What to Automate First in Your Business

Especially If You’re Still Doing Everything Manually

Let’s keep it simple: automate the things that make you money first.
Not the vanity tasks. Not the admin clutter. Start with revenue-generating systems—and let the rest wait.

Here are four foundational automations to focus on first:

1. Inquiry + Opt-In Forms That Capture Qualified Leads

Before you even think about funnels or emails, you need a clear, low-friction way for potential clients to raise their hands.

Start here:

• Create a simple opt-in form for your freebie or email list
• Set up a lead inquiry form that pre-qualifies potential clients
• Make sure both forms are connected to something—like your email platform or CRM

Want to see how I set mine up?

• Here’s an example of a freebie opt-in form I use
• And here’s the lead inquiry form I use to qualify potential 1:1 clients

Forms are the front door to your sales system. Don’t skip this step.

2. Freebie Funnels That Convert—Without You Babysitting

Now that you’re collecting leads, let’s talk about nurturing them.

Here’s what to automate:

• When someone opts in, they get tagged and entered into a warm-up sequence
• Your emails do the heavy lifting: educate, connect, and include clear CTAs
• Ideally, that sequence leads to a paid offer or sales conversation—automatically

Why this matters: Your list isn’t cold because you’re inconsistent. It’s cold because there’s no system nurturing them after the opt-in.

3. Checkout + Payment Automations That Onboard Instantly

Here’s where most business owners drop the ball: after the sale.

You made the money, but the client doesn’t know what to do next. Their excitement fades. They feel unsure. And that’s when refund requests or buyer’s remorse sneak in.

Let’s prevent that.

Here’s what to automate:

• A branded welcome email with clear next steps
• A contract sent and signed automatically (for services)
• A calendar link to book their kickoff call

For service providers:
Tools like Dubsado and HoneyBook* can handle this entire flow—from payment to scheduling to onboarding emails.

For coaches and course creators:
Connect your checkout tool (like ThriveCart* or Samcart) to your course platform (like Teachable, Podia, or ThriveCart Learn) so access and onboarding happen instantly.

🔍 Pro Tip: Explore native integrations before reaching for a data bridge tool like Zapier or Pabbly. Using built-in automations can reduce friction, lower costs, and prevent extra tech complexity.

4. Offboarding Automations That Close the Loop (and Drive Referrals)

Most people stop automating at onboarding. But your offboarding process is just as important—it sets the tone for referrals, testimonials, and repeat buyers.

Here’s what to automate:

• A final “thank you” email with a client offboarding checklist or link to shared files
• A testimonial request form
• A tag or segment in your CRM so they enter an alumni flow
• Bonus: A timed follow-up email a few months later to re-engage or upsell

In a recent Revenue Systems Reset build, we set up an offboarding flow that triggered automatically once a coaching container ended. The client now collects testimonials without chasing—and books repeat sessions 3x faster.

Why These Automations Should Come First

If you’re short on time and energy, these are your non-negotiables.

Revenue-generating systems = faster ROI + less burnout.

Start with:

• Capturing leads
• Nurturing them automatically
• Delivering your offer without friction
• Closing the loop so no opportunity is lost

Everything else is just extra.

Next Steps (Pick Your Path)

→ Not sure what to fix first?
Take the Revenue Leak Quiz and find your biggest backend bottleneck.

→ Ready to automate your high-impact workflows?
Work with me and let’s build your revenue system—step by step.