What Should You Automate First in Your Business?

If you’re ready to use AI agents or automation in your business but don’t know where to start, you’re not alone.

The good news is you do not need to automate everything at once. You just need to start with one high-impact task.

In this post, we’ll walk you through how to choose the right starting point, and how to avoid wasting time automating the wrong things.

There’s a Smarter Way to Run Your Business. It Doesn’t Involve Hiring

AI Agents go beyond basic automation. They think, adapt, and act on your behalf.

• Works no matter your industry, business size, or tech experience
• Fits into your existing tools and workflows, no overhaul needed
• Lets you scale without hiring, managing, or burning out your team

Curious what an AI agent can do for you? Most businesses have 2–3 tasks they could automate right now.

Book a Free AI Strategy Call

Key Takeaways

• Start with repeatable, time-consuming tasks you already understand
• Look for processes that follow a clear goal or pattern
• Focus on jobs that drain your time but do not require deep strategy
• You do not need technical skills—no-code tools make this easy

Why You Shouldn’t Try to Automate Everything at Once

Trying to automate everything leads to confusion, wasted effort, and tools collecting dust.

Instead, focus on one process that saves time every week. That single win builds momentum and helps you see what’s possible.

What Makes a Task Worth Automating?

Here are the traits of a great first automation:

• It happens frequently – Daily or weekly tasks work best
• It follows a predictable process – The steps are clear, even if you do them manually now
• It doesn’t require heavy judgment – AI can handle logic and data, but not personal or emotional nuance
• It’s boring but necessary – Think email follow-ups, scheduling, report prep, or data entry
• It costs you more in time than it saves in control
  

If a task checks three of these boxes, it is probably a great place to start.

Common First Tasks to Automate (With Examples)

Here are some go-to automation ideas that deliver fast wins:

Lead Follow-Up

New leads come in. Your AI agent writes a personalized email, follows up if there’s no response, and books calls automatically.

• Time saved: 3 to 5 hours per week
• Tools: Make.com, ChatGPT custom GPTs

Inbox Triage

Instead of reading and responding to everything, an AI agent filters, flags, replies, and routes emails based on priority.

• Time saved: 1 to 2 hours per day
• Tools: Gmail + Zapier + OpenAI

Client Onboarding

Automatically send welcome emails, collect documents, assign tasks, and check in during the first week.

• Time saved: 2 to 4 hours per client
• Tools: Make.com, Typeform, Slack

Weekly Reporting

Pull metrics from your tools, summarize changes, and email stakeholders, without opening a spreadsheet.

• Time saved: 2 to 3 hours per report
• Tools: Google Sheets, HubSpot, Notion AI

Review Requests

After project completion, automatically ask for a review, follow up, and flag the best ones.

• Time saved: 1 hour per client
• Tools: Google My Business, Make.com, CRM

What You Should Not Automate First

Avoid tasks that:

• Change constantly with no fixed structure
• Require creative judgment or relationship nuance
• Involve sensitive client decisions or personal outreach
• You have not documented or clarified yet

If it is messy or ambiguous, it is not the best starting point.

How to Choose the Right Task for Your Business

Here’s a quick framework:

1. Write down what you and your team do every day or week
   
2. Circle the tasks you repeat often and wish you didn’t have to
   
3. Ask if there’s a clear input, output, and expected result
   
4. Pick one that saves at least 30 minutes per week
   
5. Build or get help building that automation
   

Final Thoughts

If you are overwhelmed by all the ways to use AI, start small.

Pick one task that wastes your time. Automate it. Then pick another.

That’s how teams build leverage without hiring, burnout, or complexity.

Still not sure where to begin?

There’s a Smarter Way to Run Your Business. It Doesn’t Involve Hiring

AI Agents go beyond basic automation. They think, adapt, and act on your behalf.

• Works no matter your industry, business size, or tech experience
• Fits into your existing tools and workflows, no overhaul needed
• Lets you scale without hiring, managing, or burning out your team

Curious what an AI agent can do for you? Most businesses have 2–3 tasks they could automate right now.

Book a Free AI Strategy Call

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if a task is worth automating?

If it happens often, follows a repeatable structure, and takes up valuable time, it’s likely worth automating. Look for anything that feels tedious or easy to delegate.

What tools can I use to automate business tasks without coding?

Great no-code tools include Make.com, Zapier, ChatGPT custom GPTs, and AgentHub. These platforms let you build smart workflows without technical skills.

Can I automate tasks even if I’m not a tech person?

Yes. Most modern tools are built for non-technical users. You can create automations using drag-and-drop steps, templates, or even simple natural language instructions.

What if I pick the wrong task to automate first?

There’s no major risk. Worst case, you learn and adjust. But starting small with a safe, low-stakes task helps you build confidence and see real value quickly.

How do I prioritize automation opportunities across my team?

Start by surveying your team on tasks they repeat every day or week. Then score them based on time wasted, value returned, and how easy they are to map out.

Need help with this? We’ll guide you.