You often wonder what to watch out for when choosing an outsourcing company or individual. Most of the outsourcing companies deal with medical transcription, accounting outsourcing, outsourcing call center and other BPO outsourcing companies. The following is a generic list of important things to check when looking for an outsourcing company.

1.Full contact information for the outsourcing company: this is obvious that no one would want to deal with without knowing where this guy or company is from. Trust me, there are hundreds if not thousands of websites that offer great services without even a phone number or address. Be careful and look at the whois records to double check.

2. Ask for references: Ask for referrals in your area to the outsourcing resource. Some NDA issues may arise, but still make sure you provide some references. Feel free to check these references.

3. Business history: Google this company. You will find some reviews or reports about this site somewhere. These reviews may not be authentic, but there would still be some.

4.Financial Reports: Ask the company to present its recent financial reports. Most would hesitate. But the established will be happy to provide you.

5.Experience: Check relevant experience. Request case studies or demo projects. Check the staff and skill set available.

6. Technology: This company must be aware of the latest trends and technologies in the field. If necessary, ask them a few questions related to your technology requirements. Make sure they have adequate access to the necessary tools or software. Study your finished projects if possible.

7.Connectivity: As most services are provided online, this type/company must have high-speed connectivity. Backup connections would be a plus. 512KBPS ADSL is a minimum broadband standard.

8. Data security: Make sure your data is in good hands. Do the paperwork and demand guarantees. Online space would also be essential for data transfers.

9. Terms of payment: Don’t just give out your credit card numbers. The payment gateway MUST be certified by the competent authorities or trusted companies such as VeriSign. Please check the payment gateway records before making payments. Bank transfers would be a good option for transactions. Always try to retain the maximum payments for the post-completion stage. I mean paying the least amount possible before the completion of the job.

10. A DEMO TASK: Assign a demo project as “TEST PROJECT”. This will tell you the whole story if this company can really handle your project and meet your requirements.