Are you fearful of using a mobile app to manage your business?

Many small business owners struggle with business tasks. They know they can reduce their challenges by using effective digital tools, but the thought of learning something new is overwhelming. With a few simple steps, you can be on your way to success in no time.

This is a simple, step-by-step approach to getting started using a new app, and reducing the struggle that keeps you from enjoying a relaxed evening after a long day of work. It's kind of like having a map on a road trip. You can see where you're going and how you're going to get there, without all the stress or frustration.

Research indicates that small businesses who embrace technology advance faster and go farther than the ones that don't.

As you start setting up a new mobile app, keep in mind that you'll be glad in the end. You will have tools to simplify your business, and keep you organized so you can take better care of your customers and more easily collect outstanding payments.

So, let's get started with your list of current clients: past, present and future, hopefully. You know what services you offer and how much you charge for them. If you need to spend 40 hours a week, on the job, an app will actually reduce the time required to also run the business.

Step 1: Start with the clients coming up next week. Enter the client names and contact information for these people in the app.

Step 2: Add their appointments into the app calendar, and set up appointment reminders to let the app start sending out reminders to your clients, using their contact information you set up in step 1. Congratulations! You've off-loaded your first task to the new app!

Step 3: Enter your most common services with the associated fees you charge. Keep in mind that you want to be able to override the amount at the time you enter the fees. Name the charges something that you'll easily recognize, again, to avoid struggle, and keep it simple.

Step 4: For upcoming client appointments, send them an invitation to use the app to communicate with you. This way, they can view their appointments, receive proposals and invoices, and send payment, in one place, with their own client login, all inside the app. This allows you to better manage your client communications, quickly and efficiently. You're already taking back time from these tasks to give you more time to connect with clients.

When you break it down, it's not so overwhelming. Just stay the course, and take things one step at a time. Once you have your information in the app, you'll be able to start streamlining the day-to-day tasks required to run your business. Do your research to determine which app fits your needs. Most are web based, which limits you to working from home on a laptop. If you are want to use a totally mobile app, your life will be even easier. You never leave home without your phone, so you'll have everything you need, at your fingertips.

Get started today. Don't let the fear of learning something new hold you back. Take the first step toward a successful future. You can do this.