Running one business is stressful enough, but once you’re in the game it doesn’t have to be a huge stretch running multiple businesses. “While there are key issues to be aware of, running multiple businesses can provide you with a diversified income stream – and there are ways to leverage the businesses off each other,” says Mark Achiampong, Head of Commercial and SME Banking at First National Bank.
Mark outlined the following tips to help you successfully manage multiple businesses:
- Outsource or hire experts: While you may be the brains and money running the business, you need to accept that there are certain skills you may not have. For your businesses to run smoothly, ensure you hire the right people or outsource to the right company. For example, hire an accountant to do the book-keeping and a human resources officer to deal with staff issues.
- Use a central location: You can save on rent and resources such as electricity by using one central base for all your businesses. This allows you to easily shift between meetings, and you may even be able to share resources across businesses to save cost.
- Prioritise and delegate: Entrepreneurs and small business owners tend to have a hands-on attitude and hold themselves to a high standard. If you want to successfully run multiple businesses, it is vital to learn how to prioritise tasks and delegate some to others in order to free up time to focus on the higher-level running of your businesses.
- Clear processes: Establish and document processes so that all staff know exactly what is expected of them and how best to achieve business goals. Your business should ideally be like a well-oiled machine that is able to continue running if you are not available for a week or two.
- Separate business accounts: Register each business separately and make sure that you have separate business accounts, so that the companies are legally and financially protected from each other. This is also vital for tax and business compliance purposes.
- Use a time-tracker: Possibly the most valuable commodity that can never be replaced – use a time-tracker so that you can see where your time is being invested. This will help you be more efficient at tasks and identify problem areas that are taking up too much of your time. When you’re an entrepreneur or business owner, time really is money.
“Running multiple businesses may seem daunting if you are just starting out as an entrepreneur, but it’s more common than you would think. For example, in recent times some Ghanaian entrepreneurs have diversified into multiple fields and ended up owning more than one venture. At First National Bank, we appreciate that owning a business takes more than just starting one.
“That’s why we help you get access to a range of products and solutions which take the hassle out of banking, such as the business toolkit on our mobile App. It helps you run your business, make payments and investments while considering bespoke credit solutions to explore many more other businesses,” Mark concludes.
