Learn Hardcore Japanese: mendouna tetuduki ha hayame ni sumasemasyou. - Let's take care of the troublesome procedures early.

Reading (kana): めんどうなてつづきははやめにすませましょう
Romaji: mendō-na tetsuzuki wa hayame ni sumasemashō
Parts:
- 面倒な: na-adjective, troublesome
- 手続き: noun, procedures/formalities
- は: topic marker (pronounced wa)
- 早めに: adverb, on the early side/sooner rather than later
- 済ませましょう: polite volitional of 済ませる (to finish/complete): let’s finish

Why is は used after 手続き instead of を?

は marks the topic: As for the troublesome procedures, let’s finish them early. It frames what we’re talking about and can add a slight contrastive nuance (at least this thing, let’s do X). The direct object is understood; topicalizing it with は is natural in suggestions.

Can I say 面倒な手続きを早めに済ませましょう with を? What’s the difference?

Yes. 面倒な手続きを早めに済ませましょう straightforwardly marks the object with を and sounds neutral. Using は topicalizes/contrasts: 面倒な手続きは… As for the troublesome procedures (as opposed to other things), let’s get them done early. Both are correct.

What exactly does 早めに mean? How is it different from 早く?

早めに: a bit early/sooner than usual; on the early side relative to some expected time. Nuanced, proactive.
早く: early or quickly, depending on verb. Less of the “sooner rather than later” nuance. Example:
早めに寝ましょう: Let’s go to bed a little earlier than usual.
早く寝ましょう: Let’s go to bed early / let’s hurry and go to bed.

Why is there に after 早め?

早め is a noun-like form (Adj + め “on the X side/to a X degree”). Adding に makes it adverbial: “do it on the early side.” Similar patterns:

多めに入れる (add a bit more)
少なめにする (make it a bit less) Before nouns, you use の: 早めの対策 (early countermeasures).

What does 済ませましょう mean and where does it come from?

It’s the polite volitional of 済ませる (transitive): “let’s finish/complete (it),” often with the nuance “let’s get it over with.” Common collocation: 手続きを済ませる (complete the formalities).

What’s the difference between 済む, 済ませる, and 済ます?

済む (intransitive): be finished/settled. Example: 手続きが済む.
済ませる (transitive): finish/settle something. Example: 手続きを済ませる.
済ます (transitive): also “finish,” sometimes with a nuance of doing the minimum or getting it over with. Example: 食事を済ます. In many contexts 済ませる and 済ます are interchangeable; 済ませる is a bit more neutral/formal.

Is 済ませましょう a causative form because of -せる?

No. Here -せる is part of the dictionary verb 済ませる (“to finish”). It’s not the productive causative. The form is simply polite volitional: 済ませる → 済ませます → 済ませましょう.

What nuance does ましょう have compared with ましょうか or ませんか?

〜ましょう: speaker-led suggestion/decision (“Let’s …”), common in instructions and announcements.
〜ましょうか: Shall we … ? (more tentative/asking for agreement or offering help)
〜ませんか: Would you like to … ? (polite invitation, softer than ましょう)

Can I use 終わらせましょう or 終えましょう instead of 済ませましょう?

Yes, with nuance differences.

手続きを終わらせましょう is natural and general (“let’s bring the procedures to an end”).
手続きを終えましょう is a bit more formal/written.
手続きを済ませましょう is the most idiomatic collocation for formalities/tasks and often carries a “get it over with” feel.

What does 面倒な add here? How is it different from 面倒くさい?

面倒な (na-adjective): troublesome, inconvenient; neutral and fine in formal contexts. Also a noun meaning “care/attention” in expressions like 面倒を見る (to look after).
面倒くさい: more colloquial/complaining (“annoying,” “ugh, what a hassle”). You wouldn’t normally use it in formal writing.

Does 手続き always mean “paperwork”? Where is it used?

手続き means procedures/formalities—paperwork is often involved, but it can be online steps, in-person formalities, airport immigration, bank account opening, city hall registrations, etc. It’s usually mass/uncountable in feel; plurality is understood from context.

Why isn’t there a subject like “we”? Who is included?

Japanese often drops subjects. 〜ましょう implies an inclusive “let’s (you and I/we).” Context tells you who is included (e.g., members of a team, the addressee and the speaker).

What’s a natural casual version?

面倒な手続きは早めに済ませよう。 (plain volitional, neutral)
面倒な手続きは早めに済まそう。 (using 済ます; slightly more colloquial)

Why 早め (early in time) and not 速め (fast in speed)? What’s the difference between 早い and 速い?

早い: early (time).
速い: fast/quick (speed). Here we’re talking about doing it earlier than usual, so 早め is correct. 速め would mean “at a slightly faster speed,” which doesn’t fit.

Any useful collocations with 済ませる?

宿題を済ませる (finish homework)
食事を済ませる (finish a meal/grab a quick bite)
支払いを済ませる (settle the payment)
連絡を済ませる (get in touch and be done)
用事を済ませる (take care of an errand)