Article by Mark Etinger
What with the economy in its current state, it makes sense that people are trying to save money whenever and wherever they can. If you own a business, you might find that harder and harder, but the truth is, there are a lot of ways to save your company money. Here are some of them:
1. Strike up a deal with local vendors. Say you own a restaurant or clothing shop. Talk to the sales department at a local newspaper or magazine and see if you can trade some advertising space for sale of their publication at your establishment. Or, if you own a venue of some sort, tell them they can hold their annual fundraiser at your place in exchange for half a year’s worth of ads.
2. Speaking of fundraisers, why not have one? Just because you’re a paper-supply company doesn’t mean you can’t hold a little carnival in the parking lot of your building. Charge a small admission fee (small, but enough that the business will make a profit on the sales), and show people how to have fun!
3. Hire interns. Interns are great because a.) they’re free, and b.) you can assign them pretty much any job you need done. It’s a win-win for everyone — they’re getting lots of experience, and you’re getting free labor. Of course, a little extra incentive is always nice, like travel or lunch fare, and there’s no reason not to reward them with little something extra at the end of their semester. It could be a gift, or even a small stipend. (Interns, too, are looking for a way to save money.) Even if you give them a couple hundred dollars you’ll still be paying way less than you would an actual employee.
4. Switch to a VoIP broadband phone. VoIP services are much less expensive than traditional copperwire phone systems, and they’re far more convenient because you can use them right in conjunction with you computer, or, if you prefer a simpler transition, you can get the handsets that look like regular phones.
5. Cut down on unnecessary costs. Don’t just say you’re going to do this — really do it. Sit down with the head of each of the company’s departments and figure out ways you can cut down on things like electricity, water use, and any unnecessary frills that are currently in place. Water coolers, for example, are a nice, but unneeded luxury. If you want clean, cold water, get a Brita filter and keep it in the refrigerator — cold water can easily become hot in the microwave or on a stovetop.
Also, make sure that all the lights and computers are turned off at night. Anything that doesn’t need to be on while no one’s in the office shouldn’t be. It might be more convenient to just leave a computer on all the time, but it’s an energy sucker.
There you have it — five simple ways to cut the costs of your business significantly. Well, what are you waiting for? Get to interviewing those interns and calling your local VoIP service providers!
