Top tips to spring clean your business

Spring is just around the corner, which means many of us will be thinking about sprucing up our homes and getting rid of dirt, dust and clutter. The annual spring clean is something that many people actually look forward to as it’s a chance for renewal and rejuvenation. But did you know that spring cleaning is an annual tradition that doesn’t have to be limited to your home? Your business could also benefit from a spot of tidying and organising.

Why bother spring cleaning your business?

It’s easy to let the day-to-day tasks get in the way of big picture planning. When the day-to-day tasks get easier to complete, you’ll have more time to focus on doing your best work. This is where spring cleaning your business comes in handy. When you cut down on the clutter, you make it easier to focus.

There’s also money to be saved when you spring clean your files. All files require storage, whether that is on your computer, on a hard drive, or in the cloud. The storage on your computer and an external hard drive is finite, which means eventually you will have to pay to upgrade. And the price of your cloud storage will be determined by how much you use.

By spring cleaning your business and getting rid of the things you don’t need, you can save money in the long term. You’ll also reduce your carbon footprint. While digital services might be more energy-efficient than non-digital services, they are not completely green. Spring cleaning your business, therefore, has wider benefits for the environment.

How often should you spring clean?

Creating a cleaning schedule that includes daily, weekly, monthly and annual tasks will help you to stay on top of the admin. For example, if you review your books weekly, you’ll avoid having to tidy everything up at once at the end of the financial year. Likewise, if you regularly review the documents you have saved in cloud storage, you will avoid the need to set aside an afternoon of reviewing and deleting docs.

Think about what types of files and records you keep and then set realistic goals for how often you review them. Once this becomes a habit, you might find that your annual spring clean takes much less time.

5 things that need attention in your business

Not sure where to get started with spring cleaning your business? Here are 5 things that likely need attention. Add these to your spring cleaning plan so that you can keep your business tidy and efficient all year round.

Your website

A bloated website can slow down the user experience, so it makes sense to review your website annually and tidy things up. This could mean getting rid of (or updating) poorly performing blog posts, removing images that are no longer needed, or simply making sure that your website copy is current. Regularly reviewing your website will ensure your offers are up to date and customers can always find what they are looking for. You’ll also be able to spot any broken links that might be damaging the customer experience.

Your financial records

Keeping on top of your financial records is important when it comes to filing your taxes, but do you need to hang on to this information forever? Government advice says that you should hang on to financial records for at least 22 months after the end of the tax year. 

So if you send your 20/21 tax return online by 31 January 2022, you should hang on to records until at least the end of January 2023. If getting rid of them sounds too scary, try compressing them into zip folders so they take up less space.

Your cloud storage

Still hanging on to client files from 5 years ago? There could be a data protection issue if you are keeping files for longer than needed. Take the time to regularly review your cloud storage and delete anything that you don’t need. This will help to save money if you can reduce how much storage you need. Taking the time to organise your files will also make it easier to keep track of what you need in the future.

Your passwords

If you save your passwords in your web browser or a plugin like LastPass, it would be a good idea to review these regularly. You should delete any client passwords that you no longer need and review your own passwords regularly.

If you often use the same password for everything, you could find yourself in trouble if this password finds its way online in a data breach. This website will let you know if your email address has ever been associated with a data breach.

Your business plan

Remember the grand plans you made when you first started your business? It’s time to revisit this important document and update it. Regularly reviewing your business plan will help you to stay on track and focused. Your business objectives might change over time, so it’s important to take the time to review, reflect and update your plan.

Need help conducting a spring clean in your business? Book a consultation to learn how I can help!