When it comes to home repairs and improvements or craft/sewing projects we all know which kind of person we are. Some of us are DIYers. Being a DIYer, we built a tool to use for our home inventory system. It allowed us to quickly determine what supplies we had. Have you tried it? Our home inventory system is free in case you're wondering.
We can do it better for less and we are happy to invest the time and effort required to complete the job just for the satisfaction of being able to say that we did it ourselves. Others are more the “leave it to the experts” kind of people. They recognize the value of their own time, the limit of their skillset and the wisdom in hiring in someone else to get the job done. Which kind of person are you when it comes to your small business? It’s likely that things aren’t so clearcut when you’re considering business decisions. Often business owners end up doing things on their own because they either aren’t aware of the solutions out there to get the job done, or they don’t have the time to research the options and choose the best one.
In our recent series of posts on technology for your small business we’ve talked about a number of different solutions for your small business. If you missed the series you can get started here. Today we’re going to outline some reasons why you should take the time to research your options before you DIY a solution for your small business.
- Your time is valuable. Whether you consider your salary in a hourly wage or not, your time is valuable. Every minute you spend on one activity reduces the amount of time you have for another. You need to be sure that you are spending your time as effectively and efficiently as possible.
- You can’t be an expert at everything. There are things that you are good at, and then there are things that others do better. Don’t waste your time struggling with something that you could hire someone else to do faster and better.
- Look at the big picture. This is a tough one. It can be hard to swallow a large upfront expenditure of time and/or money, but often that investment will save you money in the long run. Crunch the numbers and really evaluate whether saving a few bucks in the beginning is actually going to save you in the long run.
- There’s no need to reinvent the wheel. If someone else has already developed a solution that will meet your needs there is no need to recreate a similar solution from scratch. Take advantage of the wisdom and talents of others.
- Benefit from features you might not have even thought of. Choosing a well designed solution is like gaining access to the thoughts and ideas of everyone who worked on the project. Those creators may have included features and functionality that you didn’t even realize you needed or wanted.
- Free time can provide big dividends. Whether you pour every minute back into your business or take some time for yourself, every minute that you gain will provide benefits in one way or another. Reap the rewards!
There will be times when creating your own solution may be the way to go, but you want to be sure that it is worth the time and effort that you will need to invest before you jump in and start a big project. Explore your options so that you can be confident you are making the right decision.
Try Our Small Business and Home Inventory System
Have inventory management issues? Then you need Stockpile. Try it today! Our robust solution will have your inventory under control in no time. Having other small business issues? Keep checking back with our blog for more tips. We care about your small business and helping you grow.
