With half of small businesses failing within their first year of operation, one of the main reasons is because most entrepreneurs are focusing on increasing sales, rather than lowering expenses. As a small business, it’s likely that you won’t have the budget that the big giants have, meaning every penny counts. To help keep you on track, here are 7 cost cutting ideas that you can use to reduce expenses in your small business.
As a small business, it’s likely that you won’t have the budget that the big giants have, meaning every penny counts
Reduce Supply Expenses
One of the best ways to save money in your small business is by reducing your supply expenses. To run your company successfully, you will need all sorts of office supplies that you and your employees can use, so instead of contacting traditional vendors, why not seek out large discount suppliers who may be able to offer you the same products for a fraction of the price? You could also buy recycled supplies that will help you create a greener workplace.
Cut Production Costs
As the head of a small business, you will always be on the lookout for how to cut material costs, as well as optimising your resources. There are various things that you can do, such as selling leftover cardboard, metal, and paper, rather than sending it off to the recycling centre. You should also monitor and measure the operational efficiency of your company by setting performance parameters that reflect in your efficiency goals.
Lower Financial Expenditures
Another way to save money is by checking your financial accounts and insurance policies. If you aren’t happy with the amount you’re paying out for insurance, you can compare a range of providers to find the best rate. Also, make sure that you evaluate insurance policies so you can be confident you’re not over-insured.
Modernise Your Marketing Plan
How you market and promote your business to the masses is crucial when it comes to generating sales and keeping your small business running smoothly. If you don’t have a lot of money to play around with, it’s important that you don’t waste any cash on marketing efforts that result in no traffic to your website. One of the best ways to promote your company is by using social media platforms like Facebook where you can set up a business page to engage with consumers. Creating a customer e-mail list and implementing a referral programme is far more likely to result in a sale over traditional marketing.
Save on Business Energy
If you have business premises, the amount of energy you and your team are consuming every day can be mind-blowing. No one wants to pay an arm and a leg for their energy, but you can use companies like Utility Bidder who specialise in finding the best business energy rates from a range of commercial suppliers. You can also save on your water, gas, and electricity too, which will all help in keeping costs down in your small business.
Use Efficient Time Strategies
It’s only natural that you will want your employees to be as productive as can be once they enter the office. Remember, any wasted time equals wasted money, so it’s important that you minimise distractions throughout the workplace. There are various apps such as Rescue Time and Focus Booster which can help your team stay focused and concentrated on tasks and projects. You can also schedule business activities and meetings which can encourage your team to stay on track with their work.
Go Green
Climate change is a real issue that business owners need to be aware of. Regardless of the size of your company, it’s important that you do your bit for the environment to reduce your carbon footprint and ensure your workplace is eco-friendly. There are various measures that you can take which can not only create a greener business, but help you save money too. Whether it’s by turning lights off that aren’t in use, switching off electrical equipment, recycling paper, or performing an energy audit to keep track of how much energy you’re consuming, doing all of this can slash your bills at the end of the month, meaning you won’t have to deal with any nasty surprises.
There’s no point beating around the bush – succeeding in business will take hard work, commitment, and determination. As a small business, you will have to do all that you can to ensure your company stays on top, so to keep costs down and put you in control of your finances, using all the cost cutting ideas listed can help reduce expenses, as well as create a more environmentally friendly workplace.
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