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You all want your firms to thrive, don’t you? It can be a right handful sometimes, you know the feeling. You want to see it grow, not leave you feeling like you’ve been chasing your tail all day.
The key is taking control of your time, use it like a bag of gold. Here’s a few tips on how to do that…
Let’s talk about simplifying your operations to get things running a bit smoother. We’re looking to identify any problems in your current processes, there’s always room for improvement.
On that note, one of the best ways to increase productivity is to invest in some decent practice management tools. We’re talking software that’ll make dealing with clients, working as a team, keeping track of jobs, and the day-to-day grind a whole lot easier.
To stop spending so much time faffing about, start prioritising effectively. Use the Urgent Important Matrix to do this.
Group your tasks into 4 quadrants:
Once you’ve grouped your tasks, you’ll know what you need to focus on and what you need to avoid.
Now you have identified tasks that need to be done, delegate the low-value work to your team so that you can focus on the ones that require your level of skill.
If you delegate effectively (i.e. delegating authority as well as tasks), you can take a step back knowing the day-to-day stuff is running smoothly. This frees you up to focus on the real game-changers, the things that’ll make the firm grow.
You need to invest more time in quadrant 2, doing the planning and budgeting and development activities that will grow your firm. It’s easy to forget things in the daily grind, chaps. Schedule those important jobs – it’s the best way to ensure they get done.
If you prioritise these tasks and appoint the rest, you’ll have time tosit down with a cuppa, and focus on them. You just need to find the days and times where you can work productively and without any interruptions.
It really is as simple as that. To build your business, not your workload, you need to follow these 4 steps. When you do these consistently, you’ll find that each day follows a more chilled approach:
Interested to find out more?
Call us on 01617 985789
Or book a meeting at https://calendly.com/d/ckfd-tzk-zbb
I’ve been around for a few years. In my opinion there is nothing worse than talking to a prospect whose business and mental health is in a pickle because they trusted their accountant to do their stuff once a year. That’s where a decent accountant comes in. If you get a good one (and pay for the right service level), they should be working with you to, keep you out of trouble and save you a bob or two along the way. But picking the right one can be a right palaver. After all, so many of them sound the same. So here’s what to look out for:
You wouldn’t let some bloke in the pub operate on you, would you? Same with your business. Don’t get some backstreet bookkeeper fiddling with your finances. Make sure they’ve got the proper certificates and licenses, alright? A good way to check is look for institute and software logos on their website.
Are they qualified through one of the main accountancy bodies (the ACCA, ICAS or CIMA)? What is their speciality and what industry experience do they have? Whatever your specific requirements are, make sure that they have the experience and the kind of services that you need. (E.g. goal setting, tax planning or cash forecasting as well as compliance services).
The next factor to consider when choosing an accountant is money! There are still some traditional accountants out there, who charge by the hour, like a meter on a cab. Others do a set price, no matter how much you bend their ear. By the way, we charge a fixed fee as we know our clients like certainty around what it will cost.
The most common complaint about accountants is the disappearing act. Don’t get me wrong, they’ll be reminding you to send in your documents when your self-assessment tax return is due. Some may bill you a fortune to do nothing more than pop some numbers in their software. Then vanish again for another 9 months. Think of a decent accountant as financial partner, critical friend and the voice of sanity. After all, there isn’t much I haven’t seen in 30 years of working with construction and property company owners.
A good accountants should help you navigate those pesky growing pains, and keep your business on the straight and narrow, all year round. Not just when the taxman comes knocking! Or when that nasty unexpected brown envelope arrives.
When choosing an accountant, check their accessibility (referrals and reference checks is a good way to see whether you’re likely to be fobbed off to a junior). It’s also handy to see how proactive they are (e.g. suggesting ways to save you money and offering to introduce you to good contacts) all year round.
You’ve got to feel alright with them. Like chatting with a mate down the pub. If explaining your business feels easy, that’s good. For example, we don’t make any judgement if a client turns up from a busy day on site with their dirty work clothes still on. Or if the air gets turned somewhat blue while we are talking.
You and your accountant will need to be a team. So find someone who gets your vision and what you are about, not some youngster with a laptop covered in stickers.
Whether you’ve been trading for a while or new into business, a decent accountant is worth their weight in gold. They’ll be your financial sidekick (sorry cheesy!), sorting the numbers and giving you the right advice. The sooner you get a good one on your team, the better. But remember, choose wisely, alright? Like finding the perfect partner for a game of darts – you have to be on the same wavelength!
Interested to find out more?
Call us on 01617 985789
Or book a meeting at https://calendly.com/d/ckfd-tzk-zbb
Self-employment can be tempting, especially if you’re fed up chasing the weekend or longing to be your own gaffer. Before you chuck in the towel at your day job and daydream about all the time you’ll have for brew breaks (because let’s be honest, that’ll be replaced with a different kind of hectic), take a good, long look at yourself. Self-employment is not for wimps or those who are work-shy – despite what you may think about the gaffer. If you are going to put food on the table and take your missus to a nice place for her holidays, you are going to have to work hard and handle pressure.
So, grab a cuppa, stick your thinking cap on, and answer these questions truthfully:
1) Are you confident in your skills and expertise?
2) Do you have skills and passion for the business you’re considering?
3) Do you enjoy working alone?
4) Got the knack of prioritising tasks like a pro?
5) Got the get-up-and-go to crack on without someone cracking the whip?
6) Up for wearing all the hats – marketing, sales, the whole lot?
7) Sharp enough to pick up new tricks quickly?
8) Got the initiative to chase new ideas?
9) Can you single-handedly make the call when the going gets tough?
10) Are you able to pick yourself up, dust yourself off and problem solve in tricky situations?
11) Do you have the knowledge and skills to make your own product or service?
12) Do you know how to promote yourself so that others will buy from you?
13) Happy to build potential connections in the business world?
14) Thick-skinned enough to handle a bit of a pay cut while you get your business off the ground?
15) Are you willing and prepared to put in long hours of graft at the start?
16) Have you given the family the heads up on the potential impact at home?
17) Can you live with high levels of uncertainty?
18) Can you take a knock and keep on ticking?
19) Good at turning a penny into a pound?
20) Are you a dab hand at setting goals and smashing them?
Give yourself a point for every Yes answer and give yourself a mark out of 20. If you scored 16-20, self-employment will be a walk in the park for you!
If you answered “no” or “maybe” to a lot of the questions, self-employment might not be your cup of tea right now. You may need to do some thinking and soul searching before you take the plunge.
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By no means is this self-employment quiz the decider for whether you choose to run your own business or not. However, it is based on the qualities, skills, and traits you will need to become a successful business owner! Even if your ambition level is to “only” work with yourself with a few subbies helping you out on jobs.
If you want to go for it and become self-employed, look at where your ‘No’ answers are. If you know you’re not a dab hand with money, consider getting an accountant or bookkeeper as early as possible.
Interested to find out more?
Call us on 01617 985789
Or book a meeting at https://calendly.com/d/ckfd-tzk-zbb
Alright, career burnout. It’s no mystery, is it? It’s when you’ve worked yourself into the ground at your job. You graft away until there’s nothing left in the tank. Like a faulty kettle, you can’t even manage a flick of the switch to make a cuppa, never mind a whole day’s work. All you’re left with is a strong feeling of “can’t be bothered” and the desire to throw in the towel.
The dreaded burnout looks a bit like this…
Career burnout can happen for several reasons. Here’s the long and short of why you might be feeling like you’re going through the motions at work:
If you suspect you’re experiencing burnout, don’t just grin and bear it. See it as a chance to get to the bottom of things. Once you figure out why, you can make some proper changes that will get you back on your feet. Here’s a few things to get you started:
Right, that’s that sorted.
Don’t mess about with burnout any longer, you’ll end up feeling rotten. Figure out what’s nicked your joy at work, don’t be scared about changing things up, and always take care of yourself. Change might seem like a right palaver, but in this case, it’s for the best. You’ll be feeling as good as new again in no time!
Interested to find out more?
Call us on 01617 985789
Or book a meeting at https://calendly.com/d/ckfd-tzk-zbb
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