Taneesa Williamson Johann Oberholzer, Founder of Sole App, shares time-saving strategies to help small business owners reduce admin, boost efficiency, and reclaim their week.
When it comes to running a business your time is extremely valuable, and sometimes you can spend hours a week on simple tasks such as admin when you could be focusing on other parts of the business. It’s really important to prioritise tasks and where you should be spending the most time in order to have your business run effectively.
If you feel like you are being stretched thin to cover all areas, here are some effective ways you can save 5 hours a week by automating your financial admin.
Automate your tasks
Automating key tasks can save up to 5–7 hours per week and reduce mental load. With our brains constantly running over every part of the business, having specific tasks looked after and automated each week not only helps the mental load of a busy business but also reduces the stress of looking after too many things at once.
Having multiple tasks automated also reduces costly errors that can be made due to exhaustion and helps keep financial records clean and audit-ready. Implementing tools in the business, like my app Sole, that can handle invoicing, payments, reconciliations, and reporting without a finance background. This will save hours of time whilst maintaining accuracy.
Stay on top of the load
Staying compliant is much easier when your records are accurate, up to date, and easy to access.
Business owners should aim to spend just a few minutes each day managing their records, a small habit that can save hours of work in the long run. Ideally, dedicating just 30 minutes a day will help you stay organised, avoid last-minute stress, and make it easier to keep track of important details while they’re still fresh in your mind.
AI will be your best friend
AI tools are the future, so don’t be afraid to embrace them. Instead of spending hours of your own time, AI is now helping businesses predict cash flow, categorise expenses, and flag potential issues early. Clients benefit too, with faster, more professional invoicing and automated reminders.
Many accounting platforms are also working to embed AI technology into their systems, offering even greater automation and predictive analytics. As this technology evolves, choosing a provider that integrates AI will become an important factor for future-proofing your business.
Start small
If the idea of automating feels overwhelming, start small and automate just one admin task at a time.
It could be as simple as setting up an automated reminder. Small changes build momentum, and over time, free up valuable hours that can be better spent looking after your clients, investing in your skills and team, and most importantly, taking care of your own wellbeing. Prioritising your wellbeing while running a business isn’t just important for today, it’s the key to building a sustainable, successful future.
Research shows that beauty and aesthetics business owners lose up to a full day each week to financial admin tasks like invoicing, chasing payments, managing expenses and receipts, and tracking GST/BAS.
Let 2025 be the year you work smarter, not harder. By introducing simple automation tools into your routine, you can create real business growth and gain back valuable downtime for yourself and your loved ones.
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