Almost three quarters of Aussie small business owners started their own business because they thought it would be the best way to manage a good work-life balance, a survey has found.
The survey of over 1,000 SMB owners from Telstra found that most want to work smarter instead of harder, and invest the time they save into an improved lifestyle rather than growing their business.
Will Irving, group managing director at Telstra Business, said that business owners must look to save time on administrative tasks by embracing technology.
“Small business owners are halfway there. The survey shows they’re using a smartphone or tablet for 8.5 hours during the working week, but they’re not taking full advantage of these devices,” Irving said.
Only 46 per cent are using mobile business apps, while just a quarter are using cloud computing to share business data among their team.
“With Christmas just around the corner, getting some extra time to spend with the family is especially important…mobile solutions can unlock the extra hour for SMBs to invest back into their lifestyle, which was one of the reasons they chose to set up their own business in the first place,” Irving said.
Here are Irving’s time saving tips:
Don’t let technology own you
Make sure the tech you choose is set up specifically for you and your business. Get expert advice on making the most of each device, using apps and functions that can save you time and money.
Don’t tie yourself to the desk
Cloud computing and mobile devices let you run the business or be on call with the ability to quickly do work if needed, whether you’re at the office, at home, or travelling.
There’s an app for that
Business apps make doing business easier when out of the office and can help you save time on admin.
Take the time to be flexible
Working 9 to 5 five days a week is no longer the norm, with customers expecting 24/7 service and both employers and employees seeing the benefits of harnessing a more flexible culture that can improve work/life balance.
Beat the traffic
Face to face time is crucial in building relationships in business, but travel time is often lost time. Making the most mobile apps while travelling, or even better, using high quality video conferencing to avoid business travel won’t only save you travel costs, but will also get you home earlier at the end of the day.