The internal operations of most small businesses can get hectic at times. You’re running on limited resources but have deals to close, clients’ needs to address, and employees to manage. Plus, there are projects to keep moving through the pipeline while you oversee every administrative detail. It can get to be a bit much, leaving you wondering if there’s a way out of all the madness.

While you might not have a large corporation’s means, streamlining operations can help you take hold of the reins. Your team will become more efficient, and customer service will improve. Instead of feeling like you’re constantly putting out fires, you’ll find room to breathe and tackle tasks with increased care. Consider these four tactics to take your small business operations from chaos to control.    

You don’t need to be a big conglomerate to get the most out of automated tools. Software like a project management system and a CRM for small business can immediately impact your operations. You won’t spend precious hours sorting through sticky notes and handwritten pages to find client information. And employees won’t come running to you with as many questions about what to do next.

Automated tools give you the advantage of combining customer and project data in one place. A CRM platform can automate appointment scheduling, email marketing, and customer service communications. If you need to share documents and capture client signatures, CRM software simplifies that.

Since everything moves through one platform, you won’t have to hunt for files. You also don’t need to meet in person to get contract signatures before you provide services. As your client list grows, you’ll be able to set up filters and other sorting capabilities. And when customers reach out or schedule appointments online, the software will sync their information. Using software to automate routine processes like these can give you back time in your day.

Small businesses in the U.S. employ roughly 46.4% of the country’s labor force. However, 80% of small companies don’t have any employees at all. These businesses are likely run by solopreneurs or use independent contractors. Outsourcing is a strategy to streamline your operations because you’re letting experts handle your non-core tasks.

These include functions and responsibilities you may not be skilled at. For instance, you might know a little about accounting but not enough to manage the books. Working with a bookkeeping expert could prevent you from making mistakes and taking time away from your primary responsibilities. Another example is HR functions — maybe you have a few employees but don’t want to mess with payroll. You could outsource your payroll and benefits so you can utilize your abilities in other areas. 

Handing over tasks to those most knowledgeable about them ensures you won’t be stretched too thin. Since you won’t have as many competing responsibilities, you’ll be able to manage your days better. In addition, you’ll spend less time trying to master tasks outside your current skill set.  

In many organizations, chaos occurs when people don’t know what to do. It also happens when processes are excessively complex. Employees may miss — or consciously skip — steps because they’re too difficult to grasp. This can lead to errors and dissatisfied customers.  

Overly complicated procedures on the one hand and the lack of processes on the other can lead to escalation after escalation. Your team becomes reactive to problems instead of preventing them. Their attention is also diverted away from growth-related activities.

Look at your processes to see whether you can remove duplicate and needless steps. Simultaneously, determine whether there are situations where necessary processes don’t exist. Has your team expressed frustration and confusion about how to handle something? Is it a scenario likely to occur regularly? If so, it’s probably time to implement a right-sized process with the help of your employees’ insights.

A 2023 study shows that 84% of business leaders feel the effects of poor communication. Diminished productivity and higher costs rank at the top of the list. Also in the top three are missed deadlines, which may increase expenses and lower client satisfaction.

Many communication channels exist, but problems occur when conversations and messages become scattered. Of course, everyone has different communication styles and preferred ways of getting their points across. You might like to pick up the phone and get on a video call. Some employees could feel the same way, but others might prefer email and instant messaging.

The same goes for your customers, who will have a range of comfort levels with technology. If you have an app and website with chatbots, some will love it. Some will complain about how they want to talk to a live person.

What matters is whether you set communication expectations, centralize messages, and ensure everyone is on the same page. Otherwise, chaotic communication will cause confusion, potentially aggravating clients and employees. Setting guidelines and using software to sync messages avoids communication failures. If everyone knows how and when communication should happen, there are fewer chances it will break down.

As a small business owner, you may find yourself designing your operations as you grow. While there’s something to be said for letting processes evolve naturally, leaving everything to chance can create turmoil. It’s not a sustainable environment for anyone to work in. Employee morale, productivity, and customer satisfaction suffer. Streamlining processes with methods like automation and centralized communication will restore order so your business can move ahead.