New businesses face a gauntlet of important business decisions early on, especially in accounting, technology, payroll, and taxes. While I can’t promise to solve all your problems over the three-minutes it takes to read this, I can promise to arm you with real-world advice that helps make it easier. 

Like we do at High Echelon, you start by clearly defining the problem at hand.

Naming the Problem

The hardest part is just naming the exact problem. If you can really describe the problem in a single, detailed sentence, you’re a long way toward a solution. 

For example:

• “I can’t accurately track my business expenses and income.”
• “My invoicing process is manual and time-consuming.”
• “I’m not sure which technology tools are essential for my business.”

Being specific helps you focus your problem-solving efforts. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by a vague sense that “things aren’t working,” defining your main issues gives you a clear target to aim for.

Categorizing the Problem

Once you name the problem, you need to categorize it – is this a process, technology, or a people issue? It’s usually one of those three, so I will walk through them.

1. Process Issues

→ First, ask: Do I have a process for this? If so, is the process working properly?

Do you have a system for recording all business transactions? Is your method for tracking billable hours simple to understand and effective? Sometimes, the problem isn’t the lack of a process, but an overcomplicated one that’s hard to follow consistently. Particularly for newcomers to your team.

2. Technology Issues

→ If the process is sound, consider: Do I have the right technology for this?

Are you using modern accounting software for your business size and type? With the abundance of tools available today, there’s no reason to settle for technology that complicates rather than simplifies your work. The entire point of technology is to streamline your processes, not add extra steps. 

3. People Issues

→ If the process and technology are good, ask: Do I have the right person for this?

Is this person (which could be you) able to do the work effectively? Do they need additional training or support? Remember, “people issues” doesn’t always mean “bad employees” – it could mean you need more training, or that you’re trying to do everything yourself when you should be delegating. 

Putting It Into Practice

For most problems, filtering through these three categories will give you actionable steps toward resolution. Let’s look at a quick example:

Problem: “I’m always scrambling to get invoices out and I’m not sure who has paid.”

1. Process: Do you have a consistent invoicing schedule? Are you tracking payments systematically? Take a deeper dive into the power of automated invoicing and payments.
   
   
2. Technology: Are you using invoicing software that can automate reminders and track payments? If you’re not sure where to start, check out our small business technology solutions.
   
   
3. People: Is someone (you or an employee) specifically responsible for managing invoices and following up on payments? You may need to ask, “Is it time to add more headcount to my team?”  

These questions might point to setting up a weekly invoicing routine, investing in new software, and allocating time to manage business finances. Remember, you can only fix what you first define.

Almost everyone runs into small business issues. High Echelon helps you solve them with modern solutions that scale as you grow.

Let’s talk about what we can do for you.