5 Effective Ways to Streamline and Grow Your Small Business

If you feel like your business growth has stagnated, it’s time to take a look at your existing practices and see what can be improved. Implementing just a few excellent small business practices can help you get over the plateau and finally see the growth you’re working so hard to achieve. From using software to keep your finances organized to improving your customer relationships through good branding, you can take your business to the next level!

Don’t have time for all this? Get in touch with a creative design company like Prime Encode for help with everything from web design to content creation. Keep reading for some of our best tips to help you grow your small business.

Find an Easy Accounting Solution

Every business, no matter the size, needs good accounting software. Digital accounting tools are essential for easy and error-free money management. Look for smallbiz accounting software that will help you track your income, record expenses, manage inventory, stay on top of bills, and invoice clients. A great accounting solution will make it easy to maintain compliance with tax laws and ensure you maximize your deductions so you can keep more money in your business. What’s more, digital accounting tools produce various financial reports to help you stay on top of cash flow and make smarter business decisions.

If you’re looking for accounting software, Prime Encode recommends FreshBooks, a Canadian-based company with excellent invoicing and accounting services. In addition to top-notch monitoring functions, they also allow you to set up recurring invoices that allow you to automate the process. What’s more, they’re also incredibly affordable.

Monitor Your Cash Flow

If you want your business to grow, let alone stay afloat, you must monitor your cash flow. Good cash flow ensures you can pay your employees, your suppliers, and yourself! Without it, your business will start taking on debt fairly quickly. Make sure you have a solid understanding of your cash flow, including when it tends to dip and what actions you can take to maintain a consistent flow even during slow sales periods. Keeping your cash flow forecasts up to date will help you predict the coming months so you can be prepared!

Use The Right Sales Tools

With the right sales tools on your side, landing customers and encouraging repeat business will become easier than ever. Vainu.com explains that businesses often employ a number of different sales technologies, including customer relationship management (CRM), sales prospecting, and data integrations. A great CRM system is one of the first sales tech investments you should make. With the help of robust sales optimization features, CRM software will help you keep track of conversations and interactions with customers and potential leads.

Prioritize Cybersecurity

Too many small businesses overlook the importance of cybersecurity. According to Hacked.com, around 60% of companies go out of business within 6 months of a cyberattack. Prioritize your digital security so you can ensure the longevity of your business! Start by securing your business website with an HTTPS security certificate. This will ensure data transferred between your business and your website visitors, like sensitive credit card information, remains encrypted and secure. Not only will encryption help protect your customer’s input data, but it will also ensure that the transaction as a whole will remain secure from potential hackers and cyber criminals.

Create a Cohesive Brand

Branding is important for ensuring your customers know what to expect from your business. By creating a cohesive brand, you’ll distinguish your business from your competitors and give your target audience a reason to connect with your company on a more personal level. Branding is all about creating a personality for your company. Choose colors, fonts, graphics, and a tone of voice to use in all of your content and marketing materials. Through the creation of a cohesive website and social media presence, your customers will recognize your business across various digital channels.  It is also worth noting that the type of business that you are will influence your branding practices.  For example, if you are a non-profit business your branding will differ greatly from commercial branding due to the difference in goals and methods.  Interested in branding for your non-profit business?  Check out this guide from Anthem Branding for a thorough explanation of the branding differences.

If you want your business to grow strong and resilient, you must build it on a solid foundation. Get set up with the right tools, pay attention to cybersecurity from day one, and create strong business branding that resonates with your target customers. Once you have these best practices down, you’ll start seeing the growth you’re after!

For creative design help, contact Prime Encode. We’ll help you build your brand and develop a strong online presence for your business. Get in touch today and tell us about your business needs!