When developing systems in your small business start up, consistency in business is essential. Having incorrect data and content that is not correct is very time-consuming and frustrating to all the people who have to work with the information.
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My virtual clients (Affiliate Link) come to me to have me help them clear up the inconsistencies in their systems. Some don’t even realize an issue until they are looking for something and then realize that the information is incorrect. Note: I’m not just talking about bookkeeping. This applies to every file you have data in, every digital storage you have, every online backup services folders – basically, everything you store and retrieve.
Benefits of being consistent in your business’s process/procedure
- Saves you time every day because you do not have to think of the information you need to manage.
- Saves time converting results to other areas. You don’t have to reconfigure results to work in other areas when the system is consistent.
- At the end of the year, your data is clean. You can quickly verify the data and be able to send it on with little stress.
Staying consistent in your business’ procedures and processes will show your prospective clients (Affiliate Link) that you are consistent and will support them because you know your stuff.
Tips for keeping your business on track
There are number of tips for keeping your business on track to stay consistent with your procedures / processes. Below are some tips to keep looking professional in your industry.
Review your procedures yearly
Take time at the beginning of each year to decide if your systems/process is working. Sit down with your staff and review all your checklists (Affiliate Link) and steps that you use throughout the year. Making adjustments that will help you and your staff remember the current procedures will free up everyone’s mind of the older procedure and remember the new ones.
Make new checklists for new processes that started last year.
If you started new processes in your business, it’s time to document them and review them with staff. Ask yourself this question: Does this process give me the information that I need in an easy to use way? If it doesn’t, that the system needs to be reevaluated.
Retire checklists that have not been used or don’t apply any longer.
If some of your checklists (Affiliate Link) or procedures, are not relative any longer, it is time to let them go. If you are unaware of if you should get rid of them, ask your staff / subcontractors and see if they still use them. If they don’t and they can easily do without, you can retire them without a lot of issues.
By staying consistent, it will help not only you see the big picture, but also save you time and money with your bookkeeper and accountant.
If you need help with your procedures/systems, check out my Procedure Evaluations and Refinement Service.
Related Topics
Below are some additional posts I found online about consistency in business.
How consistency touches every area of your business
Yes! Developing a “blueprint” for my business is the best move I’ve ever made. It’s great that you offer this as a service, as it can be very overwhelming to try and figure out on your own.