The ongoing COVID19 pandemic has been incredibly difficult for many small businesses, but luckily, things are bouncing back. To survive, businesses have either adapted to the new ways of selling, scaled up their operations, or both.
Here are six things to do if you want to give your enterprise a leg up in 2022.
#1 – Solidify Your Key Selling Points
One of the most common mistakes entrepreneurs make is having a business which is too general and which attempts to target all sorts of customers at once. Offering too many products and services can not only be confusing for customers it can deny you the chance to develop key offerings that could yield more gains.
For instance, if your restaurant business operates as a coffee shop, bakery, or restaurant, determine which offerings are ideal for your clientele and location, and stick to perfecting those. If the dine-in restaurant segment isn’t booming, you could focus on developing a better takeaway trade in food and drinks instead.
#2 – Overcome Capital Hurdles
Cash flow is central to business operations, you need it to buy raw materials, pay rent and meet tax and payroll obligations. A tough economy often means small businesses struggle to stay afloat, and many sink into debt to keep their doors open.
There are creative ways of amassing capital to expand your business without risking personal finances. Crowdfunding is a cash strategy that has helped many start-ups come to life even when founders have little to no capital.
You could also consider a joint venture with a rival who has the potential to boost sales once the two businesses merge. Your competitor may have cornered the market in a new location you are eyeing, and therefore, joining forces would make business sense.
#3 – Implement the Right Structures
How well does your business operate – really? Examine your business and see where bottlenecks are lurking. Implementing efficient structures could mean streamlining teams or putting a cap on expenditures. For example, if your company has a fleet of vehicles, fuel is a significant expense that could impact your overall profitability.
You can Compare different fuel cards to see which ones are more cost-efficient. Fuel cards give accurate and detailed reports of your vehicles’ fuel consumption, giving you a chance to enhance fuel economy as needed. There are fuel cards for new businesses, small fleets, larger fleets, and so forth.
#4 – Automation is Your Friend
Investing in technology may be pricey, but it saves you money in the long run. Automation doesn’t necessarily mean replacing human resources with machines though – you only need to use technology where it’s feasible.
Of course, it’s important to train your staff to use these sophisticated tools for the greater good. Employees oughtn’t be made to feel threatened by technology as this will only dampen their morale and reduce productivity.
PMO365 believes the ability to prioritise, value time management, and implement workload balance are vital requirements for anyone looking to implement effective task management.
#5 – Customer Outreach
Knowing your customers is just one step of the journey – they also need to know that you exist! There are many ways of reaching out to current and prospective customers to let them know of your product or services and how they can benefit.
Businesses with big budgets can shell out funds for television and radio advertising and billboards. A small enterprise will have a much more limited budget, but you can utilise the power of social media and invest in some online ads to boost your online presence and increase visibility.
#6 – Establish a Business Toolbox
Documenting critical milestones for your business is vital in letting you gauge performance over time. You need to fine-tune your business plan, marketing plan, staff manual and accounting software, as time goes on. These essential documents make up your business toolbox for reference, such as when pitching to potential investors.
Takeaway Message
Automation, cash flow, unique positioning, and visibility are practical things you should do to scale your business to the next level. Don’t get caught out when the economy bounces back again, start implementing these strategies today to benefit tomorrow.
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