If you are heading a startup, then you are probably pulling a lot of late nights and early mornings. Time is in short supply for most entrepreneurs, and while it is important to work hard, it is not necessarily wise to try to do everything yourself. Paying some money for certain services can ultimately save you a lot of time, which you can then use to make more money. Here are four of the smartest shortcuts for new businesses to take.
1. Use a Website Builder
Your business needs a tailor-made site that showcases its best attributes and resonates with customers. Even if programming is your forte, writing your website from scratch is not necessarily the best move at this stage in the life of your business. Instead of worrying about every single detail of your site, consider using a website builder as a sturdy foundation from which you can develop a masterpiece. If you are really pressed for time, you can even hire a service to develop your entire site.
2. Hire Freelancers
Marketing and content development are important tasks for all companies, but they can be time-consuming. If you spend a lot of hours making your products or providing your services, then you should consider hiring freelancers to produce some or all of your marketing content. As long as you hire experienced professionals, you are likely to enjoy better results than if you attempted to handle the work on your own. Any money you spend to hire freelancers will be more than worth it once your polished content and ads lead to increased profits.
3. Use a Project Management Service
Bigger companies have designated project managers to keep their plans moving on schedule, but you do not have that luxury yet. While you could try to create your own system using basic office software, you will likely enjoy greater success and organization if you invest in software that is specifically designed for project management. There are numerous varieties of project management software available, and there are also online services that can make your work even easier.
4. Tackle Finances
It is important for all business owners to have basic knowledge of business finances. However, if it is not your area of expertise, the details can quickly become overwhelming. Accounting software is a smart investment because it can help you accurately manage critical areas such as payroll, asset allocation, and tax information. By staying on top of these tasks now, you also reduce the likelihood that you will have to spend large chunks of time unraveling mistakes in the future.
More Time, More Money
You probably became an entrepreneur because you have a wealth of creativity and work ethic, but if you are not careful, the busywork of business can consume you and smother your passion. Determine which of your business tasks are most difficult for you to manage on your own and decide how much of your budget you can devote to outsourcing them. With more time on your hands to tackle the tasks you love, you will be able to produce better work that will ultimately be more popular with your customers.