. Focus on cost per result rather than purely hourly fees to understand the true value of their services.
Check References (And Actually Call Them)
Website testimonials are carefully curated and often lack the complete picture. Speak with real references directly. Ask questions like, "What challenges did you encounter working with this provider?" rather than only asking what went well.Â
Test Their Cultural Fit
An outsourced business development partner will represent your brand to potential customers. It's essential that their communication style and approach align with your business values and sales methodology. A disconnect in tone or messaging can damage relationships and reduce the effectiveness of your outreach efforts.
The right partner will feel like a true extension of your team, sharing your priorities and adapting seamlessly to your business culture.
Common Mistakes That Kill Outsourcing Success
Choosing Based on Price Alone
Low price rarely equals true value. Often, it signals compromises in quality that only become evident when it's too late.
Not Setting Clear Expectations
Saying, "We need more leads," isn't enough. Vague goals create confusion and misalignment. Instead, define exactly what qualifies as a good lead. Does it mean the prospect has budget, decision-making authority, or is actively considering solutions? Be specific, document your criteria, and confirm mutual understanding with your partner.
Micromanaging the Process
Outsourcing is about leveraging external expertise. Constantly reviewing and editing every detail slows progress and undercuts your partner's ability to perform. I've seen founders become bottlenecks, scrutinizing every email rather than allowing experienced teams to execute. Meanwhile, their competitors moved faster and gained market share.
Ignoring Cultural Fit
Your outsourced team represents your brand. If their communication style or approach clashes with your company's values, it creates disconnects that prospects notice. A partner whose tone feels impersonal or mismatched can erode trust and reduce the effectiveness of your outreach.
Invest time to ensure your partner understands your brand's voice, your customer expectations, and your business culture. It makes a significant difference in results.
Making the Decision: Is Outsourcing Right for You?
The companies that win with outsourcing aren't special. They just understand a few things:
First, they know what they want. Not vague hopes. Specific outcomes.
Second, they treat outsourcing like hiring a key employee, not ordering office supplies. They research. They interview. They check references, like suspicious parents meeting their daughter's new boyfriend.
Third, and this is the big one, they see outsourcing as an investment in growth, not an expense to minimize. There's a difference. One leads to partnerships that transform businesses. The other leads to disappointment and "I told you so" moments.
The market's moving fast. While you're debating whether to outsource, your competitors already have teams booking meetings. The question isn't whether you can afford to try outsourcing. The question is whether you can afford to keep doing what you're doing while everyone else speeds past.
Start small if you're nervous. Use the contact form below to book a call with the Somewhere team, and let's talk about how we can help you with business development outsourcing.
