6 Smart Systems That Will Save You Hours This Summer
Summer slowdown? Not on your watch. If you're a service-based business owner or a one-woman show trying to stay on top of everything while also trying to enjoy some actual sunshine, I see you. You're not just juggling clients and admin, you're spinning plates at full speed.
But here's the thing: staying consistent and growing your business through the summer doesn't have to mean hustling harder. You just need better systems. Ones that actually work for the way you run your business.
After supporting busy female founders for the past six years, I know what keeps things running smoothly behind the scenes. And no, it isn't another productivity hack, it's setting up systems that do the heavy lifting for you.
Here are 6 smart systems I recommend (and set up!) for my clients so they can reclaim their time and stay focused on what actually grows their business.
1. Client Onboarding and Offboarding
Stop rewriting the same welcome emails and scrambling to send contracts. A solid onboarding process makes your business feel polished, professional, and stress-free from day one. Think templates, auto-forms, and a simple welcome guide.
Same goes for offboarding. Wrap things up neatly with feedback forms and a final handover so clients leave raving about their experience.
2. Project Management Setup
Whether you love Asana, ClickUp or Trello, a good project management system is your business BFF. No more "Did I send that?" moments or hunting through emails. It gives you a bird's eye view of your workload and helps you actually get things done.
Spoiler: I help my clients build these out properly with simple workflows and recurring tasks that keep everything ticking over even when you're on holiday mode.
3. Email & Content Planning
Posting on Instagram or sending a newsletter shouldn't be a last-minute panic. Having a basic system for planning, batching, and scheduling content helps you stay visible without it taking over your week.
Use tools like Canva, Meta Business Suite, and a good ol' content calendar to stay one step ahead.
4. Time Tracking & Task Delegation
If you're doing everything yourself, you're probably doing too much. Tracking how you spend your time can be a game-changer.
Use Clockify or Toggl to get real about where your hours are going, then hand off the low-value stuff (like inbox management or file sorting) to a VA. Yes, even if it's just a few hours a week.
5. Lead Capture & Nurture
Want new clients? Your systems need to make it easy for people to find you, trust you, and take the next step. That means:
A clear, simple lead magnet
A nurture sequence that actually warms people up
An easy way to book a call or buy from you
Even with a small list, this combo can turn your business into a lead-generating machine.
6. SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures)
I know, I know—it sounds dull. But documenting how you do things (even just in a simple Google Doc!) means:
You're not reinventing the wheel every week
You can bring in help without handholding
Your business is way more scalable
Trust me, future you will be obsessed.
Want a Shortcut?
If you read that list and thought "Yep, I need that... and that... and that too," I hear you.
That's exactly why I created the Ops Audit. A 1-1 service designed to help you figure out where things are clunky, what you can delegate, and what systems you need next.
You'll walk away with:
A fresh pair of eyes on your business
Personalised recommendations for your biggest bottlenecks
A step-by-step roadmap for simplifying how you work
If you're craving more headspace and less chaos, this is for you. Want to know when the beta round opens?
