8 Cost-Cutting Ideas For Your Small Business

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There is no denying the fact that running a small business costs a lot of money, regardless of whether it’s a home-based business, a brick and mortar store, or anything else.

Each and every company has its own set of costs, and while you will never be able to eliminate these costs completely, there are plenty of ways for you to significantly reduce them in the long run.

If you want to cut costs and save your business money, then here are eight great ideas for you to consider.

 

#1 Consider Employing Interns

If you want to save some money, then employing interns is a win-win situation. The interns themselves get to work, learn, and gain valuable experience in a business, while you get a worker that you can pay less than other employees.

Some business owners even advertise unpaid internships, which means that, if you did the same, you’d essentially be getting work for free.

Of course, before hiring an intern, you should understand that they won’t be as skilled and won’t know as much as other employees, and as such will require a lot more training and help. If this isn’t something that you can provide, then interns won’t work for your business.

 

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#2 Outsource Where Possible

Another great alternative to employing permanent members of staff is outsourcing specific tasks to freelancers or agencies.

Unlike with permanent employees, you won’t have to pay these freelancers or agencies a full wage, but you will be getting the experience and knowledge that an intern simply can’t provide.

You also won’t have to provide these types of employees with certain benefits, like paid time off or health insurance, which will save you even more money in the long run.

Just be aware that these types of workers aren’t loyal to you or your business, so don’t rely on them too much, and only use them for one-off projects.

 

#3 Allow Employees To Telecommute

For your permanent employees, it makes sense to offer them the chance to work from home, at least for a couple of days a week.

This will benefit them, as it means that they won’t have to travel to work on these mornings and can work from the comfort of their own home.

It also benefits you, as it means that the office will use less electricity, gas, and water on these days, which will save the business a lot of money. It also means that you could relocate to a smaller office, which could cut costs if you’re renting your current one.

 

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#4 Be More Energy Efficient

These days, many businesses are doing what they can to be a little greener and more energy efficient, both for the planet and for their pockets.

After all, the less energy you use, the less you have to pay for. There are many ways that you could make your office more energy efficient, including switching off lights, equipment, and machinery when they’re not in use.

You could also invest in double-glazed windows and insulation for your office if you own it. Cutting down on the volume of paper you use is another green way to save money.

 

#5 Buy Used Equipment

When you start a new business, it’s understandable that you would want all of your equipment to be new, but this isn’t really necessary.

In fact, slightly used equipment can be just as useful and efficient as buying it brand new, and costs significantly less, even if it’s only a couple of months old.

These days, you can buy anything from ergonomic office chairs to delivery vans online, often much cheaper than anywhere else, so before you buy something brand new, make sure you check to see if anyone is selling what you need second-hand.

 

#6 Shop Around For Everything

When it comes to essentials for your business, you should never buy the first thing that you see.

Sure, you may need dates for your food business, but you should take the time to look at a few different suppliers, like Global Foods UK, before deciding which one is the most cost-efficient.

You should also shop around for things like machinery, insurance, and credit card interest rates, as deals can vary widely, and you’re unlikely to get the best price if you go with the first thing that you see.

 

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#7 Pay Your Invoices Early

Lots of suppliers offer discounts to customers who pay their invoices earlier than they’re expected to, so, if you have the money available, and it won’t negatively impact your cash flow, then it makes sense for you to pay your invoices as soon as you can.

Often these discounts are relatively small, but even the smallest can help you out a lot when you’re trying to cut costs.

Paying early also helps to build strong relationships with your suppliers, which means that, if you ever could pay an invoice on time, they’ll be a lot less likely to hit you with a late payment fee.

 

#8 Remember That Everything Is Negotiable

Unless a price specifically says that it’s non-negotiable, then you should do what you can to try to get the cost as low as possible. This is especially important when you’re buying in bulk, as you’re spending a significant amount of money.

Because of this, a slightly lower cost would be a huge help to you, but it wouldn’t make much difference to the company you’re buying from, so they’re much more likely to accept your lower offer.

Business owners also often offer referrals in exchange for a discount, so this is something you should consider.

Whether we like it or not, money makes the world go around, and this is especially true when referring to the world of business, so it’s important that you do what you can to cut costs and save money where possible.

Of course, every business is different, and not every cost-cutting idea will work for you, but there will be at least a couple of things that you can do, so try to come up with some of your own and experiment with a few mentioned above.

So what are you doing to cut cost with your small business?

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One Comment

  1. I’ve always thought that hiring interns is a great idea since it’s a win-win for both. And with interns, they have all this energy flowing in them to learn more than we get more than we ask for, for the money we pay.

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