How to Keep your Business Organized- From Tools to Taxes
Being organized is a trait that most of us aspire to and admire in our friends and colleagues. However, it takes on a whole different meaning and gravity when applied to a small business. Keeping all your business affairs in order, from expense receipts, to inventory, to communications with suppliers can be the greatest gift you ever give yourself. By being organized, you can save time, money, and grow the reputation of your company as dependable and reliable.
Unfortunately, we aren’t all born with a mind that loves seeing everything in its place and mentally compartmentalizes everything- from utensils, to mail, down to memories. However, you’ll be glad to hear that it’s a skill that we can develop if we set our minds to it. Though it may seem like a huge waste of time at first, taking the time to develop internal structures to support your organization will allow it to grow more quickly and successfully down the road.
How you choose to organize your small business is up to you, but remember to address each of the following aspects in your business plan. You can thank us later.
1. Paperwork
Keeping your paperwork in order is much more difficult for most of us than managing the storage of a thousand loofahs. This is especially true in this day and age, when many businesses aspire to go paperless, yet accountants and some governmental bodies still prefer to see everything in writing. Your best bet is to buy a folder organized by months, so that you can store one fiscal year all together. Then store a print version of all your invoices, bills, expenses, receipts and whatever else you have in that folder. Your accounting fees will be much lower at the end of the year and it will help you track your own finances and fiscal status. This filing method should also be reflected in your computer files, preferably stored on a secure cloud drive.
2. Inventory
Though keeping track of inventory might seem like an easy task early in the business development process, as your business grows, you’ll find it harder and harder to remember how many of what is where. This is when a digital management system is found useful, whether it is to track hours of labour, numbers of each product, or even delivery status.
3. Workplace
Every business has different needs when it comes to keeping an organized workplace. While an office might have a clear desk policy and an organized supply closet, other enterprises might choose from a large selection of storage cabinets to keep their shop floor tidy and safe. Keeping an organized workplace can lower your liability to accidents, such as tripping, falling, or fire, as well as create a good impression on potential clients. A tidy business location is seen to reflect the state of the company itself.
4. Correspondence
It is not ok to receive an email to your corporate email address and respond to it a week later, especially when it’s pressing. It shows a lack of consideration, respect, and clearly interest. That’s why it’s incredibly important to stay on top of your correspondence, especially with clients, potential customers, and employees. There are a few apps that can help you remember to formulate a response to an email that you read and didn’t have a chance to get to right away.
Taking the time to put all these considerations into your plan for organizing the company will do more than give you satisfaction for a job well done. It will make your life easier and give your company’s operations a much needed boost towards corporate success.