Space Perspective, the tourism company backed by Richard Branson, is struggling with financial setbacks. Recent difficulties have led to staff furloughs and delays in its planned high-altitude balloon flights. With expenses piling up, outsourcing firm BruntWork shares insights on how outsourcing might help cut costs and keep operations moving.
Space Perspective’s Roadblocks
The company had ambitious plans, securing over 1,750 ticket reservations and targeting 4,000 sales before the end of the year. Financial strain, however, has forced delays in its launch timeline from Florida’s Space Coast. These hold-ups have frustrated customers and raised questions about whether commercial tourism beyond Earth’s atmosphere can be a long-term success.
Each seat costs $125,000, while a full capsule booking runs $1 million. Even with these high prices, expenses remain a problem. Running a safe and consistent tourism operation at this level is expensive, and many are wondering if the current pricing structure is enough to keep the business afloat.
Can Outsourcing Help Cut Costs?
To manage financial strain, Space Perspective may need to adjust how it handles operations. Outsourcing offers one way to reduce expenses while maintaining focus on essential work. Ong believes companies with high overhead costs can benefit from delegating administrative and logistical tasks.
BruntWork, which specializes in outsourcing solutions, provides services such as customer support, sales assistance, and data entry virtual assistant roles to help businesses streamline their operations. “Outsourcing allows businesses to concentrate on their core mission while lowering expenses in areas that don’t require in-house teams,” he explains.
Studies show outsourcing can improve efficiency by up to 25%. If Space Perspective moves in this direction, it could free up resources for critical work such as engineering and safety compliance.
How Outsourcing Could Support Daily Operations
Cutting costs isn’t the only advantage. Handing off routine tasks to external teams can help manage the complex logistics of running a tourism business. “Virtual assistants can handle customer inquiries, bookings, and inventory tracking,” Ong points out. “This lets the core team focus on making flights as safe and reliable as possible.”
Beyond customer service, financial management is another area where outsourcing can bring relief. Hiring an accounting virtual assistant to handle invoicing, budgeting, and expense tracking could help streamline financial operations, ensuring the company remains on top of its cash flow.
Companies that rely on outsourced virtual assistants can lower their overhead by up to 78%. Adopting this model might give Space Perspective more flexibility to tackle its current situation while staying financially stable.
Outsourcing also provides workforce flexibility. Instead of hiring full-time employees for administrative roles, the company could scale up or down as needed. This is valuable for industries where demand can fluctuate.
Other Ways to Keep the Business Moving
Outsourcing alone may not be enough. Space Perspective might also need to attract new investors, partner with aerospace firms, or seek government funding to remain operational. A mix of financial strategies could help the company maintain its footing.
To streamline operations while expanding its reach, the company could benefit from services like those offered by BruntWork. Hiring a virtual marketing assistant allows Space Perspective to enhance its digital presence, manage investor relations, and execute strategic marketing campaigns—all while keeping overhead costs low.
An industry analyst notes, “Tourism beyond Earth’s atmosphere requires careful financial management, but it’s just as important to invest in new technology and prioritize safety at every stage.”
What Comes Next?
The company’s next steps will be watched closely by those following this emerging industry. Its ability to recover and push forward could influence future tourism ventures beyond Earth’s surface, setting an example for how businesses manage big ambitions alongside financial realities.
Ong believes outsourcing is one way businesses in high-tech industries can become more efficient. “Tourism at this level needs adaptable business models,” he says. “Outsourcing helps, but long-term success depends on financial discipline and steady progress in technology.”
Decisions made in the coming months could have lasting effects. Whether through outsourcing, securing new funding, or adjusting operations, the path taken now will shape what’s next for the company and the larger industry.
