Business : Practical Cost Reduction Strategies

Failure to control finances is one of the primary reasons businesses fail. Costs reach beyond the company’s control and cash flow leaves the bank in a higher volume than it is replaced. Businesses can take a number of steps to reduce costs in this tenuous economic climate. Some practical methods a business may take to prevent folding follow:

Utilities - Don’t miss out on savings by neglecting to compare your current gas and electricity providers with other carriers. Using a broker will provide a wide range of tariffs, enabling more savings opportunities. This requires little effort and can lead to big savings. If you choose to switch providers, be aware of the proper time to provide a cancellation notice to your current provider so you do not get locked in to another long contract.

Outsourcing - Non-critical functions such as IT, HR, and finance can be outsourced, resulting in significant savings. Certain industries may also look to outsource manufacturing, distribution, or customer service to places such as India or the Philippines to heighten savings.

Banking - It may sound obvious, but some businesses fail to review their bank charges. These are usually variable charges that banks can use to gain profit from your business dealings. Some things to look for are interest rates and if any accounts are received in credit. It may also benefit your business to pay for a higher monthly fee for a higher level of online services as it may be cheaper than the usual transactional fees.

Business Rates - Assuming that rates don’t change is a major mistake. In fact, they can be challenged every five years either by yourself or with the assistance of a consultant. Be sure the consultant doesn’t charge a fee up front and that any charge is based only on savings.

Telecoms - As a results of the telecoms market becoming deregulated, there’s plenty of companies competing for your business. You should be able to easily save 10-15% off your line rental if you’re with a large provider, and often even more on call charges too. Always remember to compare like for like rates and review your provider and their competitors on a six monthly basis.

Office Stationery - Combining suppliers and invoices not only enables savings by purchasing from one place, it also increases your ability to negotiate. This ability increases if you are part of a buying group. By monitoring your own usage and limiting the number of authorized reordering personnel, you can reduce costs. Using your own products can lead to 25% savings.

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