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Posted: 2006-05-31 / Author: Michael Clark
Small Business Systems: The Key To SuccessSmall Business Systems: When I mention business systems to you, what comes to mind? Do
you think of an IBM mainframe computer sitting in a big room in
the middle of your building? Do you think of expensive, highly
specialized software? That’s what many small business owners
imagine. And they think it’s not for them. If that’s what you
think, you’re only half right.
Half right because expensive, highly specialized software is
probably not for you. Half wrong because good business systems
most definitely are. A business system isn’t hardware or
software. It’s the way that you do any part of your business.
It’s how you do things. You are using systems all the time, you
just may not be using them efficiently.
I regularly urge business owners to get everything they know
about their business out of their head and onto paper. I’m
urging you now to do the same with your systems. Start writing
out how you do things in your business. At a minimum, write out
how you treat your customers or clients, how your paperwork for
each sale flows, how your production systems work, how you
market to clients, and how you do your bookkeeping.
Do this in detail. For each area, make a very detailed
description of every step in the process. Include what you do
and why you do it. Include the subtle parts that make your
company uniquely you. Include the parts that you are proud of.
Include the tricks that make it efficient. Include what you
tried that didn’t work and explain why. Each system should
become a very rich, highly detailed system. Why so much detail?
Because this is the beginning of being able to consistently
deliver results. And the beginning of being able to
consistently deliver results even when you aren’t around.
Documented (written) systems make delegating much more
manageable. Delegating is one of the keys to success in growing
your business while still having a life.
Maybe you don’t want a bigger business. Maybe you want to keep
yours small. Still, wouldn’t it be nice to be able to go on a
long vacation and turn the keys over to someone else to run and
make money for you while you are gone? Without systems, that
wouldn’t be remotely possible. With systems almost anything is.
Now, does that sound like something that should only be for big
business? I think not.
About The Author: Start up business resource guide and
consultant, Michael Clark has been crafting best small business
ideas for over 20 years. Michael, a serial entrepreneur, has
opened multiple successful small businesses over the last 12
years. For more small business success stories, visit
http://biznbeyond.com
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