How Can Small Businesses Reduce Their Operating Costs?

Whether you’ve started a small business recently, or have run one for years, the push to save money will always be on your mind. There are many money saving ideas for companies—in this guide, we’ll explain some of the techniques you can use to keep your annual overhead down.

Small business money saving ideas

Start by making a cost-saving plan. Get your financial plan together and ensure you stick to it. Once you’ve set this up, you can focus on ways of being even more cost-effective. Many small businesses begin as home-based startups. This itself saves money on having to hire office space. But do remember you would need to let your local authority know of your business rates, mortgage company (if this is applicable), and your insurance company. From there, you can compare the market for utility suppliers. Making the switch to a smart meter may be of benefit, for example. You could manage and track your energy consumption effectively with this efficient device. You can also find finance and support for your business from the government. This can be a helpful resource if you’re considering a loan.

Cost saving ideas for the office

If you’re in an office, then you can find various cost-saving measures that can make a big difference. Compare the market for your utility providers and choose the best deals available. For more common items, such as office equipment, you could buy used products. Jeff Bezos of Amazon used this tactic prior to his business’ success. So consider cutting back on brand new models of computer equipment, desks, swivel chairs, and copiers. While it’s important your staff is comfortable and safe, to achieve this you don’t have to break your bank account.

Staff costs

Recruitment is expensive and also consumes a lot of your business’s spare time. Limiting the damage of a departing staff member can save a surprising amount. If you find an employee is about to leave, check with your existing staff to see if an ambitious staff member wants to step up to their role. Such a move can save on extensive recruitment costs and the need to interview dozens of candidates. But cost-saving ideas for the workplace can extend to entire departments. For instance, here at Peninsula we provide SMEs with cost-effective outsourcing for their HR. Additionally, we offer expert unlimited HR advice—this can save large amounts annually, since you don’t need to hire an entire department. If you do have to recruit, then consider a referral scheme. If your employees can function as headhunters, or recommend a talented friend, then you could reward them with a bonus (while, again, ultimately saving on lost expenses and time). Also, instead of hiring new staff for one-off projects, you could consider freelancers and contractors. With no onboarding or training required, it’s a cost-effective and quick way for you to hand projects to talented part-time (or one-off) employees. But remember you’re still competing for top talent, often with large businesses that are willing to offer impressive perks. You may not be able to match these, or even a similar wage package, but you can bolster the appeal of your business with innovative perks that employees love. For instance, these could include flexible working hours, an early finish on Fridays, or even a four-day working week (if this is sustainable for your business). Avoiding micromanagement is another perk that benefits you and your staff. It would free up a lot of time and wasted resources if you’re happy to let your employees take ownership of projects.

Energy costs

Cost saving ideas for companies includes environmental approaches that can save you money (while helping the world around us). There are various policies you can have in place to create a more sustainable business. You may want to consider a shift to a paperless office. Technology allows for such a major shift—you can store important documents on servers or in the cloud (Google Drive, DropBox etc.). By removing paper from your office environment, you’ll save money on paper costs, obviously, but you also won’t have to purchase expensive ink cartridges, printers, or fund any repairs when paper gets jammed in the device. You can also encourage your staff to be energy conscious. This means turning off computers at the end of a working day, shutting off lights, and switching off AC units.

Miscellaneous costs

Check your expenses and see where any surprise outgoings are. For instance, some SMEs can suffer from postage costs. These can vary depending on large letter and packets—the former is generally much cheaper, which can save you large amounts on a monthly basis. Other unexpected costs could include your stationery requirements, or office freebies such as coffee, tea, and milk. These can appear as only minor expenses, but on an annual basis can cost you thousands of pounds. Before you axe free brews, however, do be aware your staff may appreciate the free beverages. They might get upset if you take away this much-loved perk! So you could offset this by offering a compromise—coffee over tea, for example, or alternate each month.

Want to save more?

If you’re looking for more expert business cost savings, get in touch with us today for expert advice. Our teams provide 24/7 HR advice which is available 365 days a year. We take care of everything when you work with our HR experts.

Want to find out more? Contact us on 0800 028 2420 and book a free consultation with an HR consultant today.