Spring Cleaning Your Business: 4 Factors to Consider

This time of year, many of us are eager to do a little spring cleaning around our homes. But what about your business? Your business tends to amass “clutter” in varying forms – including out of date practices, old information, and more. Here are five factors to consider when spring cleaning your business.

#1: Your Website

As entrepreneurs, we put a lot of time and/or money into our websites. The design, development, and launch often combine into a long and exhausting process. As a result, many business owners tend to launch their websites and just let them sit. This is a mistake, and can prevent you from getting the best return on your investment.

Take the time to thoroughly review your copy. Is it up to date? Is your contact information, hours, and team page still current? Have you added new services, or changed your prices? Does the imagery you’ve used still match your business mission today?

#2: Your Schedule

It’s a catch-22: The more successful your business becomes, the busier you become. As your business grows, you need to be purposeful with every minute of your day.

What do you have on your to-do list that you can delegate? Is it time to hire a virtual assistant, hire your first employee, or expand your team? Do all of those meetings you have scheduled truly help you meet your goals? Do you have time for your own mental and physical health? Streamlining your schedule now will help you maintain your health and relationships outside of the office as your business grows.

#3: Your Staff

Spring time is a great time to do an employee review. Take a good look at your team, take the time to talk to them one-on-one. Are they happy in their current position? Would their skills be a better fit for a new role in your business? Get to know their concerns, and provide an opportunity to create solutions together.

This is also an opportunity to ensure that your employees are pulling their weight. One team member with a poor attitude can cause a world of trouble for an otherwise great staff. Take an objective review of your team’s performance and make adjustments decisively.

#4: Your Financial Records & Goals

When was the last time you pulled out the financial projections portion of your business plan? It’s time to take a second look. Are you effectively tracking your progress? Do the goals still match your market and mission? Is it time to hire a new salesperson, or possibly a CFO?

Making this spring cleaning a part of your business process will help you catch potentially harmful issues before they have a chance to take root in your business. Remember, the market changes regularly – there are always new opportunities, technology, and prospective customers. Taking the time to take an objective audit of your business will help to keep you cutting edge.