The Best Time to Start Offshoring Was 10 Years Ago. The Second-Best Time Is Now

There’s a well-known saying in real estate circles: “The best time to buy real estate was 10 or 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.”

It’s a reminder that while hindsight always makes the missed opportunity feel obvious, the real opportunity is in taking action today. And the same principle applies when it comes to offshore staffing.

The Early Adopters Are Now Reaping the Rewards

Firms who began their offshoring journey 10 years ago are now in a completely different league. Many of them have team members in the Philippines with a decade of Australian public practice experience—people who understand not just the technical work, but also how their firm operates, how to manage relationships with onshore staff and clients, and how to lead and train others.

Some of these offshore team members have even gone on to complete their CTA through the Tax Institute, showing just how deep their integration and development have become.

And perhaps most importantly, these experienced staff now form the backbone of these firms’ offshore operations. They mentor, onboard, and train the next generation of offshore staff, meaning every new team member starts with a smoother, faster ramp-up.

Just Like Property, the Returns Compound Over Time

If you had bought real estate a decade ago, you’d likely be enjoying significant capital growth and higher rental income today. But none of that would have happened overnight. The appreciation takes time. The rental income grows steadily. And the payoff becomes more apparent with every passing year.

Offshoring works in exactly the same way.

In the beginning, the returns can feel modest. You might spend several months training your first team member, building systems, and adjusting your internal workflows. But give it six months, and you start to see real traction. At 12 months, that team member becomes an asset. At 18 to 24 months, they’re driving efficiency, taking ownership, and freeing up your local team to focus on higher-value work.

What If You Start Now?

For firms who haven’t yet started, it’s easy to feel like the opportunity has passed. But just like in real estate, that kind of thinking only causes further delay. The second-best time to start is now.

In six months, you’ll have a capable offshore staff member who understands your firm. In 12 months, you’ll see measurable improvements in workflow and turnaround. And in two years, you may have a high-performing team that’s not only delivering great work but also helping you grow.

Offshoring Is a Long-Term Strategy

The biggest difference between firms who have succeeded with offshoring and those who’ve struggled isn’t talent, location, or luck—it’s commitment. The firms who got in early committed to the process, invested in training, and treated their offshore teams as a core part of their business. Today, they’re enjoying the compounded benefits of that decision.

So while you may not be able to rewind the clock and start a decade ago, you can make the decision today that your future self will thank you for.