Businesses may go bankrupt due to several factors, but one of the biggest reasons is the failure to control their finances. It goes without saying that without enough money in the bank, a business cannot survive and cash flow problems brought on by poor cost control are one of the fastest ways that a business goes under. Organizations are continually looking for methods by which to lower costs, especially in these tough economic times. Any business can attempt short term recovery methods to get back on their feet or to maintain operations by attempting the following practices:
Utilities – Too many companies never compare their gas and electricity providers. This means missing out on potentially huge savings. Don’t think that it will be a pain and time consuming to change over, because it really it isn’t. You should go through a broker as they have access to a wider range of tariffs than you would otherwise be able to access.
Outsourcing – Outsourcing non-critical business functions can result in substantial savings. Finance, IT and HR are the main areas that you can probably save on. Depending on your industry though, you also want to consider outsourcing customer service, distribution or marketing. Outsourcing overseas, such as to India or the Philippines, should not be dismissed.
Banking – Remember that your bank charges are not fixed in stone. There are a number of areas where banks profit from your business and you should look to minimize these. For example, what interest rates are you being charged? What are you receiving for any accounts in credit? Lots of banks have different levels of clients, and paying a higher monthly fee may result in a lower cost overall through reduced transactional fees.
Business Rates – Rates change over time and they can be challenged every five years. If you feel comfortable, you can challenge them yourself or you can hire a consultant. When using a consultant, however, be sure that you are not charged up front and that the charges are based only on savings to your account. The biggest mistake is to assume your business rates don’t change.
Telecoms – Businesses have plenty of competition since the deregulation of the telecom market, and those with large providers can save up to 10% off line rental. Even more can be saved on call charges. It is important to compare rates and be sure that the contract length is suitable to your needs.
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.
More : Cost Reduction