December 2021

Owning a small business can sometimes feel overwhelming with endless tasks, meetings, and budgeting. But it doesn’t have to feel that way! There are specific steps you can take to organ- ize your workspace physically, but we’re here to share what you can do to organize your business. Here are a few ways to keep your small business organized without dealing with the extra stress and piles of digital paper. Plan Ahead One of the most critical steps to take when managing your small business is to plan ahead. Did you set up a meeting with a poten- tial client for next week? Great! Add it to your calendar immediately instead of thinking, “I’ll do it later.” Getting the task out of your head and onto your schedule will help you feel more in con- trol of your business and less stressed. Planning ahead will help you schedule everything and make room for bigger clients; or, it may simply give you time to relax, which is just as important. Go Paperless Don’t let notes, timesheets, and to-do lists pile up on your desk! You’ll just feel more exasper- ated. Try going paperless and watch your desk instantly clear up. However, you should keep a few things on paper, such as client contracts, which you should file away for safekeeping. When you go paperless, you can access your important files from anywhere, improving your productivity and efficiency. Keep Your Inbox Clean Whether we’re looking at our work email or your personal inbox, it’s easy to let unread emails build up. Clear out your inbox by get- ting rid of emails you no longer need. You can do this by deleting the emails or put- ting them in a separate folder within your in- box. That way, when you receive a new email from that client you’ve been trying to book, you won’t miss it! Track Your Time As a small business owner, it’s vital to track your time. All those long hours should be logged! Although it may be more cost-effec- tive to do this manually, you should consider the benefits of time tracking software, espe- cially if you have a team of employees work- ing for you. These easy ways to keep your small busi- ness organized will ensure you’re productive, stress-free, and successful in your future busi- ness ventures! WAYS TO KEEP YOUR SMALL BUSINESS ORGANIZED by | Mallory Knee 25