10 Workflow Automations Every Small Business Should Have

Not sure where to start with automation? Here are 10 practical workflows that almost every small business can benefit from.

1. New Lead Notification

Trigger: Someone fills out a contact form

Actions:

Time saved: Eliminates manual data entry and ensures no lead is missed

2. Appointment Reminder Sequence

Trigger: Appointment booked

Actions:

Time saved: Reduces no-shows by 30-50%

3. Review Request Flow

Trigger: Service completed

Actions:

Time saved: Generates 5x more reviews automatically

4. Invoice Follow-Up

Trigger: Invoice sent

Actions:

Time saved: Improves cash flow without awkward conversations

5. New Customer Onboarding

Trigger: First purchase or contract signed

Actions:

Time saved: Consistent onboarding without manual effort

6. Social Proof Collection

Trigger: Positive review received OR successful project completed

Actions:

Time saved: Builds social proof library automatically

7. Document Collection

Trigger: New client signs up

Actions:

Time saved: Eliminates document chasing

8. Meeting Notes Distribution

Trigger: Meeting ends

Actions:

Time saved: 15-30 minutes per meeting

9. Inventory/Service Alerts

Trigger: Stock falls below threshold OR service contract nearing expiration

Actions:

Time saved: Prevents stockouts and captures renewal revenue

10. Weekly Reporting

Trigger: Every Monday at 8 AM

Actions:

Time saved: Hours of manual report compilation

How to Prioritize

Start with automations that:

1. **Happen frequently** (daily or weekly)

2. **Are time-consuming** (more than 5 minutes each)

3. **Are forgotten often** (causing problems when missed)

4. **Directly impact revenue** (lead follow-up, reviews)

Getting Started

Pick your top 2-3 workflows and start there. Many can be built with tools like Zapier or Make if you're technical. Or work with us to implement a complete automation system.

What workflow would save you the most time? Let's discuss.