Owning your own business is one of the most challenging and enjoyable things in the world. Seeing something that started as a small idea at a kitchen table, or in the middle of the night flourish is something pretty unique. You have complete control of the daily running, how and where you work, as well as what you charge for your services. There are a few things that you can do to help your business grow even further too.
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
Don’t Skimp On Accountancy
Accounting is something that everyone who is starting a business will need to decide how they manage it. If you are a bit of a DIY type, who also likes to keep things very neat and in order, then accounting software will be your best friend. There is also a range of freelance support groups that can guide you in things like deductibles, and how to maximize what you can claim.
You will need to keep your records very well personally. Taking photos of receipts and invoices, keeping them both digitally on your computer and in a paper file. It isn’t worth losing them.
Consider a VA
A great virtual assistant will end up being your best friend – sort of. You will be relying on them to cross the I’s and dot the T’s for you. Virtual assistants can do short stints, or you might want a long term relationship. A VA will be able to double up your day to day ability. There are a few things that you need to think about first.
Be Choosy – you deserve someone that will make sure that they are doing what they say they will. You have to be able to get on with this person, as a person, as well as a hire.
Be Clear – what do you want from them? Define a list of tasks that they can take control of:
- Schedule Management
- Data Entry
- Research
- Personal Online Shopping Purchases
- Copywriting
- SEO Tasks
- Social Media Management
Imagine having two of you – that is what this relationship should feel like.
Use Other Freelancers
When you are a freelancer or small business owner, you know what it is like to either have too much work or not enough. But you will also know that the talent pool is abundant and often untapped for its full potential. If you take on larger projects, you can call in some ad-hoc freelancers to help you carry the load. They are often more attentive and hardworking than if you outsource to a larger company too.
You should always aim to pay a freelancer well, without leaving yourself out of pocket when doing so. You can use sites like freelancer, Upwork, and Fiverr to find people that will work for what you need. But have a stringent interview process, and have a list of what you really want to have happen.
When it comes to growing your business, you are in full control of the speed and the direction that it takes. So use that to your advantage and curate the next few years precisely as you want to see them.
