Tweet

Spring Cleaning For Your Business.

Written by: Donna Williams

Article Overview: Everyone has different workstyles. While some people are comfortable in chaos, others can't get anything done if one paperclip is out of place. No matter where you fall in the spectrum, the important thing to take into consideration is how it effects your customers, clients, and co-workers. Are THEY comfortable in your messes? If not, then these Spring Cleaning tips will help get you on the fast track to an orderly office and business.

Spring Cleaning For Your Business.

It’s my opinion that how your business is organized is a direct reflection of the way you do business.

I know, I know…there are those who will maintain that their messes are organized and they know exactly where everything is. I think they call it creative genius, or something like that.

Well, I don’t buy it.

Granted, everyone has different work styles, and some may be comfortable in chaos while others wouldn’t be able to get anything done. But think about what kind of impression it gives clients and customers who walk in and see papers, invoices, bills…stuff…all over the place? You may be comfortable in your messes, but is your customer?

Since Spring is the traditional time to tackle cleaning projects at home, it’s a good time to tackle cleaning up your business, too. So with that in mind, here’s your “To-Do” list:


1. Clean out your desk drawers.
Does your file drawer stick whenever you try to open it because of all the papers crammed into the folders? Go through your drawers and throw away (shredded, please) all unnecessary paperwork. If you need to save it, but don’t need it handy on a daily basis, box it up and store it. Save your precious file drawer space for that which is necessary.

Likewise for the other drawers. If you have three-year-old Twinkies® taking up space, even though they may still be edible, just get rid of them. Invest in a good drawer organizer to hold your supplies like staples, paper clips, pens, etc.


2. Organize your books and reference materials.
Time is money, and if you spend a lot of time searching for books or other materials that you know “is in here somewhere,” then you might want to think about organizing your books shelves better.

Spend a little time thinking about what makes sense. Should you organize alphabetically by author or title? Or maybe by category? Do whatever makes the most sense to you because you’re the one that has to use the system. And be sure to put everything back in its place once you’re finished.


3. Cut out the clutter.
I admit it…clutter is the bane of my existence. You see, my husband is a pack rat - I truly believe he has every car and motorcycle magazine ever published for the past 30 years squirreled away in various locations in our home and storage building. I, on the other hand, am one of those people who can’t concentrate with clutter around me. Different people have different ways of looking (or not looking) at clutter.

But when it comes to your business, be sure to err on the side of organization; because while you may be perfectly comfy in your clutter, your employees, your customers, your clients, you visitors may be not be.

Besides, a clear and clutter-free work environment can cut wasted time and boost productivity. What better reason do you need to de-clutter?

4. Simplify.
Life is way too complicated these days. And the more complicated something is, chances are the more money it is costing. Which is why you need to simplify every area you can. Take a look at every area of your company…are there ways you can make processes and procedures easier? Streamline, streamline, streamline. The great thing is, once you start simplifying, the more you will find to simplify.

5. Take care of repairs.
We all have those things that we put off for so long, they finally become invisible to us. For me, it a couple of tiles in the hallway that need re-grouting. An easy fix, but one that just doesn’t seem to get done. I bet you have them, too.

Now’s a great time to get it taken care of. Whether you do it yourself, or hire someone, just do it. If your reception is looking dingy, give it a facelift. Your sign sagging? Get someone out to fix it.

Take an hour and make a list of all the things around your office that need to be repaired. Then mark which ones can be taken care of internally, and those that will need to be hired out. If you don’t have time, assign an employee to oversee all the repairs and make sure they get done in a timely manner.

6. Review your business plan.
Is your business on track to meet your goals? Especially given the recent economy, now would be a great time to sit down with your key people, and/or business advisor or mentor, to update the plan with realistic targets.

7. Get rid of outmoded ways of thinking.
Spring is a great time to breathe fresh air into your company. Sit down with your key people and think about the way you do business. If there are patterns, products, or thought processes that aren’t working anymore, figure out how to get rid of them and replace them with ones that will rejuvenate your bottom line.

Remember, an organized business is a happy and productive business. Happy Spring Cleaning!



(c) Copyright 2009, BusinessBurrito. All rights reserved.

Related Articles
  Hooray – It’s Spring!
  Kick Off Spring Time With A Spring Cleaning Small Business Franchise
  Spring Cleaning Your Office \"Face\"
  Forget Spring HOUSE Cleaning Clean Your Life
  Home-based Business Idea: Upholstery Cleaning

Article Tags: creative genius, daily basis, desk drawers, drawer organizer, drawer space, file drawer, folders, good time, invoices, little time, messes, pens, reference materials, shelves, staples, taking up space, time is money, traditional time, twinkies, unnecessary paperwork



Related Forum Posts
Help me name my moms business - I think Infinity Cleaning Services sounds better than Elite Cleaning Solutions... Why the Solutions? What is there to be solved? You simply get a rag with some Windex on it and wipe away.... plug the vacuum and Vac Away, get a mop and mop away. Stick to Infinity Cleaning Services... ICS sounds cool...
Help me name my moms business - My Mom is a dynamic entrepreneur and running several businesses. Recently she started a commercial cleaning business. I have thought of some name for my mom's cleaning business, but would like some other suggestions. I have narrowed it down to, either: Infinity Cleaning Services, or Elite Cleaning Solutions. She is located in South Florida, and many of the other names are taken. Thanks,
My entry - 1. The Best Business Books Ever: The 100 Most Influential Business Books You'll Never Have Time to Read - this is a fascinating book about the history of Business theory, and I'd recommend it to anybody. 2. The Big Book of Small Business: You Don't Have to Run Your Business by the Seat of Your Pants, by Tom Gegax. Ditto. 3. PADI: The Business of Diving Book Okay, so this book won't be of use to anyone who doesn't want to start a scuba store, but I did, and this book was of course invaluable to me in reaching that goal.
Re: I got a pop up! - [quote="ChrisH":31c1e714] About the logo - the first thing I would change would be to take out the "C" and use the broom for the letter C. Chris[/quote:31c1e714] Funny. In my mind I had the broom replacing the "l" in Cleaning. But now that I look, of course you're right, the broom should replace the "C."
Exclusive: Interview with Results - Hi Forum Members, I'm helping start up a Business Coaching and Consulting company here in Toronto, Ontario, Canada (a Subsidiary of RSC Business in Los Angeles). As a Research and Development Intern I am required to practice my listening and interview skills by surveying Small and Medium Businesses on thier Business. This Survey is designed by RSC Business to also assist the Business being interviewed more insight into their own business. I am looking to interview about 30 businesses across North America over the span of 3 months. At the end of these interviews I will be publishing a report of the results and they will be made available for free to the Interviewees. The Report data will include responses from a minimum of 100 interviews. I would like to extend this opportunity to members of the Forum. If you would like to have this short 20-30 minute interview conducted on your Business and you reside in North America please send me an email or PM. Please contact me at andy[at]jvprosperity[dot]com to arrange our interview and to get free access to the results when they are published.


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Tweet

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

LEARNING TO HAVE FUN – EVERYDAY!

Web Design in 30 Minutes - Can this be Right?

When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Log On

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.