What task do you least enjoy doing running your business? (9 posts)

  • Running a small business is hard since we often have to handle ever aspect of the business … not just the stuff we want to work on.

    What activities do you like least? For me, it’s returning phone calls. I’m so much better at responding to emails.

    How about you?

  • HI  @kathybernard

    I used to love accounting software and was even a Peachtree certified instructor for some years – early nineties. 

    NOW, I hate the accounting software that is out there, the expense of it for any business and the long learning curves for most of it too.  Most of it is hack-able by a 10 year old yet adults can’t run with it efficiently. Ugh.

    So here is what I don’t like doing – Invoicing. I don’t know why this irks me so much.  It’s not as bad as it was for awhile but I really don’t enjoy it.  When I have good office help, I often try to relegate this to someone else, but that is almost impossible as much of what needs to be billed is in my own head.  

    AND, I know how stupid that sounds.  The thing is, if I am going to either fill out a form or put the information into a computer form for someone else to interpret, I might as well save the time and do it myself.  Sheesh.

    Don’t mind accounting at all but HATE invoicing. UGH.

    Eileen 

  • @kathybernard

    Dealing with people.

    Wow. That sounded harsh. 

    What I mean is, although I really (really!) like my co-workers, I wasn’t born to be a manager. When I have to talk to them about a missed deadline, or mediocre work, or–God Forbid–a year end review, I hate it.

  • I know what both of you mean … Rich, I always hated doing people’s year-end reviews, too! And I hated to have to have one done for me as well. They take up so much time and effort and usually end up causing hurt feelings.

    And Eileen, don’t even get me started on accounting stuff … hate it, hate it, hate it. And I don’t really even do it myself (my husband is an accountant). My mind goes numb whenever the discussion turns toward anything to do with math.

  • HI @kathybernard  

    In the early nineties I found that a partner had been using our business credit card for personal purchases to the tune of $8,000.00 in a one month stretch. 

    Since that time I keep my hand in to a certain extent so I am familiar with details that most people don’t care about. If you’ve been burned, you tend to watch or keep a hand in deeply so you are aware of any problems that might arise. I am a taskmaster when it comes to the books and how they are kept. 

    Eileen 

  • @kathybernard @supereb Me third. I HATE the accounting. I have a certification in bookkeeping and HATE doing the accounting for my own business. I always worry that I set the software up wrong. Even though I’m really, really good at setting up companies. (aced that part of my bookkeeping classes). I never collect money until all of mine is gone. I have 5 invoices that I need to send second reminder on. Do I do it? No!

  • @kathybernard  @supereb  

    Yep, it is bookkeeping for me.  I set aside Friday’s as my paperwork day and I have yet to start.   

    I travel a couple of days a week and the expense posting is what I hate most.

    Steve

  • Bookkeeping for sure!

  • Eileen, I am so sorry that happened to you (with the partner taking money for personal use)! You really have to wonder how low people have to be to do that to a small business owner.


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