Contractors are constantly trying to plan out their schedules so they can work with clients more efficiently. For most, this means working around their clients’ preferences and schedules. However, in the interest of the company and creating an efficient schedule, sometimes you need to set your own ground rules. In order to please clients, many small businesses regularly lose time and money attempting, which are incredibly precious and crucial to the success of the business. When planning out your client schedule, here are three things you need to consider.
Your Route
One of the most important things to consider when planning out your schedule for meeting with clients is your route. Do your best to figure out the best route possible to minimize wasted time driving around. It would be nice if clients could live all on the same street, but that’s never going to happen. Instead, plan your client meetings while also planning out a route. If you have two clients who live near each other, schedule their meetings as close together as possible. That way, you won’t waste time driving from one end of the city to the other and back again. The best route you can plan is one that starts at your office and follows a direct path in one direction and towards the middle or end of the day, you can turn around and make your way back to the office. This will help you save time and money in transportation costs and vehicle depreciation.
Rush Hour Traffic
Getting stuck in rush hour traffic can delay your entire day. Knowing where and when rush hour happens is key in planning out your meeting schedule. This information can make a huge difference to your bottom line. If you are able to establish rush hour patterns, you should be able to build a schedule that has you missing the worst times and places during the day. By doing so, you will be able to fit in more appointments with clients while simultaneously saving travel time.
Taking on Too Much
If you’ve been in business for a while, you know exactly how many projects you can handle at a time. If you haven’t quite figured out your limitations, you may be tempted to take on too much work. After planning out the most efficient routes for client meetings, you may find yourself with more time to spare. However, this does not mean you should always fill that time with more clients and projects. Instead, consider spending a little time working on your brand and social media. Taking on too many projects at once can negatively affect your work quality.
As you can see, these three small changes can create a dramatic shift in your time and profit. If, after implementing these strategies, you find yourself with more spare time than you thought was possible, always be watchful of how many new projects you take on to fill that downtime. Clients always value quality over quantity.
What strategies have you implemented to minimize wasted time and money?
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