Business

For Business Owners, Time is Money

Published

4 years ago

January 15, 2022

There’s plenty of truth to the old saying ‘time is money’. The adage is especially applicable for business owners who often have to ration the minutes of each working day in order to accomplish a specific set of tasks. But the idea of time as having specific monetary worth goes further than that. When it comes to a company’s investments, for example, interest-bearing accounts yield more the longer they’re held.

Likewise, owners who use efficient fleet management systems can make deliveries on strict time schedules. Every corporate accountant knows that paying vendors early can save money, and getting tax payments to the government before due dates helps avoid costly late fees. Why does each passing minute on the clock represent monetary value to entrepreneurs, owners, and managers of so many types of companies? Here are some concrete examples that demonstrate the age-old principle and offer food for thought to anyone who operates a business in an ownership or managerial capacity.

Investing

Every business that maintains a savings or investment account has an inherent understanding of the time value of money. For instance, very large corporations typically hold investment portfolios for decades to maximize interest accumulation. The principle is the same one individuals use for retirement savings but on a grander scale.

Vehicle Fleet Management

Fleet management systems deliver efficient results in multiple areas of endeavor. In addition to helping create ideal routes, advising drivers about dangerous road conditions, and keeping track of driving hours, fleet programs use advanced telematics to track location, fuel use, mileage, and other essential parameters. Transport supervisors know that late shipments mean unhappy customers, which is why they rely on fleet programs to maintain on time schedules and keep tabs on dozens of statistical data points.

Paying Bills

In nearly every industry, vendors offer one or two percent discounts to companies that pay bills within ten days or the invoice date. For busy organizations, these relatively small amounts can add up to major savings on an annual basis. The same principle applies to tax payment but in a different way. There’s no discount for paying early or on time, but there can be significant penalties for late tax remittance. That’s why so many corporate accountants advise management to take advantage of early vendor settlement and timely tax payments. Even medium-sized businesses stand to save thousands of dollars yearly through diligent accounting practices.

Training

It’s costs plenty to train a new worker. Typical estimates range from a few hundred to many thousands of dollars for standard onboarding procedures. However, investing in the development of your team and creating a culture of responsiveness, productivity, and inclusion is worth it. Because the expense related to training is so high, businesses work hard to design efficient, fast teaching materials and systems. The most common method in current use is the hybrid technique, in which new hires independently work through several volumes of text material and watch a few hours of video tutorials on their own time.

Alongside that component of the program, they receive in-person instruction from a member of the staff with whom they’ll soon be working. Keep in mind that once the new person is fully trained, there’s always the risk that they’ll quit within a short period of time. For owners, this risk is nearly impossible to avoid and one that often takes its toll on smaller organizations.

Business

Click for Counsel: YesLawyer Wants to Make Lawyers as Accessible as Wi-Fi

Published

1 week ago

April 1, 2026

Matthew Wiles

Photo Courtesy of: YesLawyer

Byline: Andi Stark

For many people facing a legal problem, the most difficult part is not understanding their rights but finding a lawyer willing to speak with them in the first place. Long wait times, unclear pricing, and administrative hurdles often delay even the most basic consultations. YesLawyer, an AI-enabled plaintiff firm operating across all 50 states, is testing whether technology can shorten that gap.

Founded in 2024 by 25-year-old entrepreneur Rob Epstein, the platform offers free intake, automated screening, and, in many cases, same-day conversations with licensed attorneys. The idea is simple: reduce the friction between a client’s first request for help and an actual legal discussion. In this interview, Epstein explains how the system works, where artificial intelligence fits into the process, and what problems the company is trying to address in the broader legal system

Q: When you say you want lawyers to be “as accessible as Wi-Fi,” what does that mean in practical terms?

A: It’s a way of describing speed and availability. Someone dealing with a workplace dispute, a serious injury, or an immigration issue should be able to move from an online form or phone call to a real conversation with counsel in hours, not weeks. YesLawyer is structured so that a client begins with a free case evaluation, goes through automated conflict checks and basic screening, and, in many instances, speaks with a lawyer the same day.

Q: How does the process work once someone contacts the platform?

A: We use a structured workflow. It starts with a short questionnaire and an initial conversation to capture basic facts. That information feeds into conflict checks and internal review. The system then proposes a match with a licensed attorney and provides a calendar link for a virtual consultation, often within 24 hours. After the meeting, the client receives a written legal plan outlining next steps, deadlines, and estimated fees.

Q: Where does artificial intelligence fit into that process, and where does it stop?

A: AI is used for organizing and routing information, not for giving legal advice. It helps with conflict checks at scale, case categorization, and structured summaries so attorneys can focus on the substance of the matter. Every consultation is conducted by a licensed lawyer, and all decisions about strategy or next steps are made by humans.

Q: What problem is this model trying to solve in the current legal system?

A: Delay and cost are still major barriers. Many civil plaintiffs face long waits just to get a first appointment, along with high retainers and hourly billing that make early legal advice risky. We try to respond with faster consultations, flat-fee options, and financing. The idea is to remove administrative friction so lawyers spend less time on logistics and more time speaking with clients.

Q: Some critics say platforms like this blur the line between a technology company and a law firm. How do you describe YesLawyer?

A: We describe ourselves as a national, AI-enabled plaintiff firm that connects clients with independent attorneys. That structure does raise regulatory questions, especially around responsibility and oversight. We focus on licensing verification, attorney-written case plans, and clear communication about fees and services.

Q: You’ve said the main bottleneck is “systems” rather than people. What do you mean by that?

A: The issue isn’t that lawyers don’t want to help more people. It’s that the systems around them make it hard to scale their time. Intake, scheduling, and document handling take hours. Automating those parts means attorneys can handle more matters without being overwhelmed by repetitive tasks.

Q: Does this model risk favoring only the most profitable cases?

A: That’s a real concern in legal technology. Automation often works best for repeatable, high-volume disputes. Our view is that lowering administrative cost can actually make it easier to take on smaller or more complex cases that might otherwise be turned away. Whether that holds over time depends on the data.

Measuring Impact Over Time

YesLawyer’s attempt to compress the timeline between inquiry and consultation reflects broader changes in how legal services are being delivered. As artificial intelligence becomes more common in administrative work, firms are experimenting with new ways to reduce wait times and clarify costs.

The company’s early growth suggests that many clients value faster access to an initial conversation, even before considering long-term representation. Whether this platform-based model becomes widely adopted or remains one of several emerging approaches will depend on regulatory developments, lawyer participation, and measurable outcomes for clients. For now, YesLawyer’s experiment highlights a central question in modern legal practice: how quickly can help realistically be made available to the people who need it.