Reduce Your Businesses Operating Costs

Here are some ways to cut costs to get you started.

Down your electricity bills and consumption

It’s simple. Luckily, the amount of cash your business can apply monthly on gasoline and electricity is more than affordable. Also, consider overall energy efficiency. Replacing old fluorescent or even incandescent bulbs with LEDs and switching to more energy-efficient gear and applications are two easy ways to save. It could save your company from spending hundreds of those that would otherwise be lucrative dollars on unreasonably high energy bills.

Check your insurance policy

Reviewing your business insurance package or existing policies can save you thousands of dollars annually – or monthly, depending on your needs.

Take the period to speak with an experienced business insurance agent. Explain the specific circumstances of your business and determine what exposure your company needs, then create a custom package that reflects that. Don’t skimp on insurance coverage enough to expose yourself to unnecessary risk and liability – don’t pay for the coverage your business doesn’t need.

Improve recruitment and personnel management processes

It’s no secret that people are the most significant expense for many companies. Hiring, recruiting, and retaining staff is a considerable investment, not to mention additional costs like managing payroll and posting your position on third-party job boards.

Every business is different, and at some point in its growth, you may find that you save money by outsourcing all your HR functions. You may find that hiring a “general HR specialist” is an excellent first step, so you have someone on your team to help with recruitment and compliance and things like payroll. When calculating possible scenarios, including the time you or your team spend on repetitive tasks and the payroll costs associated with that time, don’t forget to factor in infrastructure costs when hiring a full-time employee, including benefits.

Invest in your online presence with digital marketing

 From here, look at the structure of your website itself and how visitors navigate through it. This article on optimizing your website (for strategic consultants, but the advice is relevant for every business with a website) is a great guide to get you started.

The best thing you can do to save money on digital marketing is to ensure you direct your efforts toward your target market. First, who is your target market? If your answer is “everything,” return to the drawing board. Building a buyer persona will help you focus on specific messages and ads that appeal to the right people. You can expend a lot of money and effort if you are unsure who your ideal client is.

From there, focus on your web metrics. Before spending money on a marketing campaign, map out your KPIs: the metrics you want to influence. Maybe they are visitors to your site, the number of people who made a purchase, an increase in conversions, or even repeat customers. If you outsource work to a marketing agency or decide to invest in an internal marketing role, weigh the costs and benefits before signing up on the dotted line.