Spring Has Sprung: Small Business Spring Cleaning

Pull Out Products and Get Down to Business

A spring cleaning article wouldn’t be complete without mentioning literally cleaning your business. Whether you work from home or have a physical location, this is a great time to re-focus your goals and start fresh. After this intense flu season, you need to scrub extra hard to make sure there are no lingering germs around. Even if you’re working out of a home office, take a few minutes to clean your computer and accessories – they build up more germs than you think—pay special attention to anything you frequently touch or hold against your face, such as your phone or headset.

Digital Cleaning

How often do you save documents to your desktop and then forget to move them into the appropriate file, or delete them if they aren’t necessary? A cluttered computer desktop can be extremely overwhelming, so take some time for filing and purging. Have you backed up important documents lately? Make sure to spend a few minutes safeguarding yourself against potential document losses.

In the midst of your physical cleaning, did you come across some papers that you need but aren’t sure where to store? Make digital copies and save them on your hard-drive. One final digital organization tip, spend some time going through your emails. Inboxes can quickly turn into digital nightmares so pick an organization system that works for you, such as filing by a client or by completed jobs, and move appropriate emails into the categories you create.

Cleaning up your files can also prepare you to bring on new employees, whether full-time or seasonal.

Tidy Up Your Finances

Spring might make you think of the color green, which is a color all small business owners love. To keep seeing the green, you should spend some time evaluating your finances. With three months of the year behind you, take some time to see how you’re doing so far and plan some goals for where you would like to see for the rest of the year.

Did you set some new year’s resolutions that aren’t totally taking off yet? Spend time reflecting on those and brainstorming new ways to hit them. For example, if you are in retail, this is a great time to clear out old inventory and make room for the new. On the flip side, because people are looking for spring wardrobes, it’s a great time to discount the new arrivals and get people in the doors that way.

Freshen Up Your Team

Given the theme of new life surrounding spring, this could be a great time to build your team. In line with evaluating your goals, think about what type of position you need to hire for. Maybe you need some help with new marketing ideas, or are looking to lighten the load on payroll and tax responsibilities so your energy can go somewhere else. With some fresh ideas and perspectives in the mix, it can generate a new energy in your small business. Do you plan to expand but aren’t ready quite yet? It’s the time of year where college students are looking for summer positions, and upcoming graduates are ready to enter the real world. Don’t wait too long to put your company on their radar. 

Bottom Line

All of these suggestions are good to incorporate several times throughout the year, but the timing just feels right to start in the spring. When your business is fresh and clean, it gives your mind the chance to feel clean and have the restored energy to keep running the best small business you can.