Reducing the time you spend on administration can mean having more time back to focus on what’s important for you to achieve your business goals.
Here are some handy strategies, tools and software that can help you save time when running your business.
Plan ahead
Taking some small, simple changes like these up front can set you up well going forward:
Complete your most important tasks first
Batch similar tasks together
Set aside some time each day to reply to emails rather than frequently checking it and responding. You can even list these hours in your email signature with a phone number to contact you for urgent requests.
Take your accounting online
If you haven’t already, consider moving your books online with accounting providers such as Xero, MYOB or QuickBooks so you can:
Send electronic invoices from your accounting software
Give instant access to your accountant should you need an urgent question answered
Connect your bank account to the software and have your transactions automatically show up – no more manual reconciliation.
Create templates and manuals
Templates and process documents can help you deliver a consistent message to your customers and streamline your business’ operations. Get started with a:
Template for commonly sent emails, invoices and letters – these will save you having to re-type the same or similar messages
Script for answers to common phone queries
Manual with a step-by-step guide to completing important tasks.
Use a social media management software
Software programs such as Hootsuite, Agorapulse and Buffer can save you hours checking your social media accounts. They provide a one-stop portal where you can schedule and monitor your posts across social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter in one place. You can usually sign up for a free trial of these programs to try them out.
Automate your work
Apps like these can help you quickly track expenses and invoices from your phone:
Invoice2go – lets you customise your invoices and set up automated reminders using your phone
Expensify – is generally suitable for larger businesses that have a lot of expenses. Scan your receipts and the app automatically adds the expenses to an electronic report.
Use free banking tools
Get the most out of your banking and sign up to our range of free tools. CommBank customers with a Business Transaction Account, for example, can:
Set up real-time alerts to notify you when you get paid
Access insights about your cash flow, profitability and sales with Daily IQ.
Simplify your tax reporting
Good record-keeping can save you the headache of scrounging around for documents come tax time. Start by streamlining your tax reporting.
