Running a business can be time-consuming, as it involves many moving parts to succeed. From administration to handling employees, marketing, chasing leads, and attending to clients, the list never seems to end. While proper time management can help you squeeze the most out of your hours and actually get things done, a recent study shows that many entrepreneurs struggle with it. If you feel that you aren’t packing much productivity into your time, you will find the time-saving tips below very useful for your small business.
Set a schedule and stick with it
Often, it is tempting to improvise to save time and get more things done. However, please set a schedule and stick to it. Attempting to improvise can be inefficient and cause you to feel disorganized. Whether you’re a die-hard hour-by-hour planner or more of a bullet-point person, do what floats your boat to make the most of your time. For instance, Mondays could be your sales day, Tuesdays dedicated to billing, and so on. The goal is to have a schedule you can stick to because spending more time stressing about what to do next than actually getting stuff done can be time-wasting.
Delegate tasks
As a small business owner, it is tempting to want to do it all. But you don’t have to, especially when you can rely on experts to handle those tasks. Delegating can enable you to free up time to focus on those functions you are good at and most meaningful for you. If you’re not in the big leagues yet, no worries. Think interns for college credits or freelance professionals when the need be. For the tax aspects of your business, you should consider a CPA firm like Josh Katz and you can contact our preferred local accountant to save time and money during the tax season.
Think software solutions
If you’re running a business, the right software can save you a huge amount of time without you even realising it. Plenty of owners stick with the same tools for years, but it’s worth checking what else is out there because new options are constantly being released to make everyday tasks quicker and easier. From invoicing and bookkeeping to scheduling, customer messages, and project tracking, good software can take a lot of the repetitive admin off your plate. Spending a little time setting up the right systems now can free up hours later, letting you focus on actually growing your business instead of drowning in paperwork.
Improve your record-keeping
You’re probably familiar with the struggles of keeping business records. Now, if you’re still keeping paper records, it’s time for an upgrade. Paper records can easily get crumpled or lost, which is why you should consider going digital. Compared to paper, digital records offer lightning-fast searches; you can input a few commands into your computer, and you’ll get the precise document or information you seek in no time. Aside from fast record-keeping and retrieval, you will save yourself the trouble of going through a mountain of files to find that document you filed only a few days ago.
