10 EFFECTIVE WAYS TO REDUCE YOUR BUSINESS COSTS

10 EFFECTIVE WAYS TO REDUCE YOUR BUSINESS COSTS
BY: HELENE MALMSIO
1. barter

IF YOU HAVE A BUSINESS YOU SHOULD BE BARTERING
goods and services with other businesses. you
should try to trade for something before you buy
IT. BARTER DEALS USUALLY REQUIRE LITTLE OR NO
money.

2. NETWORK

try networking your business with other
BUSINESSES. YOU COULD TRADE LEADS OR MAILING
lists. this will cut down on your marketing and
advertising costs. you may also try bartering
GOODS AND SERVICES WITH THEM.

3. wholesale/bulk

you'll save money buying your business supplies
in bulk quantities. you could get a membership
AT A WHOLESALE WAREHOUSE OR BUY THEM THROUGH A
mail order wholesaler. buy the supplies you are
always running out of.

4. free stuff

YOU SHOULD TRY VISITING THE THOUSANDS OF FREEBIE
sites on the internet before buying your
business supplies. you can find free software,
GRAPHICS, BACKGROUNDS, ONLINE BUSINESS SERVICES
etc.

5. BORROW/RENT

have you ever purchased business equipment you
ONLY NEEDED FOR A SMALL PERIOD OF TIME? YOU
could have just borrowed the equipment from
someone else or rented the equipment from a
"RENT-ALL" STORE.

6. online/offline auctions

you can find lower prices on business supplies
and equipment at online and offline auctions.
I'M NOT SAYING ALL THE TIME, BUT BEFORE YOU GO
pay retail for these items try bidding on them
first.

7. plan ahead

MAKE A LIST OF BUSINESS SUPPLIES OR EQUIPMENT
you'll need in the future. keep an eye out for
stores that have big sales. purchase the
SUPPLIES WHEN THEY GO ON SALE BEFORE YOU NEED
them.

8. USED STUFF

if your business equipment and supplies don't
NEED TO BE NEW, BUY THEM USED. YOU CAN FIND USED
items at yard and garage sales, used stores,
used stuff for sale message boards and
NEWSGROUPS ETC.

9. negotiate

you should always try negotiate a lower price
for any business equipment or supplies. it
DOESN'T HURT TO TRY. PRETEND YOU ARE TALKING TO
a salesman at a car lot.

10. SEARCH

you can always be searching for new suppliers
FOR YOUR BUSINESS SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT. LOOK
for suppliers with lower prices and better
quality. don't just be satisfied with a few.

*ABOUT THE AUTHOR*

HELENE MALMSIO HAS BEEN A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS
entrepreneur for nearly 30 years and has been
operating strategic services group of companies
SINCE 1987