Have a small service business? This application could change your life!

If you own a small service business, Housecall Pro could be a life-changer for you. This service management software has a wide array of features focused on streamlining and simplifying your business processes.

Booking/Scheduling/Dispatching: With Housecall Pro, you can easily enable the opportunity for customers to book online outside of normal business hours. From there, you can create a schedule of bookings, which will be sent out to employees quickly and efficiently and eliminate miscommunication. The GPS tracking and automated text message features allow a customer to be updated about when your employee departs/arrives, and you additionally are able to monitor employees’ locations.

Invoicing/Estimating: Housecall Pro aims to eliminate confusion created with paperwork invoice systems. Within the application, you are able to 1-click send invoices and customize them. Another aim of this feature is to aid you in surpassing the competition and creating repeat customers, and this is achieved by allowing customers to submit payment online and automatically receive their receipt. Additionally, you are able to send price estimates to customers prior to services, and they can approve/deny them online, allowing for more efficient customer communication.

QuickBooks: This is good news for all of us! Housecall Pro automatically pushes all invoices and other charges to your QuickBooks account. This eliminates time that would typically be spent manually entering these values. Your finances will be in safe hands, and you won’t need to spend so much time rifling through papers or analyzing invoices; it will all be done behind the scenes!

Housecall Pro was rated the top field service app, and it has received incredible reviews. Its website contains the option to book a free demo, and we recommend doing so if this sounds like something that could be of use to you! It has a range of pricing options to choose from, each which contains different features. Knowing your business best, you’d be able to determine which option is right for you.

There’s a variety of other existing service application, and we recommend checking them out as well. Applications like these can make a world of difference in your business, and there’s so many out there to choose from, so don’t let this opportunity pass you by!

Small Changes That Make A Difference

You may not realize it, but daily habits can be some of the sneakiest practices depleting your bank account. It’s easy to get lost in the comfort and simplicity of following a habit; but don’t let yourself give up so easily. You will see the benefits reflected in your finances if you consider making any of these simple changes.

  1. Plan your meals in advance.

This may seem silly, but it’s true! Most families visit the grocery store and grab anything and everything that looks good, without giving it a second thought. Before your next trip to the store, consider first sitting down and planning your meals in advance. I guarantee you will see the difference it makes in your grocery store bill!

  1. Give up a daily pleasure (Break that bad habit!)

I know you’ve heard it a thousand times. But that’s because it works. Take a minute to add up how much you’ve spent on Starbucks coffee this past month, McDonald’s diet cokes this past year, or even cigarettes during your lifetime. Imagine what you could do with that money otherwise. Challenge yourself:  Begin cutting that habit out of your day, and instead put that money you would have spent into an investment. It will make a world of difference.

  1. Skip the lottery tickets.

I’m sorry, but it’s time to be realistic. Face the facts and probabilities: you just aren’t going to win the Powerball. The “harmless” $5.00, $10.00, $20.00 you spend on lottery tickets every now and then will not pay off… Don’t let the small victories trick you into thinking they will (they won’t!). Start avoiding the lottery now, and your future self will thank you for it.

  1. Check for coupons!

Some people do take advantage of coupons, but there are also many that don’t. This is a friendly reminder to spend a few minutes before the grocery store trip or oil change to quickly search for a coupon. Many people miss these opportunities simply because they’re too lazy to look for them, but don’t let yourself! Giving yourself a constant, small period of time to find coupons will make a difference in how much you’re spending.

Give any (or all) of these tips a try, and I can promise you change will come about.  And keep in mind that these are only the tip of the iceberg. You have so many more opportunities to create change in your finances, so don’t hesitate to do your own research and discover other ideas.

Investing in Yourself

Most often, when a person hears the word “investment,” he or she immediately pictures a financial situation involving time and money. There are so many options to choose from: stocks, bonds, mutual funds, real estate, etc.…. it’s so easy to become distracted, and therefore limited, to this list of possibilities.

But what if people were to focus less on the physical, financial investments available, and more on the investment opportunity constantly available within themselves?

No matter your age, you always have the power to better your education. Put aside a small portion of your day to read. Listen to audiobooks during long drives. Even consider taking an online class! You will be surprised how these small changes can have a large impact on your knowledge and competitiveness.

The best and most important investment you can make is (you guessed it!) yourself. Putting the time into furthering your knowledge and skills pays off, and you will see the benefits of your personal investment throughout your entire lifetime.