5 Tasks Every Business Should Stop Doing Manually
If you’re a small business owner, you wear a lot of hats. But let’s be honest: most of us didn’t start a business because we love sending invoices, tracking down contracts, or updating spreadsheets late at night. That’s where automation comes in.
The right business automation tools don’t just save you time, they give you back the energy and mental space to focus on the work you actually enjoy (and that moves the needle).
The key is knowing what to hand off to systems and what really requires you.
1. Invoicing + Payment Reminders
Stop chasing payments, let your system do it for you. Tools like HoneyBook allow you to set up automated invoices, payment schedules, and gentle reminders that go out without you lifting a finger. Clients get a seamless experience, and you get paid on time.
If you’re ready to simplify your invoicing, grab our FREE HoneyBook Setup Guide.
And if you don’t already have HoneyBook, you can try it with 30% off your first year through our link.
2. Contracts & Onboarding Documents
Writing contracts from scratch (or worse, borrowing one from the internet) isn’t just time-consuming; it can leave you legally exposed. That’s why we always recommend starting with The Contract Shop. Their lawyer-drafted templates are tailored for small business owners and creatives, so you know you’re covered from day one.
Once your contract is ready, you can load it into HoneyBook and let automation handle the rest, sending, e-signatures, and even storing it alongside your onboarding emails and invoices.
The payoff: legally sound contracts without the stress, plus a smooth, automated onboarding experience that makes you look polished and professional.
3. Bookkeeping + Invoicing
Spreadsheets might work in the early days of business, but as you grow, manual tracking becomes a drain on your time and a recipe for mistakes. Tools like QuickBooks take the guesswork out of managing your books by automating expense categorization, recurring invoices, and account reconciliation. That means no more scrambling at tax time or second-guessing if your numbers are accurate.
On the client side, HoneyBook makes invoicing seamless. You can set up branded invoice templates, accept online payments, and even schedule automatic reminders for clients who forget to hit “pay.” Together, these tools streamline both the back-end and client-facing side of your finances so you can stay focused on growing your business instead of chasing down payments.
4. Email Marketing
Sending every newsletter by hand almost guarantees inconsistency. With a platform like FloDesk, you can design beautiful emails, set up sequences, and automate delivery, so your audience hears from you regularly without you having to log in every week.
Get 50% off your first year of FloDesk here.
5. Tracking Tasks and Projects
If your to-do list is scattered across sticky notes, emails, and random docs, it’s time to systemize. A Notion dashboard helps you organize tasks, deadlines, and big-picture goals in one place. No more mental load of remembering everything; your system does the heavy lifting.
The Real ROI of Automation
Every time you automate a task, you’re not just saving minutes; you’re saving mental bandwidth. Those small decisions pile up and lead to decision fatigue, which drains your creativity and motivation. By letting automation handle the routine, you stay in your zone of genius: strategy, creativity, and connection.
And remember, automation doesn’t mean your business feels cold or robotic. It makes room for more personal touches, because you’re not buried in admin work.
Ready to Automate Your Business?
Start with the tasks that drain you most. Whether that’s invoicing, email marketing, or client onboarding, there’s a system that can handle it.
If you’re curious about setting up automations inside HoneyBook, don’t forget to grab our free HoneyBook Setup Guide: Download it here
And if you’re ready to try out our favorite tools:
Your time is too valuable to spend on busywork. Let automation do the heavy lifting, so you can get back to running (and loving) your business.
If you’re ready to stop piecing things together and actually have a system that works for you, that’s where we come in. At Luneer, we specialize in helping business owners streamline their workflows with the right tools, so you spend less time in admin mode and more time in your zone.
Click here to inquire about working with us.