Take charge and do things yourself! – If there’s one common trait among entrepreneurs it’s a take-charge attitude. However, every small business needs systems in-place to help run efficiently. Systems can be likened to the strong iron frame that makes up the insides of a tall skyscraper. Without this frame, the building would come crashing down. You can’t grow your business too big without the right internal structure.
Not only do systems support your business’s growth, but it allows you to work smarter, work faster, and make more money. So how do you systemize? Here are a few examples that can make your business more systemized.
Take Stock to Systemize Your Business
First, take a look at your business from a long term approach. Look at the big picture by writing down each major area that you deal with on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. For example, an SEO consultant will have to do their own marketing as well as take care of client marketing, produce monthly reporting to verify results, maintain billing, keep vendors happy, etc.
- Where is your business having growing pains?
- What areas are getting out of hand and threatening your business?
- Are there non-revenue producing areas of your business that can be done more quickly?
For example, you may have trouble keeping up with your billing. This not only affects your business cash flow, but limits the time you have available for revenue generating activities. By getting control of your billing process by putting systems in place, not only will you have a steady flow of funds into your business but you will also have time to increase your monthly income by being able to take on more work.
Analyze Your Work Flow and Seek Solutions
Once you realize where the systems are breaking down, you can sketch out how the major processes of how your business should work. For example, what does a typical project look like from start to finish in your business? What are the required resources? Time frames? People involved? This will help you picture which systems you already have in place and what needs to be improved.
For example, if you’re a solo-preneur and you might find that your ringing phone is a constant distraction or you spend a lot of time having meetings at Starbucks which is less productive than an office environment. In order to systemize this aspect of your business you could get a virtual office space with live answering services for greater productivity.
Systemizing your business is a surefire way to lessen stress and increase success. If your small business is experiencing growing pains, it’s time to evaluate your systems and fix what isn’t working.
