As a business owner, you are stretched thin. You have so many demands on your time and on your budget. What if you could save both money and time for your business? Follow these three tips to do just that.
Automate
Technology really is our friend, especially if you own a business. You can streamline just about any activity you need to do, if you just find the right program or app. Let’s look at paying bills, for instance: There are several programs available, each with its own strength. When evaluating programs, don’t forget to add the cost of the actual checks to be printed. Several companies offer business check bundles that can be used with most software programs. Just check for compatibility before you purchase anything.
Saving time with this program is easy to see. You needn’t handwrite your checks anymore. You don’t even have to hand endorse the checks. A stamp can be purchased, or in some cases is automatically included in your order. Also, it is easy to reorder checks; you don’t have to spend time worrying about what to order once you’ve found what you like.
Saving money is also easy. Ordering checks from an outside company, not the one from which you purchased the software program, will save you a huge amount of money. Some companies will guarantee they can beat others’ prices; this savings is definitely worth looking into.
Delegate
Make your to-do list every morning; only list 5 things. This is the list of things you personally must take care of that day. The rest of your pressing issues? You need to find someone else who can take care of them. There are lists of professionals in your area available on the internet. There are even companies that can provide you with someone to answer your phones, from their home. You don’t have to have an on-site receptionist to keep your customers’ calls answered and the new leads rolling in.
You might be thinking it costs too much money to hire someone to help. It does cost money. However, when you think of the cost of your time to do some tasks, you may see that you are actually saving money when hiring someone else. How much money is your business losing when you are answering the phones?
Recreate
Whether you are your only employee, or if you have hundreds of employees, it is important to realize that you work to support your life but that your life is not work. Companies that flourish take the time to have fun. And, by taking that break, you may just get the inspiration you need to take your business to the next step. You will certainly save time and money by becoming a more effective business owner when you take a break.