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Small Business Money Saving Ideas

Small Business Money Saving Ideas

By: VentureHow Staff Writer

Updated on: May 19, 2021

Small Business Money Saving Ideas is a list of 1oo tips on how entrepreneurs can try to save money in everyday situations as they run their business.

When you run a small business, your goal is to increase profits by increasing sales. But a lot of your profit margin rests with what is going out the door. These 100 money-saving tips are easy to try for nearly any small business:

“Money often costs too much.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Small Business Money Saving Ideas

Small Business Money Saving Ideas

  1. Free small business checking
    Banks love commercial accounts. Therefore, do not open a business account where you do your personal banking without first shopping around. Many banks offer free checking to small businesses, and some do not even require you to maintain a minimum balance. Some have no charge for a certain number of transactions each month, but they then apply a charge for any overages. Consider all of a bank’s perks and potential fees before choosing the best bank for your situation.
  2. Interest-bearing checking accounts
    A lot of money will be flowing in and out of your account. Look for checking accounts that pay interest—even if it’s a pittance—and then hold your money until payment is due. Make your money do as much earning as possible before you send it on its way.
  3. Blank checks
    With a small business, you write a lot of checks. Perhaps more than you realize. Therefore, do not regard blank checks as a frivolous expense unworthy of much thought. Rather than automatically opting for what your bank has to offer, shop online. Even Costco sells business checks.
  4. Outsource IT services
    No small business can get by without at least some IT expertise. However, dependable IT staff can be hard to come by as well as expensive. Look for companies that provide managed IT services, which means you can call on their expert help when you need, and only when you need it. You only pay for the service you need to be performed.
  5. Leverage part-time help
    Not only can it be unaffordable to hire certain full-time positions, but you often do not need full-time help. You can still benefit from professionals who just as qualified as full-timers. Many services, such as bookkeeping, are available by persons who can make available part-time. Take for examples CPA who can only work when their young children are in school. These professionals often prefer the flexibility project-based employment gives them. And what is appealing to them is less expensive for you.
  6. Hire independent reps
    Independent sales reps work for themselves. They sell products and services on behalf of their clients. Not only do you avoid labor and benefit costs—most reps only work on commission—but you can expand your territory. Websites like Rephunter let you search for and contact sales reps in their database for a small monthly fee. Reps can also contact you.
  7. Hire students
    If you don’t have time to write knowledge pieces, or you don’t feel comfortable with social media, hire a media-savvy student to do it for you. Give them the basics of what you want to say, and then bless all content before it gets posted.
  8. Hire talent rather than fill positions
    If you run a business with hundreds of employees, it makes sense to recruit workers with particular sets of skills. As a small business owner, however, look instead for solid talent no matter where their experience is. Today’s need may turn into something else next year. The best employees are those who can adapt to a variety of challenges, even those outside their training and education.
  9. Connect with business schools
    Business professors seek ways to give their students real-world experience. Many universities develop relationships with local entrepreneurs who provide that opportunity. Students will develop business plans, provide marketing assistance and deliver other consultative services as part of their curriculum. Before contacting an area business school, formulate a plan for what you want to accomplish and how it would benefit students.
  10. Student design
    High Schools and trade schools often have classes that teach students how to design websites. Teachers are glad to give students real work like your designing your web site. The students are excited and proud to do professional job. Contact schools to find out who teaches web design. If you do not like the results, you do not have to use them.
  11. Take on interns
    Each year, thousands of college students seek internships that will bolster their resumes. Although they want to be paid, and you should offer paid positions if at all possible, their biggest challenge is finding work in their fields of interest. Although you would be doing them a favor, you would benefit from an inexpensive source of fresh thinking and eager labor.
  12. Word-of-mouth recruiting
    Find new talent without buying ads in print or digital recruiting sites. Tell your friends, neighbors, and colleagues that you are hiring and generally what you are looking for. Use social media such as Facebook, or shoot off a quick email or text. You will reach a lot of people who will do some of the initial screening for you. Their recommendations will carry weight.
  13. Shorter weeks
    Some schools have moved to four-day weeks to cut operating expenses, such as utility costs, and the same could work for your business. You may also find it improves productivity among your workers. Some of your employees, specifically customer service reps, could still have to work a full week, but others could benefit from longer days and shorter weeks.

    Small businesses continue to be important to the American economy. https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/advocacy/2018-Small-Business-Profiles-US.pdf

  14. Vary schedules
    Not everyone is a morning person andarenot everyone can work late. Consider varying work schedules among your employees. It’s more than just another a way to keep them happy and increase productivity. It also provides you a chance to cover more hours of operation without adding staff.  If you have two customer service people, for example, you could extend your help hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  15. Share staff
    If filling a full-time position does not make sense, make an arrangement with one or more small businesses in the same situation. You can share employees in nearly any are, including bookkeeping, sales, IT, and marketing.
  16. Stay well
    You may give more thought to preventative maintenance for your car than you do yourself and your employees. However, wellness programs are among the cheapest and best investments you can make. Healthy employees do not rack up a lot of absences, which means more consistent productivity and a better bottom line. Even offering small perks for accomplishments like accumulated steps walked in a month can make a difference in worker morale and output.
  17. Reassess sales commissions
    If your salespeople are on 100% commission, you’re likely often replacing your most productive sellers. Every salesperson should have a base salary. If your salary to the commission ratio is heavier on the salary side, however, you may be paying too much and getting too little. Salespeople by nature need strong incentives to work hard. A high base salary works against that and doesn’t help your labor budget either.
  18. Referrals
    The lowest cost of customer acquisition comes from free referrals. Most customers who refer you to other prospects do so because they like you, and they want to help ensure your continued success. You make them look good. With referrals, the sales cycle is often much shorter than average. As if that weren’t enough reason to focus on referrals, they cost nothing. There is little to no evidence that offering incentives for referrals is effective.
  19. Shorten sales cycles
    Flexible agreements that allow customers to opt out at any time can shorten the sales cycle and get money in the door faster. If your product or service is applicable, offer a free trial. Prospects have come to expect it, and it helps build credibility when you deliver what you promise.
  20. Incentivize long-term contracts
    Give your sales staff bonuses for nailing down long-term agreements. That will lower your cost of customer acquisition and retention because you don’t have to resell to the same customers constantly.
  21. Employee profit sharing
    Labors costs will always be your most significant expense. Give employees the option of taking a smaller up-front salary in exchange for profit sharing. In addition to affecting your budget, this will give them a greater sense of ownership that leads to increased productivity and a healthier team attitude.
  22. Telecommute
    One of the quickest ways to cut costs is to allow staff to work from home. Many business owners are loath to move in that direction for fear they can’t sufficiently monitor work, there will be a loss of office camaraderie, or it will make their business look small. However, some of the most prominent and most successful companies allow and even encourage their workers to telecommute.
  23. Improvise office space
    Don’t only consider traditional office space because you may be missing out on many creative and inexpensive options. As one example, many churches built decades ago, when attendance was much higher, are now scrambling to meet budgets. What they don’t lack is unused space. Make an offer that will generate income for the church while giving you inexpensive space.
  24. Off the beaten path
    If you must have physical office space, yet you do not rely on foot traffic, do not go real estate shopping in the most popular parts of your community. Instead, consider areas where leasable space is much cheaper because the neighborhood is slightly less popular. You can even take advantage of tax breaks in some areas are trying to lure business development.
  25. Virtual office plans
    Working from home or on the go can does not prevent you from having a “storefront.” Virtual office services include taking phone calls, accepting shipments, booking appointments, fax numbers, access to common areas, and bulk shipping rates. It also gives you a professional office address.
  26. Rent by the hour
    If you work at home or even in your vehicle, you will occasionally need to meet with clients and prospects. Services are available that will rent space by the hour. Search online for conference and meeting space that is designed for entrepreneurs like you. Libraries have free meeting space, but check your library to see if their policies allow for business use.
  27. DIY custodial
    Custodial services run anywhere from $20 to $30 per visit for tiny offices to much more for more prominent offices. Do the work yourself. You might also assign staff to rotate responsibilities at the end of the day. Take some of the money saved and have a monthly pizza or ice cream event.
  28. Inexpensive professional design
    Every small business occasionally requires design help, even if it’s just to produce a logo. You do not need to hire a big design agency. (And unless you already have solid design chops, do not do it yourself.) Get professional design help for next to nothing by visiting sites like Upwork. You can review the portfolios of hundreds of designers, and you can request them to bid on your project.
  29. Get the SCORE
    SCORE, which is supported by the U.S. Small Business Administration, matches small business entrepreneurs with volunteer mentors who have been through their entrepreneurial wars. These retired executives boast a ton of business experience. You do not have to be a new business to take advantage. If you’re an established business, SCORE volunteers can advise you on reaching the next level. The mentoring is free, and so are many of the tools and workshops SCORE offers.
  30. Barter
    Many of the products and services you need to run your business can be provided by companies that would benefit from what you offer. Lots of small businesses take advantage of this by participating in barter exchange groups. Visit the National Association of Trade Exchanges to find groups in your area.
  31. The right space
    Next, to labor costs, office space is often the biggest expense businesses have. Consider how much space you really need now rather than what you hope you will grow into three years down the road. It is easier to move or add space rather than to be stuck with unused space during a long-term lease.

    “Budget: a mathematical confirmation of your suspicions.” -A.A. Latimer

  32. Negotiate
    Every service from office space to custodial service is negotiable. Be creative. If a landlord insists on a long-term lease, for example, ask them to split the cost of utilities or include office equipment. Show them square footage costs for office space that is comparable. Many vendors are willing to help out entrepreneurs. You will put more money in their pocket when you succeed.
  33. Eschew finance charges
    Never pay only part of your credit card bill. If you are racking up finance charges each month, it is likely costing hundreds if not thousands of dollars annually. That is a totally unnecessary expense. If you are worried when you make a purchase that you can’t pay the full amount within 30 days, rethink the purchase or find an alternative.
  34. Avoid security contracts
    Not long ago, you had to commit to two years or longer when you wanted monitored security for your business. If you moved or no longer needed security, you were stuck with the contract anyway. Now, more security services are popping up which offer packages with no contract. Check around for the best prices based on the options you need.
  35. Free newsletter services
    Use an online newsletter service to stay in touch with customers and prospects. Depending on the size of your list, it never has to cost you a penny. One of the most popular email/newsletter services is MailChimp, which lets you send up to 12,000 emails a month to up to 2,000 subscribers at no charge. MailChimp has plenty of templates and video guides that make the process easy.
  36. Shop online for business cards
    Before you order business cards, shop online. Yes, you will receive higher quality through your local print shop, but the minimum run they require could be more than you need. If all you need is a small batch, it’s possible to find online sources that will print the first batch for free—plus shipping.
  37. Or not at all
    If you order 500 business cards, will you still have 450 remaining two years later? And what if most of those 50 were tossed in fish bowls in hopes of a free meal somewhere? Consider how important business cards really are before you pull the switch. If you use them a lot, make sure they’re high quality. Otherwise, perhaps you don’t like them at all.
  38. Online CRM
    As long as we are questioning the value of traditional business cards, what do you in lieu of keeping a stack of your customers’ cards on your desk? Give free/nearly free customer relationship management tools a look. These CRM tools not only allow you to keep capture and track customer contacts online, they also enable you to automate the workflow in staying connected to them.
  39. WordPress
    If your website is your primary storefront, do not hire your golfing buddy’s 14-year-old to put one together for you. However, you can build a nice-looking website yourself—for free—via WordPress. Their free sites come with “wordpress.com” at the end, so your URL would be something like www.acmesmelters.wordpress.com. However, you buy a domain name of your own to replace it for less than $30 a year.
  40. Use Google Forms
    This free tool can help you create online forms for anything from collecting a prospect’s contact information to registering your staff for meetings. Google Forms is also a simple way to sign up customers for training sessions or promotional events.
  41. Your local library
    Public libraries remain an excellent resource for research—and they have a growing amount of data in digital format. Before you pay for any background on prospects or any other business intelligence, see what the library has. Research librarians are there to help everyone, including entrepreneurs on a tight budget.
  42. Mobile payments
    ​Most customers want to pay via credit card. You can set up a merchant services account through your bank, which will include maintenance fees. However, the quickest and simplest way take mobile payments is via a service like Square. Their pricing is straightforward—they take a cut of each transaction—and you do not have to make a long-term commitment.
  43. Used furniture
    There is hardly ever a need to buy new office furniture. Plenty of used desks, office chairs, shelving and other office basics are available, often for as little as 15 cents on the dollar. In addition to bricks and mortar used furniture stores, check online stores including Overstock and Officefurnitureonline.
  44. Set up an advisory board
    Even if you have been in business for a while, it is never too late to form an advisory board composed of seasoned professionals in your community. These board members—who should agree to serve for free—not only provide valuable suggestions, they can add weight to your company’s image. You can also return the favor by serving on their boards.
  45. Wordtracker
    All businesses need an online presence, which means you will be hit with lots of offers from “experts” who promise to improve and maintain your search results—all for a substantial fee. Before you go that far, try this free keyword search site for recommendations on words that will help you improve your company’s search results position.
  46. Virtual phone services
    Avoid buying expensive phone equipment by turning one phone into an entire cloud-based phone system. Even if your staff works remotely, you can create a phone number and accompanying extensions that route the call to the right person. Grasshopper is a big player in this space.
  47. Free cloud storage
    Do not pay for file space on the cloud until you have checked out at least a few free file hosting sites. These sites make their money when companies need a lot of file space, but most offer free trials and/or some space for free. Here’s a review of some of the top file hosting sites.
  48. Behavioral retargeting
    Let’s say you shop online for a new pair of blue suede shoes and then an ad for blue suede shoes pops up on other sites you visit later. That’s called retargeting. If someone visits your web site, you can have your ads pop up when they go elsewhere. It’s inexpensive to try. AdRoll lets you set a weekly budget as low as $25. Their reporting shows you how many impressions and clicks you’re receiving.
  49. Checks
    If your average sale is $500 dollars, and your customer pays by credit card, you are paying the credit company $10 to $15 though you are doing all the work. Encourage customers to pay by check, even if it means getting the money a few days later. Reward your staff with half the difference if they get payment by check.
  50. Short meetings
    How often do you hold staff meetings, and how long do they usually run? Meetings are important, but too many of them can also affect productivity. Take a hard look at your meeting habits and see how often they are really necessary. Meeting time is almost always time spent away from generating revenue.

    Small Business Money Saving Ideas – Tips 51-100
    Small Business Money Saving Ideas

  51. Gmail
    Many businesses use Gmail for their business email. It eliminates setting up and maintaining an email server, as well as worrying about security. Because Gmail is common in the business world, it doesn’t carry the “amateur” stigma of many other free email services. https://accounts.google.com/SignUp?service=mail&hl=en_us&continue=http%3A%2F%2Fmail.google.com%2Fmail%2F%3Fpc%3Den-ha-na-us-bk&utm_campaign=en&utm_source=en-ha-na-us-bk&utm_medium=ha
  52. Blog
    Google tends to tweak its hyper-secret algorithms often, but frequently-updated content is still critical to positioning your website high in organic search results. Blogging on a regular basis is best way to assure that, as is including your most important keyword phrases in each blog entry. Write what you know about, and keep your articles from being totally self-serving.
  53. Guest blogs
    This is another way to garner free advertising and position yourself as a thought leader. Bloggers in your space are looking for content. Research the most popular ones and offer to write a blog piece. Suggest topics and be open to what they suggest. Any such piece will include a little snippet on your company as well as a link to your site.
  54. Access writers
    Writing blogs for your website or any other doesn’t cost anything—except for your time. You could hire a digital marketing agency to provide fresh content for you, or you can join sites like WriterAccess where you can tap the services of professional freelance writers for much less. You’ll have plenty of experienced bloggers competing to write your pieces.
  55. Knowledge leaders
    One of the more effective ways to attract business is when others see you as a knowledge leader. It doesn’t have to cost you anything except a little time. Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn provide you convenient avenues to write succinctly about your industry.
  56. Help a Reporter Out
    Journalists are always looking for fresh sources for their features and news stories. HARO provides a connection between reporters and business owners. If you can provide expert background and quotes for the articles reporters are writing, you will generate priceless publicity for your company and be seen as an expert by your customers and prospects.
  57. Speeches
    Look for opportunities to speak at meetings. Trade groups, civic organizations, clubs and networking gatherings need engaging speakers for their programs. If you can make a concise presentation that doesn’t come off as entirely self-promoting, you’ll build good will and perhaps gain a few prospects, too.

    “If you owe the bank $100 that’s your problem. If you owe the bank $100 million, that’s the bank’s problem.” – JP Getty.

  58. YouTube
    Everyone likes to watch a good video. If you can produce an engaging one for your business, it can generate a lot more attention than thousands of dollars in paid advertising. However, the key is to make a professional and appealing production. That does not have to involve spending thousands of dollars and getting Scorsese to direct your production, but it doesn’t mean shooting it with a $25 camera either.
  59. Free listings and directories
    In every industry and type of business, you will find free listings and directories that allow you to post a short description of your business plus a link to your website. Take advantage of everyone you can find that pertains to your industry. If you choose, you can also pay for a premium listing on sites that offer the most bang for the buck.
  60. Software as a Service (SaaS)
    If you are not familiar with the term, you should be familiar with the concept. Rather than buying software that you must have installed and maintained, the software is hosted somewhere else. You subscribe the service rather than own the software. It’s a lot cheaper and more flexible than outright purchasing an installation.
  61. Power strips
    This may seem like such an insignificant item, but how much of your equipment is still sucking power when no one is in the office? How much electricity are you paying for needlessly as a result? If you use power strips, it’s easy to turn them off when you leave the office rather than unplugging each piece of equipment.
  62. Wait
    If you are just starting out, that fancy dry erase board encased in a mahogany cabinet may look like a great deal, but then you find out a year later you have only used it to write down everyone order from the neighborhood Chinese carry out. Don’t buy any equipment or furniture until you are sure you will need it.
  63. Cut the travel
    The desire to meet face to face with customers and prospects is understandable. But it can be just as productive to meet online via Skype, Facetime, or inexpensive paid services such as GoToMeeting. You can accomplish just as much, and it is even a little less hassle for your customers, who only have to turn on a device to meet with you.
  64. Training videos
    Make recorded training available online for your employees and your customers, particularly when covering basic aspects that are often repeated. Although recorded training can never replace the live version, you can use it as a supplement to cover at least some information and refocus employee efforts on other tasks.
  65. Customer support videos
    When providing customer support for a product or service, consider how much time you or your staff spend on the phone or online answering the same questions. Many questions could be addressed succinctly via videos that are inexpensive to produce. Camtasia is one popular option for recording and editing software.
  66. Online invoicing
    You probably do not need all the bells and whistles of full-blown accounting software. Online invoicing software like Freshbooks covers the basics of invoicing, payment tracking, and reporting for a fraction of the cost. There is no long storm commitment or software to buy.
  67. Piggyback invoices
    When you send invoices to customers, always include promotional items that could lead to additional sales. If your customers are recurring, update them on what is new and exciting that may benefit them. Use every communication with a customer—whether via email or post—to plant the idea of buying more goods or services.
  68. Antivirus software
    Protection against viruses is one of the most important investments a business can make. But don’t assume you have to pay a lot. Some antivirus software is free for personal use, but you have pay for it for your business. Depending on your operating system, you already have antivirus software built in. Take a little time to compare options that are effective and inexpensive.
  69. Free project management tools
    If your business is quite small, take advantage of free project management tools that help you track employee time, perform some basic analysis and more. Even if your business is somewhat bigger now or it grows, you can scale up to a paid version starting at $15 to $20 monthly.
  70. Free HR software
    You do not have to be a Fortune 100 company to need human resources management software. Free/freemium HR software will help you cover the basics: Track sick days, vacation requests, and other absences. Run reports and eliminate paper.
  71. Break from Windows
    If you have several employees and paying for all those Windows licenses makes you cringe, explore the option of open source operating systems. Ubuntu Linux, for example, allows you to run most of the same apps you do in Windows. It will take some getting used to, but it comes without the sticker shock you may associate with other operating systems.
  72. Free HR software http://blog.capterra.com/free-open-source-hr-software/ You don’t have to be a Fortune 100 company to need human resources management software. And you don’t have to pay much to take advantage of basic features of free/freemium options. Track sick days, vacation requests, and other absences. Run reports and eliminate paper.
  73. Free legal templates
    Before retaining a local attorney to draw up legal documents for you, check online for free downloads. Access professional services contracts or warranty templates, for example. You can easily customize the documents for your needs and tweak them when necessary. For inexpensive help with contracts and other legal documents, visit LegalZoom.

    “My wallet is like an onion, opening it makes me cry.” – Anonymous

  74. Google Analytics
    Though there are some very impressive paid services available to help you track the effectiveness of your website and accompanying marketing, Google Analytics helps you measure at no cost how your online ad efforts are performing. Track visit sources such as mobile versus desktop traffic.
  75. Task management
    Small business owners are always juggling more tasks than seems humanly possible. Free cloud-based task management tools like Producteev help with some of the basics. Assign and schedule tasks. Track progress. Better task management results in improved productivity and lower costs.
  76. Rewards cards
    With so many credit cards companies competing for business from companies like yours, ensure you’re getting the best deal. Many cards either waive the annual fee for the first year, or they have no annual fee at all. Reward rates range anywhere from 1% to more than 2%. Here’s a brief comparison of popular cards promising cash back.
  77. Bonus points for supplies
    Take the credit card search a step further by checking cards that offer bonus points for office supplies. Some cards offer as much as 5% cash back. However, look closely because there may be a limit on how much of your purchases qualify. Also, offers change often.
  78. Office supply rewards
    Office supply chains like Staples and Office Depot have rewards programs, so take advantage when buying essential supplies. Office Depot gives 10% back when you buy ink, toner, paper or copy/print/shipping services. Staples gives 2% back to base rewards members on most items.
  79. Rethink postage
    Would that package you plan to send a customer or prospect serve them just as well via email? Do all invoices have to be mailed? Take a hard look at what you pay for postage and shipping. Reconsider what can be emailed as a .pdf.
  80. IT Leasing
    If you can’t do everything on the cloud and you need IT equipment on location, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) recommends you consider leasing rather than buying. Particularly if maintenance is included in the leasing agreement, you can save substantial money on updates.
  81. Used equipment
    If leasing is not appropriate for your situation, consider buying used equipment. On higher-end items, you could save as much as 25% to 50% compared to new items. Check online sites for deals in your price range. See what other customers have to say in user reviews.
  82. Bulk up
    If you have the space and the liquid cash, buy in bulk on items you use a lot. In addition to bulk savings, membership wholesalers like Sam’s Club and Costco offer various perks to business members, such as free shipping on most items. They also offer special stores hours.
  83. Make a bid
    Online auctions have become a multi-billion-dollar business, and many wise business owners are taking advantage to buy items they need for pennies on the dollar. Sites like Capitol Online Auctions  are set up specifically for business owners. If you can’t live without an office cappuccino maker, now is your chance to buy one cheap.
  84. Government surplus
    The SBA recommends the government as a great source for office supplies and equipment. The government will sell surplus or gently-used items via auction, individual sale, online, or in person. You can find most anything including military surplus, computers, cars, or seized property. One such auction site is GovSales.gov.

    “In America, it is not important how much an item costs, it’s more important how much you can save when you buy it.” – Anonymous

  85. Others’ misfortune
    It’s a fact that businesses close their doors all the time. Someone will take advantage by snapping up the leftover furniture, equipment, and supplies. These web sites can help you locate stores going out of business if you’re in the market for deeply discounted items.
  86. Deductions
    Some tax deductions for small businesses may seem obvious, such as those related to travel expenses or using your personal vehicle. However, make sure not to overlook anything else. If you run a home-based business, you are entitled to take partial deductions on many items. Here’s a list of the big ones you should never forget.
  87. Programmable thermostat
    If you’re paying for utilities, see about adding inexpensive programmable thermostats that change automatically at quitting time and again shortly before your first employees arrive. Energy.gov says you can save as much as 10% on heating and cooling bills annually.
  88. Free conference calls
    If you make infrequent conference calls, give free conference call services a look. The catch is that the callers–customers and prospects–will pay for their own calls. In most cases, that shouldn’t be a big issue as most companies now pay a flat fee for phone service.
  89. Powerful words
    Think about how many business emails you send in a given day. Each one should include a link to your web site. Also add a quote from a happy customer. Third-party validation is much stronger than anything you can say about yourself, so plaster customer quotes everywhere you can.
  90. Recycled cartridges
    Who buys all those printer cartridges you faithfully recycle? Maybe it should be your business. Shop sites like eBay and amazon for the right fit, and buyer beware. However, remanufactured printer cartridges can be as much as 50% less than new ones.
  91. Pay early
    As mentioned earlier, hold money as long as you can so it’s earning you interest. The only exception would be a special arrangement with a vendor. Try to negotiate discounts with your vendors if you pay early. Compared to current interest rates, such an arrangement with even a couple of vendors will save you money.
  92. Payroll debit cards
    If you have a small staff—particularly if much of it is part time or temporary—explore payroll debit cards as an option. It eliminates the expense of cutting paper checks, and it may be beneficial for employees who cannot take advantage of direct deposit or do not have bank accounts. Though your employees can forego check cashing fees, there are still fees involved. Before you make the switch, know all the pros and cons.
  93. Trade associations
    Joining a trade association in your space can generate savings much greater than the annual membership. Associations negotiate discounts for their members in any number of areas, including health insurance, office supplies, software, and more. Check the Federation of International Trade Associations for groups that pertain to your industry.
  94. Side trips
    Any time you’re taking a vacation or any other trip, take a look at what customers are located nearby. It’s not only a good opportunity to set up a meeting, you can arrange a video testimonial or photo session to add more credibility for your website.
  95. News releases
    For the price of a couple hours of your time, you can generate thousands of dollars in free publicity. Any time you are involved in a charitable event, your business turns another year older, you release a new product, or you attain a big name customer, submit a news release. Your local business publication is a great place to start.
  96. Guerrilla marketing
    When we hear about unique guerrilla marketing ideas, they are usually so big and expensive to execute that only companies with huge budgets can do them. But guerilla marketing has been around forever—-it’s just that the term isn’t that old. Even putting flyers on windshields is a form of guerilla marketing. Here’s a list of some more creative ones.
  97. Survey PR
    Use free survey tools like SurveyMonkey to garner free publicity. Ask your customers to fill out brief survey that queries them on their own expectations as it relates to your industry, such as buying or hiring activity. If you’re in the training business, you could ask if they plan to increase their training spend in the coming year. Turn the results into a meaty news release that media outlets will love.
  98. Awards
    See what annual awards your local Chamber of Commerce or other civic and business organizations host annually. Chambers will break down awards into many categories so that you’re competing against other businesses your own size. Submitting to an awards competition usually takes nothing more than the time to complete a few questionnaires. It costs little or nothing unless you opt to go to the awards banquet. You’ll know by then if you are a finalist.
  99. Listen (a)
    It’s a lot cheaper to retain good employees than it is to repeatedly recruit new ones. Even if you’re a wonderful employer, never assume you know what drives your employees to stay or leave. It is always about more than their salary. When is the last time you really asked your staff what drives them to come to work each day?
  100. Listen (b)
    The best and easiest resource for saving money for your small business are the people on the front line with you. Whether you have one or twenty employees, ask them for suggestions on how to save. You’ll surprised what creative ideas they have.

These Small Business Money Saving Ideas barely scratch the surface. For every one you try, you are likely to think of two more on your own. Entrepreneurship by definition means trying to new things that others won’t dare. We would love to hear what ideas you come up with next.

 

Licensing Options:

We keep the licensing options – clean and straightforward.

Individual License: Where we offer an individual license, you can use the deliverable for personal use. You pay only once for using the deliverable forever. You are entitled any new updates within 12 months.

Enterprise License: If you are representing a company, irrespective of size, and intend to use the deliverables as a part of your enterprise transformation, the enterprise license is applicable in your situation. You pay only once for using the deliverable forever. You are entitled any new updates within 12 months.

Consultancy License: A consulting or professional services or IT services company that intends to use the deliverables for their client work need to pay the consultancy license fee. You pay only once for using the deliverable forever. You are entitled any new updates within 12 months.

Product FAQs:

Can I see a Sample Deliverable?

We are sorry, but we cannot send or show sample deliverables. There are two reasons: A) The deliverables are our intellectual property, and we cannot share the same. B) While you may be a genuine buyer, our experience in the past has not been great with too many browsers and not many buyers. We believe the depth of the information in the product description and the snippets we provide are sufficient to understand the scope and quality of our products.

When can I access my deliverables?

We process each transaction manually and hence, processing a deliverable may take anywhere from a few minutes to up to a day. The reason is to ensure appropriate licensing and also validating the deliverables.

Where can I access my deliverables?

Your best bet is to log in to the portal and download the products from the included links. The links do not expire.

Are there any restrictions on Downloads?

Yes. You can only download the products three times. We believe that is sufficient for any genuine usage situation. Of course, once you download, you can save electronic copies to your computer or a cloud drive.

Can I share or sell the deliverables with anyone?

You can share the deliverables within a company for proper use. You cannot share the deliverables outside your company. Selling or giving away free is prohibited, as well.

Can we talk to you on the phone?

Not generally. Compared to our professional services fee, the price of our products is a fraction of what we charge for custom work. Hence, our business model does not support pre-sales support.

Do you offer orientation or support to understand and use your deliverables?

Yes, for a separate fee. You can hire our consultants for remote help and in some cases for onsite assistance. Please Contact Us.