Growing Your Small Business | Free Inventory Software
You can’t surf on a bicycle and you shouldn’t try to run your growing business with the wrong equipment either. For your small business to succeed, you need the right tools. For example, our free inventory software is a great tool that will save you time and money. In this post, we are continuing our series on preparing your small business for growth by focusing on the equipment challenges that can arise as your business grows. If you missed any of our previous posts in this series, you can start here. Want more of the series? Click here to learn more about funding your growing business, managing inventory during times of growth and dealing with location challenges.
From manufacturing to point of sale and everything in between you may need to update and/or upgrade your equipment as your business grows. Identifying what you need, before you actually need it can be the difference between riding the wave of success or being wiped out.
Manufacturing
As demand for your product grows you may need to automate your production process. Knowing what your equipment options are can be key to being prepared for growth. There is likely a tipping point where the cost of the equipment is outweighed by the time and labor savings you can achieve. Are there aspects of production that you feel passionate about keeping “handmade”, if so don’t compromise. You will however, have to compensate in other areas such as adding additional employees or increasing order times. Having a plan to deal with your growing needs can make dealing with issues seamless and stress free.
Point of Sale
Point of sale solutions have come a long way since the early days of handwritten receipts and cash only transactions. Technology improvements now allow you to not just capture payment information but to gather customer data as well. Your current point of sale system may be handling sales traffic well but if it’s not providing any additional benefits it may be holding you back from growing your business. Take some time to research the options and choose the best one to move your business forward. Gone are the days of being tied to a bulky cash register or proprietary software and hardware. Your point of sale solution can be as mobile as you want it to be. For more information on moving online check back - we’ll have a post that provides tips on how to make the transition.
Delivery
What happens when your current delivery system becomes overtaxed? You may need to add delivery trucks or other vehicles to your business fleet. Think about what your options are and weigh the pros and cons so that when the time comes to make a decision you aren’t feeling rushed into deciding. If delivery issues warrant increasing storage space or implementing a system of conveyor belts or other equipment this will impact other growth challenges such as location and employees.
Preparing for growth requires some time and consideration but the benefits of having a well thought out plan in place are immeasurable. Keep checking back with us for more tips and as your business grows you’ll be enjoying your success rather than stressing out about how you’re going to keep up. In time is an issue, you really should try out our free inventory software. It'll save you time and money. Signup here.
