Business Systems - the real way to create a lifestyle business

Goodness knows systems may not sound like the sexiest thing in your business - after all, your marketing techniques usually win that title.

Systems however, are what allow you to take time off without worrying what's going on in the business and they ensure that all of your clients have the same experience - regardless of how busy you are - from start to finish.

To keep things simple, let's take the creation of one system today - this is one that I use and will show you how valuable they can be.

New Client Intake Process

1. Prospective client inquires about services and chooses which is best for her after reading "Interview with Sandy" and reviewing different services that are offered.

2. Prospective client then registers as a client either through the information page (often called "sales page") or by emailing the account manager, depending on program.

3. Sandy then sends personalized card welcoming client into X program/service.

4. The New Client Information Packet is emailed and snail mailed within 24 business hours of registration. (This New Client Information Packet has the Client Agreement, our intake questionnaire, documents that describe how we will work together, and may contain "Getting Started Procedures" or "Checklist" depending on program.)

What happens after that depends on the program - is it a "Done 4 You" service or is it a "Done With You" service? Each program then has the appropriate process steps that go with it that involves obtaining usernames/passwords or setting up new accounts for the client.

Make sense?

It's set up this way so that if the team member who regularly handles this function is out of the office, any other member of the team can pick it up without delay AND without my constant involvement. This also gives me the peace of mind knowing that each client is getting the BEST service possible.

Make It Real -- My Request to You

Pick one thing. . .just one, in your business to write a system for and start documenting it this week.

Do this each week until you've created systems for everything in your business - from how the phone is answered, to how your new clients are greeted, and your current clients leave.

And, if you take only one thing from today's article, let it be that your business growth comes from your ability to get new clients (a.k.a. marketing, which has systems all its own), but your business lifestyle comes from your ability to create systems which don't require your attention every minute of every day.

This is the real key to creating a lifestyle business. . .