Business Strategies
Simplicity in Business
Written by Anne Hauser for Gaebler Ventures
Keep it simple, stupid. It's good advice in life, and it's especially good advice for business owners.
One good way to cope with the stress of running a small business is to simplify your business.
Too many business owners get caught up in the small operations of the business and are unable to focus on the big picture ideas that make businesses successful.
Chris Penttila of Entrepreneur Magazine offers these tips for simplifying your business.
1. Streamline your technology
Create a central server to save all your important documents and link in all your employees to the same information. Automate your bill paying or other services that you can do online to free up time previously spent on small tasks for the big picture.
2. Double-check your spending.
Check with your bank to make sure you're not paying unnecessary service charges. Pay bills now instead of later, and pay online if possible. Make sure your accounting system is working as well as possible for your business. As your company grows, you system should grow in sophistication, too.
3. Manage.
Hire your employees strategically, and once you've found some good ones, make sure they stay on schedule, too. There are software packages that can create schedules for every employee to free up your time and work load. Check out programs like Asgard Sytem's Time Tracker, and TimeCurve Scheduler, for example, for programs that could save you manage your employees and save time.
Focus on the big picture without letting the little things slide by.
Small mistakes now can cost you time and money down the road.
Anne Hauser is a freelance writer who is currently a double major in Magazine Journalism and English at the University of Missouri.
Share this article
Additional Resources for Entrepreneurs
Conversation Board
Offer your comments, suggestions and questions regarding this article. We appreciate your participation!