Businesses are constantly trying to find ways to boost their productivity. There are many ways to do this which range from simply learning to plan and prioritise well, to investing in various software packages and smartphone applications.

Here are some tips to help you maximise efficiency in your small business.

Make Time to Plan

So often we are in a mad hurry to complete a particular task that we forget to take some time to think about the best way of actually doing it. Taking some time to think and plan at the beginning of a job or project is critical and will not only save you a lot of time but also produce a better result.

Work Out What is Most Important

With the amount of jobs packed into one day, small business owners sometimes get urgent tasks confused with tasks that only appear urgent. This is why prioritising tasks is so important; it can mean the difference between a hectic day and a productive day. When choosing what should be completed first, always place the most importance on tasks that will have a consequence or cost if it they aren’t finished by the end of the day.  For those jobs that don’t have a deadline or important outcome, decide if it is a real priority or a deadline you have imposed on yourself.

Use Technology to Your Advantage

Technology can greatly improve the way you carry out tasks by speeding up existing processes or allowing new, more flexible ways of carrying out the job. Introducing accounting software can help you save a lot of time by tracking sales and expenses, monitoring inventory, managing cash flow, monitoring payroll and much more.

Australian businesses are diverse and mobile and therefore need the right tools to make the most of information and data wherever they are. Mobile banking allows you to monitor your bank accounts so that you can easily see current balances and whether payments have cleared. There are also many other apps around that help manage your projects and even some that allow workers to invoice clients in the field. Have a look around at what apps could help increase productivity in your business.

Outsource

In the start up stage, small business owners often try to be a jack of all trades working long hours and trying to do everything themselves. This is often not productive and does not make best use of your strengths as an entrepreneur. It may make better business sense to hire someone else to handle the aspects of your business that aren’t your strengths. Yes, you will have to spend money but it will leave you with more time to focus on what you do best.

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