Do Atypical Businesses Need Systems?

I hear this all the time: my business isn’t a standard one, I don’t coach, provide a service or sell an ebook. Can I still use systems?

The quick answer is yes, the longer answer is you need them more than most businesses!

Other times, you think that your business doesn’t operate the same way for every client or program so systems aren’t for you. I’ll show you how systems can support you too!

Often, we only focus on what we have to do to make our business function but really, the whole view changes when you think about what your clients need to succeed. When you have a business that isn’t mainstream or is atypical, then you have a much bigger incentive to educate your clients with proven systems.

Consider this: if you walk into a shop that specializes in oil changes, what is the likelihood that you will know what you need, understand about how much it will cost, and be prepared for how long it will take?

Now, imagine you’re walking into an acupuncturist office for the first time ever. Uh, where do I wait? Do I take off my clothes? Pay up front or at the end? Do I tip? Should I talk, not talk? How much will this cost?

Systems work not just for the first time a client comes to you, but also for those businesses where practices change frequently. By creating these systems (which is just a simple way of saying ’here’s how we do things’), your clients will know what to do and when to do it which makes your life easier as well.

There’s a significant difference between having an atypical business model and running your business differently every day of the week.

Many systems work no matter what your business type. A short list would include handling email, finding leads, working with media, managing your calendar, and even billing and finance systems.

Your business may not be the usual type of online company but consistency is still important. Many times service providers fall into this trap – thinking that each client is so unique they can’t possibly systematize.

Systematize your work process, not the result

In this case it helps to think of systems a little bit like the production of a movie. Each one has a unique cast, setting, props, wardrobe, production team, etc., but there are common elements.

For your business, that might be simply the way you handle client calls with a simple checklist to ensure you cover all the questions that usually come up. As a service provider you may protest because each call or work order is different – in this case you’re not systematizing the work (because you can’t prepare for everything), but the process of completing the work. Do you create a checklist, schedule a block of time on your calendar, or assign work to your team?

Maybe you do custom orders and each one is hand crafted. You can still systematize the process of ordering materials, the custom order form and payment process, and shipping the end result. While the output of each unit is unique, the process is surprisingly similar.

Let me know – what kind of business do you run and where do you think systems can help your process?