Reducing your overheads: The key to startup success

Anyone who wants to run a financially successful business needs to keep a close eye on their costs, no matter how experienced you are in running one. It is particularly important, however, for startups to cut costs where possible.

This doesn’t have to mean cutting out essentials, but rather
getting smarter in the way you make your purchases. Overhead costs, which are
those that are not linked to the creation of your product but rather running a
business in general, can be surprisingly expensive and eat up a large portion
of your overall budget. Prevent this from happening by utilizing our tips and
tricks on reducing costs to keep your startup successful.

Own-brand vs branded

It’s always tempting to choose the most raved about name
brand, but they’re usually an expensive investment. While some elements, such
as computers or essential pieces of technology, are worth spending extra on,
there are some swaps that are well worth making in order to save some money.
For example, you can find non-branded alternatives to expensive branded ink and
toner on Toner
Giant, which are more affordable but produce the same results.

Things like stationery, storage and some furniture don’t
have to come from premium brands but rather from other reputable companies that
offer a similar product for a lot less. Oftentimes we’re simply paying for the
name of the brand when the cheaper alternative is just as good.

Buy in bulk

Every office needs a stocked up supply cupboard consisting
of stationery, printing paper, notebooks and other essentials, but keeping on
top of everything can be time consuming and expensive. Solve both issues by
purchasing items in bulk through a speciality wholesale website. Doing so is wise
as you often get a significant discount on big purchases and they’re typically
listed cheaper than in high street stores, making it easier to grab a bargain –
or 100.

Stocking up in advance means you can wait for sales to make
your next big order, making it even cheaper in the long run. This is also a lot
less stressful than making last-minute purchases when you realise you’ve run
out of stationery before the next big office meeting.

Invest in automation

Technology has changed both the job market and businesses
themselves, with many turning to program over people when it comes to
repetitive administration tasks. Not only is using automated systems cheaper than putting someone
on the payroll, it eliminates the risk of human error and is typically a
one-off cost unless you choose a pay monthly program. Other tasks that can be
automated are email marketing, payroll, accounting and social media posts, of
which you can find a variety of automated systems to take over for you.

Set and stick to
budgets

Before doing any of the above, however, it’s important to
figure out your budget. This gives you a figure to work around, plus you can
haggle with sellers as you’ll always have a top price to stick to. While you
may have to overspend in emergencies, it’s important to stick to your budget as
much as possible. If you’re noticing an issue where you always overspend on one
area, such as printing or stationery, it’s wise to rethink your budget as it
may be too low for what you need. Having a budget makes it easier to keep track
of your money while ensuring each sector of your business is fulfilled.

Getting your
overheads sorted in advance could be the key to getting the best deal, but
don’t panic if you’ve already started. Implement our tips on your next
purchase, whether it be for ink or diaries for the team, and you’re sure to
save some money to spend elsewhere.