After changing the business model to be predominantly focused online we once again faced the control dilemma, with limited funds to pay for expensive web companies, do we give up equity and find a suitable technical partner? or find a suitable developer (starting within our immediate networks) who can build a site for a knock down rate.

Keen to maintain control of the company we decided on the latter. AJ, a personal friend who I've worked with on previous web based projects, started building FreeFrom UK and he really is fantastic. The issue is with timing, AJ now also has a full time job and although keen to spend some of his weekends and evenings to complete the project it has severely delayed the project deadline (as well as my time commitments with NEF). I also worry that once the site is live we will not have enough internal capacity to solve the issues that there will inevitably be.

With regards to the cause of this slowdown, I'm going to have to put my hands up for that one. I've always been optimistic and I may have been a little too optimistic with time scales for the project and was blinded by best case scenarios and didn't take enough notice of approaching time constraints.

So from this lesson and after speaking with other entrepreneurs in the tech sphere, I believe there is a good Fish and Tip to be had. Quite simply; If something is crucial to the success of your business, try not to outsource.

I know that some businesses are built on outsourcing work but from a start up's perspective relinquishing that much control to save a few quid could potentially be damaging in the medium term.

I'm keen to continue finding out peoples perspectives and experiences on this issue so if you've been there - let me know.