It’s no secret that I love systems. I’ve thought a lot about how I came to love systems, because it is something that most people would really rather have nothing to do with.

It’s a shame – Because systems are what will make your business run smooth like butter!

Did you know I had my first baby when I was in college?  Freshman year Christmas break, in fact.  I think that’s where my true love for systems started. As a college student and single mom, systems were the only way I was going to keep things moving. I was sleep deprived and hustling to graduate, which I did in 4 years with a baby.  Not only did systems offer a way to tame the chaos of my busy life, but they enabled me to truly lead my life instead of because a failed, single-mom statistic.

Once I started studying organizational development and then moved into working for large corporations, that love of systems was a major asset. Because most people don’t like systems, but they are a necessary tool to make sure everything from a weekly blog post to a multi-million dollar consulting gig are successful.

But I don’t believe in creating systems just for the fun of it. As fun as they are, you are a savvy CEO on the rise and you don’t have time for that!

When you’re running a small business there’s a few must-have systems you absolutely need – And others you may never need for months or years to come. The key is understanding what systems you need and when.  Let’s break it down!

Here’s three must-have systems for your small business:

1. JUST STARTING OUT? YOU NEED MONEY MAKING SYSTEMS.

Most new business owners I work with are either completely stuck in the weeds and spend way too much time setting up systems they simply don’t need (hello, busywork!) or flying by the seat of their pants. If you are just starting out, there’s one system you must master – the one that will help you get money into your PayPal or bank account. Because if you aren’t making money, you don’t have a business, you have a hobby.

Your systems around making money should look at how you are going to deliver your product/service, how you are going to collect payment, and how you serve your customers. Honestly, until you start making money, those are the only systems you should be focusing on.

2. BUSY? YOU NEED SANITY SAVING SYSTEMS.

When you start making money, at some point you’ll find that you’re feeling stretched way too thin. You may need to hire a VA or simplify how routine tasks are done so you don’t spend 24/7 staring at your laptop. At this point, the key is to identify the things that you really don’t like doing or are simply not things you need to be doing and systematize those first.

If it hurts your brain, that’s a sign that the task or project needs systems.  Save yourself first!  Commonly, these are marketing or client service tasks such as answering routine emails, scheduling social media or dealing with weekly marketing tasks such as your newsletter.

3. GROWING? YOU NEED GOAL SUPPORTING SYSTEMS.

There’s a reason the term growing pains exists. As your business grows, you’ll start to outgrow your current “container” and you’ll need to look at updating or changing systems.  Take a hard look at your business goals and see what may be holding you back.

Maybe you’re at the point where you are going to launch a course, and you need to focus on list building activities. To support that, you may need a system that deals with your sales funnel, setting up and promoting your webinars or getting great content created. As part of that, you may need to overhaul systems, hire new people (which you’ll need a system for!) or create brand new systems.

Like it or not, systems can be your savior when you are growing a business. They have the power to save you time and eliminate stress as you have a well thought out plan. It’s harder to get off track and feel like your head is going to explode when you have a system and a clear idea of what should be happening, when and who is responsible.

Instead of dreading systems, think of systems as a well-deserved bubble bath as they let you relax. And who doesn’t want a little more peace and serenity?

Which of these three systems do you need to work on this month? Comment below.