Work smarter: The top business tasks you can do on the run

At Invoice2go, a Bill.com company, we are always focused on how we can help small business owners work smarter. The smartest business owners know you don’t need to put in longer hours to get more done. But what does that mean for your day-to-day? How do you actually work less, but get more done? 

If you’re like most of the businesses using Invoice2go, you spend a lot of your time on the road – going from job to job, visiting clients, and running errands in between.

One way to work smarter is to get things done while you’re on the go, so you’re not spending time at the end of the day playing catch up. 

Here are six business tasks you can get done from anywhere, and the tools that make it all possible:

1. Manage your to-do lists in real time

To-do lists are a fast-moving target. And when you’re on the move, it’s easy to let new tasks slip through the cracks. Check out Trello, which allows you to create and update lists from any device you’re using. Add (or check off) a new task into your phone, and see it reflected on your home computer. You can use labels, color schemes, and due dates to help you stay on top of it all. You can also share to-do lists with others (think grocery lists with your partner, or projects you’re collaborating on).

2. Run your social media channels 

If your business is on social media, you know it’s all about immediacy, and being consistent. But who has the time to be engaged when you’re constantly on the move? There’s a number of mobile tools designed to help. Hootsuite, for instance, is a popular service that allows you to see and manage all your social media activity from one dashboard. That alone is a lifesaver for anyone trying to maintain more than one – from Facebook and Twitter to Linkedin. You can schedule posts ahead of time, see the latest comments and messages from your followers, and reply to all of them right from Hootsuite.

3. Keep cash flow flowing

At Invoice2go, we’re all about helping you stay in control of your cash flow. The mobile app allows you to create and send invoices on the spot, right when you’re with your customer. The quicker you send the invoice, the quicker you get paid, and it helps to eliminate any confusion since the work is fresh on everyone’s minds. There are several online payment options available that your customer can access straight from the invoice, so you can keep the cash coming in while you’re on the road too.

4. Capture receipts and record expenses the moment you spend

Accumulating receipts throughout the day just leads to more paperwork you have to sort through later. Make use of Invoice2go’s expenses feature (found on your app’s main menu) to take photos of your receipts on your phone or tablet right when you get them. You’ll be able to record the details right there, and keep things organized and stored safely in the cloud for later reference and reporting. 

5. Outsource and keep projects moving

As a small business owner, working smart often means outsourcing some of your to-do list.  Figure out what takes up the most time out of your day, or tasks you can’t really do on the go such as, writing, research, web design, or accounting, and hire a freelancer. Using Upwork’s mobile app, not only can you post jobs and hire people, you can communicate back and forth with your freelancers throughout the day. It’s a great way to make sure business tasks are moving along while you’ve got your hands full.

6. Send and sign documents 

While paper is going the way of the dinosaur, signatures are still critical for many tasks including closing sales and approving purchases. When you’re sending invoices and estimates with Invoice2go, you can add your signature, and leave a spot for customers to e-sign and approve. Tools like DocuSign allow you to collect legally binding e-signatures on any document from any device.