30 Cost Cutting Ideas To Survive Cashflow Crunch

 

At a monthly meetup of local entrepreneurs, one business owner posed a thought-provoking question that got everyone thinking:

“What are the simple cost-cutting ideas that I can implement today?”

This question led to a lively discussion where participants shared their experiences and discovered practical strategies for reducing expenses and saving money. Through this blog, we have tried sharing our insight gained in that meeting regarding cost-cutting ideas.

To help small businesses navigate this challenging time, we have compiled a list of 30 cost-cutting ideas that businesses can implement to survive a cash flow crunch. These cost-cutting measures are aimed at reducing expenses without sacrificing quality or productivity. By implementing these strategies, businesses can effectively manage their finances and emerge stronger from this difficult period.

So, let’s dive in and explore these 30 cost-cutting ideas that can help you save money and beat the cash flow crunch in your business.

 

First Things First

1) Review all your expenses.

Before you can start cutting costs, it’s important to have a clear picture of your Business expenses. Even small expenses can add up quickly over time, so it’s essential to review all of your expenses, no matter how insignificant they may seem.

Using good accounting software, and keeping track of your expenses accounting software can help you categorize them and identify areas where you can reduce costs.

For example, a company may not realize how much money they are spending on ordering pizzas every Friday for the team until their accountant points out that the annual bill is in the lakhs.

By paying attention to even the little things, you can uncover significant savings opportunities.”

 

2) Check for unnecessary expenses

It’s not uncommon for small business owners to accumulate expenses over time that are no longer necessary. To avoid this, it’s essential to regularly review your budget and assess each expense to determine whether it’s still necessary.

For instance, if you have a magazine subscription that nobody reads, it may be time to cancel it. By cutting out unnecessary expenses, you’ll free up cash flow that can be redirected to more critical areas of your business.

3) Use the 80/20 principle.

The 80/20 principle, also known as Pareto’s Law, can be a powerful tool for managing your expenses.

The principle states that 80% of the results come from 20% of the efforts. By applying this principle, you can identify the 80% of activities that are not generating enough income and cut back on expenses related to them.

For example, if you find that a particular product or service is not generating enough revenue, it may be time to re-evaluate your strategy or discontinue it altogether.

To learn more about how to apply the 80/20 principle to your business, check out this informative article that provides practical tips on achieving more with less effort.

 

Marketing

4) Cut traditional advertising in favor of low-cost alternatives.

Relying on costly traditional advertising methods like print and TV ads can be costly instead consider exploring low-cost alternatives to get your message in front of your target audience.

Tools like Google AdWords and Facebook Ads can be highly effective for reaching specific demographics and geographic regions. By targeting users based on factors such as age group, city, and interests, you can achieve better returns on your marketing investment.

With the right strategy and a bit of experimentation, you can leverage these low-cost advertising channels to grow your business without spending a lot.

5) Collaborate with Neighbouring Businesses to Save on Marketing Costs

Collaborating with neighboring businesses can help you to reduce marketing expenses while still reaching a broader audience.

For instance, you can split advertising and promotion costs by jointly buying hoarding space or other advertising mediums. You can also take this collaboration further by sharing mailing lists, distribution channels, and suppliers with businesses that offer complementary products or services.

By partnering with other businesses, you can achieve greater exposure for your brand without having to spend more money on marketing.

6) Collaborate with Non-Competing Companies to Expand Your Reach

Partnering with non-competing companies can be a great way to expand your reach and save on marketing expenses. Look for opportunities to collaborate with companies that offer complementary products or services to your own.

For example, you might consider bundling your product with another company’s offering and creating joint promotional campaigns.

By creating strategic partnerships with other businesses, you can effectively promote your brand while keeping marketing costs under control.

7) Get Creative with Bartering

When cash flow is tight, small businesses can benefit from thinking outside the box and considering alternative payment methods. Bartering is an age-old practice that can help you get the goods and services you need without having to spend cash.

While it’s important to approach bartering with a spirit of negotiation and mutual benefit, you might be surprised by how quickly you can reach an agreement that saves you money.

 

Office Expenses

8) Adapt to Cloud Computing

By adapting to cloud computing, your business can save significant amounts of time and money on office expenses.

Cloud-based tools and apps allow employees to work remotely and collaborate seamlessly, whether it’s sharing files on Dropbox, managing finances with software like ProfitBooks, or conducting virtual meetings using WebEx or Skype.

The benefits of cloud computing include greater mobility, improved efficiency, and reduced costs in the long run.

Additionally, you can feel more secure about storing sensitive financial data in the cloud, as it is often more secure than keeping it on physical servers. Learn why your financial data is more secure in the cloud.

9) Go green and save the green stuff.

Being eco-friendly isn’t only good for the planet, but it can also help your business save money.

According to Shel Horowitz, author of “Guerrilla Marketing Goes Green: Winning Strategies to Improve Your Profits and Your Planet,” making simple changes such as keeping equipment on a power strip and turning it off when not in use or using a printer that prints on both sides of the paper can reduce costs associated with energy and paper waste.

A paperless office is also an eco-friendly and cost-effective option, and accounting software like ProfitBooks can make accounting easier and paperless. Check out these 10 tips for creating a paperless office.

10) Consder virtual meetings

Virtual meetings are a great way to save on travel expenses, and with modern technology, it’s easier than ever to hold them. Whether you’re meeting with a client in another city or even within the same city, consider using platforms like Skype or Zoom to conduct the meeting virtually.

While it’s important to have a face-to-face meeting for the first interaction, all follow-up meetings can be done virtually. At ProfitBooks, we offer product demos online using Zoom, giving our clients access to our computer screen and allowing us to walk them through the application features.

Check out 30 free business software options for working remotely.

11) Switch to open-source software

Consider switching to open-source software to reduce costs. Opt for laptops without pre-installed Windows OS and instead use an open-source OS like Ubuntu. Also, use open-source office suites instead of expensive options like Microsoft Office to save on licensing costs.

In addition, there are many free and easy-to-use open-source software options available for tasks like CRM and document management.

12) Reduce the number of landline phones

If you are one of those businesses that still use landline phones, it’s time to think again. With the advent of mobile phones and cloud telephony systems, landlines are becoming less necessary and can be costly to maintain.

By using mobile phones and a cloud telephony system, you can route calls between mobile numbers and save on the expenses associated with traditional landlines.

13) Buy used equipment.

Considering buying used equipment can be a great cost-saving measure. You can save a significant amount of money, between 50-70%, by purchasing used computer equipment, copiers, and office furniture from classified sites like OLX or Quikr.

You can directly negotiate with the seller and get a good deal.

Be a smart Entrepreneur

14) Use the power of pool purchasing

Be a smart entrepreneur and maximize your purchasing power. Instead of buying supplies and goods on your own, try to collaborate with other small business owners to pool your resources and get a better deal from suppliers.

You can also save money by partnering with other businesses to import goods from other countries.

15) Ask for a Discount

One good way to save money as a small business owner is to ask for discounts. Many Suppliers offer discounts to small business owners, but they don’t always advertise them. So don’t think twice to ask!

Additionally, you may also be able to negotiate a discount with your suppliers if you pay within the credit period. It never hurts to ask, and you may be surprised at how much money you can save just by speaking up.

16) Don’t Buy in Bulk

Are you surprised by this advice? Small business owners often buy things like office supplies in bulk because it appears to be a cheaper option.

For example, purchasing 100 sets of printing paper might seem more cost-effective than buying them individually. However, it’s essential to consider how quickly you’ll use 100 sets of printing paper. There are high chances, you’ll either misplace them or find that most of them are unusable by the time you get around to using them.

To improve your cash flow, as a small business owner, it’s best to purchase only what you need today instead of what you might need in the future. This approach will help you reduce your expenses significantly.

17) Track inventory closely

Running an inventory-based business can be challenging, but managing your inventory closely can help you reduce expenses and increase cash flow. Carrying less inventory means having less money tied up and more money in the bank. To achieve this, it’s essential to monitor your inventory more closely to ensure you aren’t spending more than necessary.

If you’re currently managing your inventory manually, it might be time to consider adopting inventory management software to keep better track. This software can help you monitor inventory levels in real-time.

Ultimately, tracking your inventory closely is crucial to improving your cash flow and keeping your business running smoothly.

18) Get Past dues cleared from your customers

To ensure you get paid on time, create a list of customers whose payments have passed the due date. Then, reach out to them and express your urgency for payment.

This approach can result in some customers releasing their payment on the same day, significantly improving your cash flow.

19) Sell online

Online commerce is an enormous opportunity for small businesses to reduce costs and improve cash flow. In the past, building your eCommerce store was a complicated process. However, now it’s easy to set up seller accounts on popular eCommerce marketplaces such as Flipkart, Snapdeal, or eBay. Amazon even offers its warehouse to store your inventory.

By selling online, you can save a significant amount of money on marketing and inventory maintenance.

20) Be reluctant to give credit.

Extending credit to customers can be a risky proposition, especially if they have a poor credit history.

To reduce the risk of bad debt, check the client’s credit history before offering credit. Consider collecting cash in advance or sending partial shipments. Request letters of credit, personal guarantees, or a pledge of assets.

Be reluctant to offer credit and prioritize your business’s financial stability over potential risks.

21) Seek at least 3 bids before buying anything

When making purchases for your business, it’s always a good idea to seek at least three bids. This approach can help you get the best value for your money and save on expenses. If you find a competitor offering a lower price, suppliers or vendors may be willing to match that price to win your business.

Services like JustDial can help you get in touch with multiple vendors, allowing you to negotiate and find the best deals.

Ultimately, seeking multiple bids is an effective way to cut costs and improve cash flow.

Finance

22) Restructure your loans

If you’re struggling with loan payments that are putting a burden on your monthly cash flow, consider restructuring your loans. Talk to your bank and see if they can offer you the option to pause payments for a specific period or restructure the loan to reduce the installments and increase the loan period.

In addition, you can explore other banks for potentially lower interest rates that could help improve your cash flow.

Remember that restructuring your loans can help you manage your expenses and free up cash for other critical business needs.

23) Treasury management

Treasury management might sound like a big term for early-stage businesses, but it’s an effective way to generate money from ideal funds.

You can invest in debt funds via mutual funds for as little as two days and earn a tentative interest of around 8% per annum.

With online investment facilities available nowadays, investing in debt funds is easy and requires zero paperwork. Even a small amount generated from these investments can help cover expenses like phone bills or electricity bills.

Remember, saving money is just as valuable as earning it!

24) Stay on top of your taxes

Staying on top of your taxes is crucial for any business. As the year-end approaches, schedule a tax-planning meeting with your accountant to shift income and expenses. Your accountant can advise you on the best strategy for your specific situation.

Using good accounting software from the beginning of your business can save you time and energy during year-end tax preparation.

Keep your financial records organized and up to date to avoid any last-minute scrambling.

 

Hiring

 

25) Hire Freelancers

If you have a temporary project or don’t have enough work to hire a full-time employee, consider hiring a freelancer.

Freelancers can be less expensive than full-time employees because you don’t have to provide benefits or office space.

Platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer make it easy to find qualified freelancers for a wide range of tasks.

However, it’s important to properly communicate with freelancers to ensure you get quality work and meet your deadlines.

26) Consider hiring interns

To save on costs, consider hiring interns for non-critical activities such as market research, social media promotion, and back office administration.

Interns are often enthusiastic and eager to learn and this can be a cost-effective way to get short-term tasks done. You can find interns through websites like OysterConnect, Internshala, and LinkedIn.

If the intern is adding value to your business, you may even consider hiring them as permanent staff.

27) Commission your sales force.

One way to reduce the costs associated with hiring and managing a sales team is to contract independent manufacturers’ sales representatives who are paid only on commission.

This can be an effective and cost-efficient alternative to having an in-house sales team, which requires paying overhead costs, salaries, incentives, training expenses, and fringe benefits.

However, if you prefer to have an in-house sales team, you can consider structuring their salaries with a larger percentage allocated to commission and a lower fixed component.

28) Outsource Non-Critical Tasks

There are a lot of non-critical tasks that can be outsourced these days. Sites like Upwork or Fiverr have a list of independent freelancers who are willing to work on your various short-term projects.

From designing a company logo to managing social media promotion, maintaining accounts, or generating sales leads, outsourcing can free up time for you and your team to focus on the more important task

Check out – 9 business activities that you can easily outsource.

29) Cut extraneous employee expenses, not employees.

Cutting extraneous employee expenses is a more viable solution than laying off employees.

By setting caps on expenses such as phone bills, travel expenses, or other employee expenses, you can encourage your employees to use resources more responsibly. This can help you save money without negatively impacting your workforce.

30) Reward your profit-makers.

It may sound a little contradicting, but spending to save does make sense in some cases. Rewarding profitable behavior from both employees and customers can be a smart investment for your business.

Small gestures like free lunches or treats can boost employee morale and keep a positive work environment. Offering bonuses to employees who meet certain cost-saving targets can also encourage them to work harder.

Additionally, offering deeper discounts or value-added packages to your most loyal customers can help build strong relationships and increase profits. Investing in these relationships can ultimately bring more profit to your business.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are many ways to cut costs and save money for your business. By using creativity and knowledge, you can find innovative solutions to reduce expenses without sacrificing quality or productivity. It’s also beneficial to seek advice from other business owners to learn from their cost-saving experiences.

Additionally, using easy-to-use accounting software like ProfitBooks can help you manage your finances more efficiently, even if you don’t have prior accounting knowledge. The best thing is that Profitbooks is completely free to use.

You can create a lean and profitable business with the right tools and mindset. Have any cost-cutting ideas or tips to share?

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