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UK sole traders: what admin task steals the most time each week?

Hi all,

I’m researching workflow friction for UK sole traders/non-employing business owners basically. Where time gets burned during a normal week. This is not a promotion. I’m trying to understand the real day-to-day reality before building anything.

Would love your input:

  • What part of running your business steals the most time each week?

  • What do you currently use to manage it (WhatsApp, email, notes, spreadsheet, calendar, accounting app, etc.)?

  • What have you tried that didn’t work?

Comments

  • Nearlyold
    Nearlyold Posts: 2,440 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    edited 31 December 2025 at 7:45PM
    Kinda depends what you mean by "stealing" the most time. Most of our time went on providing the service that earnt the money.  We used off the shelf software that helped  with regular service scheduling  (or one offs) which linked to monthly/one off billing/accounts.
  • hareng
    hareng Posts: 632 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    Getting the addresses, packing and writing the jiffy bags out.
    Addresses can be in 2 emails, 2 paypal, Private messages on 2 accounts or even from phone calls.

    Calender takes too long so does accounting apps in which case would have to enter and do everything twice.
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