Let’s face it, as rewarding as it is to run a business, it’s also one of the most time-consuming endeavors anyone could take on.

I constantly meet small business owners who are in a love-hate relationship with their businesses – they were driven by a passion for opening up shop, but weighed down by the day-to-day management. This is precisely why I am a serious advocate for businesses of all sizes to embrace cloud-based software.

There’s no need for business owners to be trapped in a back office dealing with clunky IT solutions or spending hours backing up data to an expensive server. Cloud-based solutions are cost-effective and work behind the scenes, which means fewer headaches and more time to keep passions front and center.

Here are the greatest benefits growing businesses can expect when making the switch to the cloud.

The Freedom to Disconnect

Cloud-based software has effectively shifted the entire business management paradigm. Business owners no longer have to be in-store to check if a flaky employee reported to work or to monitor inventory levels and sales figures. This information can be accessed from anywhere with the right software. This means that you can finally take that long-anticipated vacation knowing that all will be well when you return.

The Resurgence of Face-time

Have you ever spent so much time reconciling your books or running payroll that entire weeks went by where you hardly had a chance to engage with your customers? Some cloud-based tools estimate that you can free up two days per month by using an automated, online accounting service. I urge you to let a cloud-based service handle your taxes, invoicing, accounting and payroll. You will spend minutes — not hours — running the numbers. Which means more time doing what you love when it comes to your business.

A New Level of Insight

Cloud-based systems empower businesses of all sizes to think big. With online software, even small business owners can have access to the same types of tools larger companies use to make daily business decisions to run a smarter, more profitable business. When your sales, customer relationship management and other business metrics can be automatically measured, you can save time and earn more money. Who doesn’t want that?

There are countless other ways to see positive results from cloud-based services, including cost savings, renewed sanity, and the ability to compete with your larger counterparts. As the President and CEO of a cloud-based company, I can attest that you will have more time to do what you love, the freedom to connect with your customers and a cost savings that makes it all worthwhile. With these online tools, you can get back to the business of being in business. What will you do with all of your free time?

Norm Merritt

Norm Merritt

Norm Merritt is a small business advocate and global chief executive with a long track record of scaling rapid-growth companies, he is fully committed to ensuring the success of independent businesses by empowering them with the tools they need to succeed.