If you are running a business, then you are going to experience stress. It's just a fact of life. You will be working long hours and you will have deadlines to meet. But there are ways that you can reduce this stress and make your business more successful.

1. Cash management

Cash flow is one of the biggest causes of stress in a business. You need money to pay your staff, but if you haven't got it, then they can't work. So one of the best ways to reduce stress is to get on top of your cash flow. That way you know how much money you will have coming in and going out, so that you can plan ahead and manage any shortfalls before they happen.

Using the Profit First methodology can help you set up your finances so you know what your money is for.

2. Charge more - don't resent what you charge and offer poor quality service because of it

You might be saying: "But I am already charging as much as I can". But what about charging more? What about offering a premium service that costs more? This could be something like offering an evening class which only runs for six weeks instead of twelve weeks - or offering a private consultation with no other students present so that clients feel more relaxed with their questions being answered in private (and therefore get more out of it)

Price your services not what everyone else charges, but based on what your services are, and how they help our client.

3. Stick to the plan

Often as business owners we see something shiny and go off down a rabbit hole, looking for that glimpse of freedom or a new product.  However if you focus 80 percent of the time on what your business actually does, and spend 10 percent of your time creating efficiencies or a better way to run your business, then you will have more income and less distractions.

This can also mean put in your diary the things that are the most important to get done, and focus on those first.

4. Clear communication

It's not OK to give someone work to do and then not tell them how to do it.  Be clear with communication - for employees, customers and suppliers, and you will be less frustrated with re-work, "stupid" questions, and time wasting.  If this means today you have to write up (or video) a procedure so that you never have to "waste your time" showing someone how to get something done, then this is a great way to get your time back in the future.

5. Know your obligations

If you know what's required, then you have your finger on the pulse.  A lot of small business owners are unsure of when tax bills are due, so unnecessarily stress themselves out when the bill comes and it is due for payment but there's no money available.

Know what's required when employing staff, if you are registered for GST, how you pay your taxes for your business structure, what your insurance requirements are, what is some common obligations in your industry, and know when things are due.

If you know, then you don't have to live in fear or undue stress.

Seek out a professional to help with these, do some research on google or chat with a business colleague.  The health of your business relies on your health.