The Cost of In-House Control

When I started consulting with founders and startups, something became very noticeable:
Many founders wear too many hats — not because they want to, but because they think they have to.

There’s pride in being scrappy. But there’s also a hidden cost in trying to do it all:

• Spending too much time on tasks outside of your zone of genius

  ➡️ According to a McKinsey survey (2023), startup founders who spend more than 30% of their time on operational tasks

• Missed strategic opportunities because you’re too busy in the weeds
  ➡️ Let to 45% slower growth than those who delegate effectively.

• Burnout
  ➡️ Founders working 60+ hours per week are 2.5x more likely to experience decision fatigue and reactive leadership patterns (Harvard Business Review, 2022).

• Slower growth
  ➡️ 73% of startups that fail cite scaling and operational mismanagement as a key factor (CB Insights).

• Hidden Costs
  ➡️ Average cost to hire and onboard an operations manager ranges from $4,200 to $6,800 per employee (Gartner).

Founders are natural problem-solvers. But sometimes, that instinct to tackle every problem yourself becomes your biggest bottleneck. I've met founders who spent more time troubleshooting HR software than pitching investors.

What I’ve learned?
✨ You scale when you focus on what only you can do — and let trusted experts handle the rest.

What works:

• Outsourcing operational complexity to fractional experts reduces overhead by up to 40% (Deloitte Global Outsourcing Survey, 2023).

• Companies that delegate administrative and compliance tasks report 31% faster time-to-market for new initiatives (PwC Future of Work Report).

Here is an example in action: A Phoenix-based healthtech startup outsourced HR and compliance through Lane B. Within 9 months, they reduced internal admin work by 30%, saved $120K in overhead costs, and redirected resources to product development and sales acceleration.

Let’s get practical:

1. Track where your time goes for two weeks.

2. Identify tasks that don’t generate revenue or strategic value.

3. Start with one outsourced function and measure results.

4. Regularly re-assess: what’s your highest and best use?

Here is the kicker, just in case you missed it: At Lane B, our mission is to help founders shed that operational load. Not just to save money but to give you time and clarity to lead.

👉 Scaling isn’t about doing more — it’s about focusing on what only you can do and letting experts handle the rest.

➡️ What’s the task you know you should delegate? I’d love to hear your story — drop a comment or DM!