# Business process automation for small businesses URL: https://up2.digital/services/automation > Connect the tools you already use so quotes, invoices, bookings and reminders run themselves, without you retyping the same information twice. ## Sound familiar? - You spend evenings on invoicing that should have taken ten minutes. - The same customer details get typed into your website form, then your CRM, then your accounting software, by hand, every single time. - Bookings get confirmed, then forgotten, and you end up with no-shows you could have prevented with a reminder. - Paperwork, contracts and job sheets get built from scratch each time instead of generated from information you already hold. - A quote goes out, then nobody chases it, and the job quietly disappears. ## What we do Workflow automation means getting the repetitive, predictable parts of your admin to happen without you. We look at where your week actually goes, then automate those specific tasks using the tools you already have, rather than adding a pile of new software to learn. Most small businesses find two or three tasks eat most of the wasted time, and fixing just those gives back hours every week without touching anything else. ### One task automated end to end A single repetitive job, such as a website enquiry landing straight into a spreadsheet and triggering an email, done properly and reliably rather than half-working. ### Quotes and invoices that chase themselves Quotes and invoices raised and chased automatically through Xero or QuickBooks, so payment reminders go out on schedule without you having to remember who still owes what. ### Fewer no-shows Automatic booking confirmations, reminders and follow-ups, whatever calendar or booking tool you use, so appointments are far less likely to be forgotten. ### Paperwork generated from data you already have Contracts, reports and job sheets built automatically from information already sitting in your systems, instead of typed out fresh every time. ### Connecting several systems together When your website, CRM, accounting software and anything else genuinely need to talk to each other reliably, not just once, we scope that properly after a call, because it needs to be done right. ## Guide prices Every automation is different, but here are the guide prices for similar projects, with the fixed quote agreed after a free 30-minute call. ## How automation projects work with us We start with a free call to find the two or three tasks costing you the most time, then build, test and document the automation, as explained on [how we work](/how-we-work). ## Why work with us We build automations using the tools you already pay for, Xero, QuickBooks, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Zapier or Make, rather than pushing a new platform, so there's fewer things to manage, not more. The price is fixed before we start, you own the automation and the data behind it, and we're UK-registered with 5+ years' experience, replying within one working day. Related reading: [10 admin tasks small businesses can automate this month](/guides/admin-tasks-to-automate), [automating quotes and invoices with Xero or QuickBooks](/guides/automate-invoicing-xero-quickbooks), and [Zapier vs Make vs a custom integration](/guides/zapier-vs-make-vs-custom). Particularly useful for [trades](/industries/trades), [hospitality](/industries/hospitality) and [retail](/industries/retail) businesses with a lot of repeat admin. See [guide prices](/pricing) or [start your project](/start?goal=admin). ## Frequently asked questions ### What's the easiest thing for a small business to automate first? Usually whatever repetitive task you dread most: chasing invoices, retyping enquiry details, or sending booking reminders. Start with one task done properly rather than trying to automate everything at once. Our [guide to admin tasks worth automating](/guides/admin-tasks-to-automate) has ten common starting points. ### Can you automate invoicing in Xero or QuickBooks? Yes. We can set up quotes and invoices to raise and chase themselves automatically within Xero or QuickBooks, so reminders go out on a schedule rather than when someone remembers. See our [guide to automating invoicing](/guides/automate-invoicing-xero-quickbooks). ### Should I use Zapier, Make, or something custom-built? It depends on how complex the task is and how reliable it needs to be. Zapier and Make suit most everyday automations and are quick to set up. A custom integration makes more sense when several systems need to talk to each other constantly and reliably. Our [comparison guide](/guides/zapier-vs-make-vs-custom) explains which fits which situation. ### Will automation replace the need for staff? Not usually, for a small business. The aim is to remove the repetitive, low-value parts of admin so you and your team spend time on customers and the work itself, not to replace people. ### What happens if an automation breaks? We document exactly how each automation works, so if something changes, like a tool updating its interface, it can be fixed quickly. If you're on an ongoing support arrangement, we'll usually catch and fix it before you notice. ### How long does it take to set up business process automation? A single automated task typically takes one to two weeks. Invoicing automation or booking systems usually take two to three weeks. Connecting multiple systems together takes longer and gets scoped individually, because reliability matters more than speed there.