Ways To Lower Business Costs

Saving money while running your business is obviously a good idea. It doesn’t matter if you’ve just started out or you’re already making millions, if there is was a way to cut some costs without being detrimental to your company you should always do it. There are plenty of ways to do it and most are incredibly easy too. Here’s a few suggestions.

Free Software

Even if you don’t work in an office, chances are you’ll need Microsoft Office. It’s pretty much essential now for businesses across the board. The thing is though that’s it can be very expensive to buy for a large company. What you might not have considered is that you can get a free alternative to Office that does everything it does. You might balk at the idea, thinking that something that is free is unlikely to offer the same features as a product you have to pay loads for but that just isn’t the case. OpenOffice and LibreOffice are two examples of suites that come completely free and do everything Office can. You can even save in a multitude of file types to avoid compatibility issues.

Tax Relief

Have you been claiming expenses back on your taxes? There is a lot out there you can get including food, petrol, utilities and clothing. It all depends on your exact situation. There’s even a way to claim back huge amounts on your building through Capital Gains Tax. Be sure to get in touch with your accountant to find out as much as possible. You don’t want to be missing out.

Free Apps

It’s possible as well that you’re using paid for software that could easily be replaced by some free apps on your phone. There’s so much out there to get ranging from accounting apps to heart rate monitors. It’s doubtful you’ll need the second one, but things like Evernote can help you keep track of everything to ensure you’re not forgetting things. Anything that makes sure you’re on time or don’t miss out on business is going to help you save money in the long run.

Local Connections

You should try and immerse yourself in the local business community. This isn’t just good for getting yourself known and gaining contacts that might give you business, but it might also save you money too. Being able to swap your services with someone elses could cut some costs further down the line. Say you need some posters done for an event you’re putting on you’ll need to get them done professionally which can be a bit pricey. On the other hand, if you’re already on good terms with a local printer they might be willing to do you an offer, especially if you do them the same favour in the future. Always be prepared to say yes, if you can, if a local business owner asks for your help.

Joshua Danton Boyd is a copywriter for the online accounting firm Crunch and a regular contributor to Freelance Advisor.