Going Paperless

Running a business comes with tons of paperwork. Storing files, piles of receipts, and stacks of forms clutters your office and your life.

One way of getting your business organized is by eliminating paper. It may sound like a big undertaking, but it can be as easy as using a few apps and folders on your device. Bonus: It's good for the environment!

Okay… But Where Do I Start?

There are a lot of simple things you can do to make sure everything goes smoothly.

Scan and file everything into folders on your device. Then shred and recycle the physical copy, if appropriate. Once scanned, you can access documents with a quick search and make it less likely to be ruined or lost. There are even portable scanners like Scanbot Pro.

Use Google Docs to organize your documents and set up shared folders for your team. Everyone will have access to what they need, and the company will save money on printers, paper, and toner.

Download Reports rather than printing. Then, add those reports to Google Docs and you'll have access to them from anywhere.

Try an Online Fax Provider like HelloFax. They'll email you incoming faxes so you don’t end up with more paper on your desk.

Use a To-Do App like Wunderlist, Asana, or Trello to keep track of todos instead of writing them out on paper.

Use Email and Social Media to stay connected with leads and existing customers instead of sending traditional mail or fliers.

Use a Calendar App like Google Calendar, iCal, or Outlook. You’ll have access to your schedule and can be notified about appointments right on your device.

Sign up for online statements. Opt out of receiving paper in the mail. Most companies have the option to view statements and pay bills online.

E-sign. Fill out forms and sign documents online. Encourage your customers to do the same, and cut out double entry, mistakes, and lost papers.

Accept credit and debit cards. Cut down on paper money and checks and have payments deposited into your account automatically.

We designed Estimate Rocket to help your business go paperless. We handle many of the tasks listed above.

• Create and send digital estimates from anywhere.
• Upload scanned documents as files to keep everything in one place.
• Set up Follow Up Campaigns and follow up with clients automatically.
• Manage your schedule and todo list.
• Access Reports and customer information from any device.
• Let your customers e-sign proposals and pay invoices with a credit card.

Starting with even one of the items listed above can reduce the amount of paper you use. Spend less time looking through paperwork and more time getting things done!

Do you have any other tips for going paperless? Let us know in the comments, on Facebook, or Twitter!