5 smart ways to take back your time
As a small business owner, the most valuable resource you have isn’t the inventory you just purchased or the sleek new technology you’ve been eyeing. The truth: As someone juggling many roles with only so many hours in the day, your most valuable resource is time.
More than half of small business owners put in more than 50 hours a week. As you balance administrative and needle-moving work, the more manual stuff you can solve, the more space you have for what really matters.
Here are a few quick ideas that can ultimately save you hours.
1. Automate the boring stuff
Enter data, copy data, paste data, repeat. There are so many basic administrative functions where automation is transformative:
- Use payroll software to cut hours of manual work from even the smallest payroll.
- Set up recurring invoices instead of creating them from scratch each month. Tools like FreshBooks and QuickBooks Online make this easy.
- Try tools, like the Hummans Financial Dashboard, that connect your apps and your data for fast, real-time visibility. (Really, imagine if your family communicated that well.)
2. Simplify your bookkeeping
If you’re thinking that just blowing the dust off your books is a major win, consider:
- Moving to cloud-based accounting tools that sync with your bank and credit accounts.
- Snapping receipts with your phone instead of keeping piles of paper, which are also prone to vanishing as soon as you need them.
- Get to know the AI features within your small business accounting apps. For instance, Roy AI helps you take the data inside your accounting software and turn it into insights. You can even ask questions and the more you collaborate, the more you and Roy learn together.
3. Hold a weekly CEO hour
You don’t need to rent a boardroom or hire an executive assistant, simply embrace your role as a leader and:
- Block one hour to review finances, priorities, and goals.
- Use this time to ask questions and make decisions proactively instead of reacting to surprises.
- Update your budget and keep an eye on cash flow to ensure you’re on target or respond if you aren’t.
4. Delegate the right way
According to the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), delegating is one of the most effective ways business owners can lower their workload. Look for tasks that are:
- Time-consuming.
- Outside your core strength.
- Easily transferred to another team member.
5. Find resources and support
Running a small business doesn’t have to be a solo act. Lean on trusted resources to save time and stress. At Huumans, we’re building tools and resources designed to make your life easier. Whether it’s quick financial clarity, smarter workflows, or faster payroll, there’s always a way to find support when you need it most.
