We've all heard that time is money. This is especially true in business. The Pareto Principle is all about focusing most of your time and energy on the things that matter most. If you are looking for business tools that will help you handle some of the more mundane tasks, saving you time and allowing you to focus on what's really important, try these:
1. ZenPayroll
I don't usually have a lot of people to pay. I've occasionally had to pay independent contractors, and my son does some administrative work for me, but I don't really have to worry about a huge payroll. What I do manage, though, can be time-consuming.
This is where ZenPayroll can come in for business owners looking for a little help. ZenPayroll makes things easy, and even helps you navigate state and federal tax requirements. It's easy to set up, and once that's done, the system is smooth and time saving.
2. TouchSuite
Speaking of accounting functions, many business owners know how time-consuming it can be to record sales transactions in accounting software like Quickbooks. Instead of recording everything manually later, choose a program, like TouchSuite, that is integrated with Quickbooks.
Not only can you save time when it comes to updating your sales and accounting information, you can also get set up a POS system in your offline storefront, or run your business from your mobile device. The automatic syncing is a great time-saver for accounting transactions through Quickbooks, and when combined with ZenPayroll, you basically don't need anything else to manage your books.
3. Sortly
This business tool is all about inventory control. Keep track of everything with the help of Sortly. One of the best things about this tool is that it is free. Make a list of what's in your overstock area. Take pictures of your storage room. This is a good way to make sure that you know where everything is, whether you need to keep inventory for your business, or whether you need to make sure that you have all the supplies you need to run a service business.
4. 1Password
One of my pet peeves is having to riffle through a small notebook with all of my passwords. This is time-consuming and annoying. Not only that, but you can also end up forgetting a password anyway, and then you have to go through the steps of getting a new password. Instead, use 1Password to keep track of that for you. All of your passwords are in one place, and you just remember a single password to access everything. It saves time, and you don't run the risk of losing your password notebook.
5. HootSuite
This is one of my favorite time saving business tools. We all know that social media is an important of online marketing. But who has time to do it all? Plus, one of the worst things about managing your social media posts throughout the day is the task switching that comes with it. I like HootSuite because it allows me to schedule social media posts ahead of time. You can post on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and more through HootSuite. Just take time at the end of the day (for the next day), or first thing in the morning while having your coffee, and you can avoid social media posting throughout the day. It's out of the way, and you can put all your focus on growing your business.
6. Boomerang
Boomerang is a really cool email app that can save your time in your business. You can use it to control when you receive and send emails, including sending you reminders about emails with a longer shelf life. This tools is meant for Gmail, and there are paid packages as well as free versions. If you are striving for Inbox Zero as a way to help you stay focused and use your time more effectively, Boomerang might be the tool for you.
7. Calendly
I was surprised the other day to discover how much time was spent going back and forth with a client, trying to figure out a time for both of us to meet. Then, the next day, I had the same issue trying to set up an appointment with an interview subject. When a different interview subject sent me to his Calendly page, I had something of an epiphany. This is a really easy and fast way to see what works.
This works when you want to set appointments, arrange group meetings, and schedule interviews. You can put in your availability, and then those send those who want to set times for meetings can quickly see what's available. No more back and forth. Plus, I like that it integrates with G+.
There are plenty of other time saving business tools out there. What do you use to save time and energy so you can focus on your business more?