Hey there, Brandy Lawson here with another episode of Elevated the Snackable Weekly podcast, helping kitchen and bath designers build a better business. In this episode, we're going to do something that might make you squirm a little. We're gonna put actual numbers to those software headaches you've been living with. Think of it like measuring a space before renovation. Sure, you can eyeball it, but if you want those custom cabinets to actually fit. You need real measurements. Last time we identified what's really broken in your business, and today we're gonna figure out exactly how much that broken thing is costing you. And just like that perfectly planned kitchen that saves your client hours of unnecessary steps, understanding these costs is going to make your software decisions crystal clear. Let me share a story that'll help make this very tangible. Jessica was convinced that her project management situation, and I use that term loosely, wasn't that bad. Sure, it's a little messy, she said, but it works. Spoiler alert, when we actually did the math, that little mess was costing her business over six figures a year. Let's break down how we figure that out, shall we? First up, time tracking. Grab your worksheet@fireeffects.com slash choose if you need it. And let's map out where time is actually going. Here's what Jessica's team tracked for just one week, 30 minutes per day. Searching email threads for client approvals. 45 minutes per day updating multiple project schedules an hour and a half today, answering what's the status questions and three hours per week. Reconstructing timelines when things slip through the cracks. Now here's where it gets interesting. Most design firm owners only calculate their team's time, but what about your time? When we added up Jessica's involvement, there was five hours per week, double checking project statuses, and three hours per week fixing communication mishaps. Finally, four hours per week manually updating client communications. Let's do some quick math. Don't worry. I'm here to help take those hours and multiply them by the appropriate rates. So team time, 16.75 hours times $45 an hour equals $753 and 75 cents per week. Alright, next owner time, 12 hours times $150 an hour equals $1,800 per week. Total weekly cost here, $2,553 and 75 cents. Annual cost $132,795 E. But wait, there's more. I sound like an infomercial, but stick with me. The opportunity cost calculator. So this is where things get real juicy. Ask yourself, how many more projects could you handle if this problem was fixed? Also, what's the average project value you're missing out on? And then finally, how many leads are slipping through the cracks for Jessica? Fixing her project management meant she could handle two more projects per quarter at her average project value of $45,000. That's an additional $360,000 in annual revenue she was leaving on the table. So let's talk about the sanity tax. My favorite part quantifying the unquantifiable. So rate these next items on a scale of one to 10. First up weekend work required because things slipped through the cracks. Hmm. Next stress levels when trying to find information quickly during client calls. Ha ha. Also, team frustration with repeated tasks. And finally, your peace of mind or lack thereof. Jessica's sanity scores. Were all about eight plus out of 10. That's like having a kitchen with no counter space. Technically functional, but making everything harder than it needs to be. Here's the wild part. When we totaled up everything for Jessica, first we have direct time costs of $132,795. Then we have lost potential project revenue of $360,000. The total annual impact was $492,795. Uh, no wonder that $24,000 annual software subscription suddenly didn't seem so expensive. Now it's your turn. Pull out that worksheet and let's get real about your numbers. First track, every minute spent dealing with your identified problem for one week. It's just a week, you can do it. Second, calculate the actual cost and remember to include your time. Third, add up the missed opportunities. And four, don't forget the sanity tax. Listen, I know numbers aren't everyone's favorite thing, and if they were, you'd be an accountant, not a designer, but just like you need exact measurements for that perfect kitchen layout. You need real numbers to make a smart software decision. Next week we'll talk about who else is feeling the pain of these problems, because trust me, if it's driving you crazy, your team probably has some thoughts on that too. Ready to find out what that software headache is really costing you. Head to fiery effects.com/choose. Download the worksheet and let's put some numbers to those pain points. Your future self and your bank account will. Thank you.