Three Small Business Secrets to Getting More Billable Time

As small business owners we're in business to make money doing what we love. And that means we need enough billable hours to cover our expenses, our payroll, upgrades in skills and technology, and profit. But if stay in business for any length of time, you eventually reach the point where you just don't have more hours in the day to give to your business. After all, you have a personal life too. (If you don't have a personal life, you really need to work on that.) So, if you've maxed out on the hours you have available to build your business, how can you get more billable hours?

You have to get those billable hours from time you are currently spending doing other activities in your business. Here are some ways to do that:

  • Delegate out anything you hate to do or aren't good at doing in the running of your business. For example, I hate filing and organizing all my reference materials. So I hire a professional organizer to come in once a quarter to file all the papers I've stacked up, to set up any new files I'll need, to pack up old files on inactive clients and projects, and to reorganize my 10 bookcases. She can do all that for me in 3 hours. When I was doing it myself it took me forever and it was never completed because I'd let anything else distract me from it. So, finding just the right reference book or file was not only hit-or-miss at best, it again took too much of my time. How much time can you recover by delegating out activities and tasks you don't want to do, but that have to get done to keep your business running smoothly?
  • Automate or computerize administrivia, including making regular backups of your computer disk drives. (I learned to get my backups automated after I'd lost my entire contacts database, including my appointment schedule ? sometimes I'm hardheaded about these basic business maintenance things!) In addition to now having automated backups of my computer disks, here's a sample of what else I've automated:
    • Contact management and scheduling
    • Taking class registration and payment
    • Distributing class notes and materials
    • Taking coaching payments via the Web
    • Notification to follow-up with clients
    • Subscribing and unsubscribing to my ezine
    • Broadcasting of my ezine
    • Payment and delivery of digital products
    • Creating eClasses from templates
    • Subscriptions, payment, and delivery of eClasses
    • Tracking of billable time
    • Creating time reports
    • Invoicing
    • Expense and revenue tracking

  • Gracefully get out from under your most time-consuming and energy-draining clients and projects. I know it's difficult to say "No" to a client or a project in today's economic climate. But you can refer these clients and projects to competitors in your network who are better suited to serve them, retain the good will from the clients you are referring out, and free up all that time and energy to work with people and projects you love. Just by relieving all the stress you're under from your Clients and Projects from Hell, you make yourself open and available to more of your Ideal Clients and projects. And, have you noticed, you're more productive and efficient when you're working with your Ideal Clients and Projects?
  • Increased productivity = increased billable hours available

    Put these 3 secrets to work in your business and get back valuable and billable time for doing more of what you love for your Ideal Clients!

    Copyright 2004, Rose Hill, Inc

    _____________________________________

    Rose Hill, Founder and Owner,of Biz Whiz Expert (http://www.solobizville.com) and Team Member of Solo-E.Com (http://www.solobizville.com) has been self-employed since 1990. Knowing how to run corporate departments and how to market corporate entities, products, and services did nothing to prepare her for successfully running and marketing a one-person business. That is why Rose created the SoloBizVille and SoloBizU community - to specifically to help solo entrepreneurs jumpstart their business success without all the trial-and-error learning.

    _____________________________________

    *********** Find more articles like this at http://www.solobizville.com ? Keeping Solo Entrepreneurs Juiced in Business and in Life. Our team of Solo Entrepreneurs are comprised of small business experts who support others in finding business success with the flexibility and freedom to have a life, too. Network with other freelancers, self-employed and Solo Entrepreneurs in our forums, enjoy our articles and newsletter, and find other online training opportunities. ***********

    house refresh service Lincolnshire ..
    In The News:

    Cybersecurity firm Infoblox reveals that over 90 percent of parked domains now redirect visitors to scams and malware, making simple typos extremely dangerous.
    The Fox News AI Newsletter covers the latest artificial intelligence technology advancements, including the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
    GPT-5.2 is now live for all ChatGPT users with improved coding, writing and image interpretation, with Kurt Knutsson offering his review.
    New iPhone replacement scam uses pressure tactics and fake carrier calls to steal devices from buyers. Criminals claim shipping errors and demand urgent returns.
    Amazon Ring's new facial recognition feature sparks privacy controversy as Electronic Frontier Foundation critics argue the AI upgrade expands surveillance risks.
    New Android banking trojan Sturnus steals credentials, reads encrypted messages and controls devices.
    Denmark's 3D-printed student village proves automation builds 36 apartments faster than traditional methods. Skovsporet project shows housing future.
    Discover Android's new Sound Notifications feature that alerts you to smoke alarms, doorbells, and baby cries even when wearing headphones.
    New SantaStealer malware reportedly threatens holiday shoppers with password theft. This Christmas-themed info-stealer targets browsers and crypto wallets.
    The Christmas season brings a surge in Netflix phishing scams targeting shoppers with fake emails. Stacey P received convincing scam but verified account first.
    San Francisco Giants invite Jamie Grohsong to throw ceremonial first pitch at Oracle Park after he learned to play baseball with a bionic hand following an injury.
    FBI warns cybercriminals are stealing family photos from social media to create fake proof of life images in virtual kidnapping scams targeting victims.
    Instagram's new 'Your Algorithm' tool lets you control your Reels feed in real time. The app now gives you power to customize what videos you see.
    Major Marquis fintech breach exposes 400,000-plus Americans' data through unpatched SonicWall vulnerability, with Texas hardest hit at 354,000 affected.
    Free up iPhone storage fast by clearing large photos and videos from Messages app. Simple steps for iOS users to delete attachments without losing chats.
    Scammers are flooding inboxes with fake tracking alerts that mimic real carriers, exploiting the holiday rush to steal logins and personal data.
    The Fox News AI Newsletter brings you the latest news on AI technology advancements and the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
    Texas family reunites with missing 11-year-old cat Grayson after 103 days using Petco Love Lost's AI photo matching technology and community help.
    Tired of AI customer service loops? These insider tricks help you escape "frustration AI" and get real human help when you need it most for urgent issues.
    Unlock richer audio from your streaming apps with simple tweaks to volume normalization, equalizer settings, and quality preferences for cleaner sound.
    Scammers are sending fake Facebook settlement payout emails that mimic legitimate notices from the privacy settlement administrator to deceive users.
    Holiday shopping scams surge as fake refund emails target distracted consumers during Black Friday and holiday seasons, costing Americans billions annually.
    The AI-powered IRMO M1 exoskeleton features four modes, including turbo, eco, training and rest for hiking, running, cycling and sports with eight-hour battery life.
    OpenAI announced upgrades for its ChatGPT Images platform on Tuesday, saying the program can now make more precise edits and produce images more quickly.
    Chrome for Android now turns web articles into AI-powered podcast conversations. Get hands-free browsing with Google Gemini's natural audio summaries.

    Auto Detailers and Competitive Aspects of Automobile Detailing

    There are both fixed and mobile detailers. Consumers often will... Read More

    Top 7 Small Business Resources for 2005

    If you want to start a business in 2005, and... Read More

    Where Can People Find Information About Starting A Business?

    Approximately 200,000 new businesses are started each year. More people... Read More

    Be Prepared When Business Investors Look Beyond Your Business Plan

    You have spent considerable time pulling your business plan together,... Read More

    The Skills Gap: It Pays to Use Experts

    By outsourcing to skilled professionals you'll be able to grow... Read More

    Is This The Way Its Always Been Done?

    Let's face it, we all tend to get stuck in... Read More

    Home Based Franchise; What About Future Expansion?

    As a franchisor I am always asked by new and... Read More

    Why You Need A Virtual Assistant

    How much is your time really worth? Is it worth... Read More

    Using Technology to Manage Customer Loyalty

    Don't let your customer satisfaction research initiative collect dust on... Read More

    Aircraft Washing Business Tip - Interior Private Jet Cleaning

    Aircraft Interiors of personal and corporate jets have hundreds of... Read More

    Small Business Stress Buster: Completion not Perfection

    Completion not Perfection Five Keys To Doubling Your Productivity and... Read More

    Predicting Business Retirement Satisfaction for Business Owners

    Most business owners do not think of selling their companies... Read More

    Get Out Of The Rut And Back On the Track

    Do you sometimes find yourself just going "through the motions"... Read More

    Temporary Staffing Agency: How to Start

    The temporary staffing industry continues to expand, with yearly double-digit... Read More

    Wichita Kansas is a Great Place to Run a Business

    We love Wichita because it has great all round weather... Read More

    How To Cut Expenses And Manage Your Business

    If you own a small business, you should know that... Read More

    Top 10 Record Keeping Mistakes Business Owners Make (and How To Avoid Them)

    If you interviewed business owners of failed businesses, a majority... Read More

    When and Why YOU Are the Best Writer for Your Business Plan

    WHEN you are operating or planning a small business that... Read More

    Become The Squeaky Wheel and Watch Your Business Skyrocket!

    Providing high quality customer service is a must for any... Read More

    Five Quick Ways to Speed Up Cash Flow

    At one point or another, almost every business runs short... Read More

    Six Essential Skills to Business Success!

    The following are six essential skills to business success. You... Read More

    Employee Relations Manual Sample Outline

    Most smart entrepreneurs and all large corporations have Employee Relations... Read More

    FTC Adding to the Franchise Rule

    Last summer the FTC put forth a report and then... Read More

    Postcard Marketing ? Low Cost Visibility

    You need to be visible to attract customers, right? But... Read More

    Reclaim Equipment Detailing Industry and NPDES, EPA, Storm Water Rules

    It behooves every professional mobile auto detailer to stay up... Read More

    licensed cleaning services Lake Forest ..