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Companies with very little upfront costs are more likely to become successful more quickly than those who go all out, buying the best stuff and equipment. Even if you've been funded very well for your business, that doesn't always mean you should spend every dollar. Saving money for those lean months should be a part of your plan.
Necessity Verses Want
When you start a small business, you start by thinking big. You envision what your company will look like, how it will run. You want the best. You might budget for the best technical equipment, a hundred employees, and enough office space in a high-rise building.
If you take a moment to think about it, many successful businesses did not start out with fancy, plush offices. Dell started with two men working out of a garage, building computers. Most companies start small, some starting out of a home and building up.
A business isn't about fancy equipment and a corner office. A business is about helping your customers get what they want. If you can do this from your kitchen table, then that's all you need, for now, and then, if you still want the plush office, plan for it, in the future when you've become successful.
Shop Smart
When you're buying equipment, you want the best quality product, but you also want a real deal. You don't want to expend your budget on high cost equipment right from the get go. Think about what you want to buy. Do you really need today's latest model of computer and phone equipment? Will last year's models do just as well?
Negotiate prices where you can. This doesn't mean on just products and equipment. The services you use, like your phone or Internet services, can be negotiated. Ask about discounts if you buy in bulk or paying months in advance. You can get great deals if you offer to buy up front, instead of later down the road.
Buy used, where possible. A desk at a used furniture store will cost half of what a new one would, and can work just as well. Substitute where you can with used or reconditioned equipment. A spare room or your garage can make for storage space that you won't have to pay extra for.
Work out what you really, really need for your business. Maybe you don't plan on making many faxes, why buy a fancy office fax when an online service would do? Maybe you don't need the 10 connected phone lines just yet. Check where you can to get good deals on only what you really do need for your business to function.
Employees or Independent Contractors
Part of growing as a new business is about bringing on others to help you do the work. You can't grow and still run your business as a one-man band. You eventually hire others to be able to produce more work, and get more income.
However, many people misjudge what they need, exactly. Some just don't know how to hire the right person. If you hire someone who is under qualified, just because they cost less, you might be paying more out than you are getting back. Each employee should somehow improve production and benefit you so that you make more money.
There are ways to save money by hiring employees to do the right jobs for you. Think of the jobs that it would be easy to replicate. Perhaps returning client phone calls with quotes, or researching new vendors is something that takes up your time. You could spend less time on little tasks and spend more time on the things that actually make you money, like sales. You could also hire on a sales team that will help you produce more sales.
There are other alternatives as well than to hiring employees right off. Many small businesses are now opting to hire independent contractors. These professionals might cost slightly higher, but they get the job done right, and well. You can hire them for more complicated tasks, like accounting or sales. They might cost more per hour, but they'll save you tons of money. You pay only for what work they complete.
You can also hire employees or independent contractors to work from home. People who work from home will save you loads of money on additional electric, internet, phone, computers, office space and much more. At home workers also are often paid on production. You can save hundreds of dollars on the cost of an employee if you let him or her work from home.
Borrow From Other Companies
Combine your small business with that of another. Sublease equipment, the other half of the office space, whatever you want to split the cost of. It helps out when you can connect and work as partners in the beginning.
If you're going to try it this way, it is best that you get it in writing from the get go about who is to pay what and when and how.
You could also borrow equipment. Like the fax machine you didn't really need. Suddenly for one client you are working with, they want you to fax some things over and it would be easier for you to use a fax machine. You can borrow from another company, then exchange the favor later; perhaps they can use your services.
These aren't the only ways to save money in your early years. As long as you keep your goals in view, and understand that it's the bottom line that counts, you'll realize that there are so many things you can probably let go of. Planning ahead and knowing where to save money can really help you in the long run in making your business successful.
Category: Small BusinessTips on Saving Money As A Small Business was written by:Author:Dave DaviesAdded: Wed, 21 May 2008 08:36:44 -0400 This Article Has Been Read 128 times View all Dave Davies's articlesAbout the Author: Dave Davies is the CEO of Beanstalk SEO. Beanstalk has been offering SEO services since 2004 though Dave has been involved in the industry since 2001. They offer a wide variety of organic SEO services from guaranteed optimization packages to their non-guaranteed “affordable SEO services” and link building options. |
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