Budget Salvation! 10 Ways for Small Business Owners to Save Money
Budget Salvation! 10 Ways for Small Business Owners to Save Money
While everyone from the consumer to the corporation is on edge, the small business owner is probably the most nervous. They share the concerns of everyone, while also worrying about their budget in relation to the future of their business and their employees.
The real challenge for small business owners is how to make their budget dollar go further - expenses can't be slashed any further because they're already running lean, and they don't want to stifle potential business growth out of economic fear.
So, how does the small business owner balance the budget to ensure the prospects of future success? By:
1. Outsourcing customer service to a remote team thereby decreasing small business product maintenance expenses and increasing profit margins.
2. Modifying existing outsourcing relationships with system administrators, network professionals and/or support teams by moving them from a retainer to an hourly pay schedule (re-tasking and limiting them to the essential functions of their specific small business needs).
3. Outsourcing to graphic designers from rural areas rather than more expensive urban areas and managing them remotely using services such as oDesk.
4. Re-focusing online marketing efforts to focus on search engine optimization rather than paid search efforts (there is no distinction between large corporation and small business at the top of a Google search).
5. Expanding the role of existing in-house staff members and their counterpart outsourcing teams such that everyone can participate in and share the responsibility and success of corporate savings and financial well-being.
6. Outsourcing data entry and other time-consuming, lower-level tasks whereby freeing up already overtaxed small business executives to focus on higher-value activities that actually move the business forward.
7. Buying used equipment from failed companies that need to sell computers, furniture or office supplies (cost-aware small business owners may even be able to score an amazing deal on that cool espresso machine they've always wanted).
8. Using what's free and available to consumers and small business professionals alike, e.g. trading land lines for Skype, ooVoo or TokBox and using oDesk Share instead of paid web conference tools.
9. Using free open source tools instead of paid software, e.g. PostgreSQL instead of Oracle, Gmail and Google Apps instead of an expensive in-house email and collaboration server.
10. Reducing their small business travel expenses and gas costs by using freeware like oDesk Team software to encourage and monitor outsourcing and working home when possible.
Everyone is worried about riding out the current storm, but small business owners especially can't let fear swamp their ability to think tactically about their budget and its corresponding direction. As with all storms, this too shall pass and the structures left standing will be those who managed to secure themselves for the recovery. Be sure to find value where you can, and remember, a rising tide isn't so threatening when you're a strong swimmer.
Budget Salvation 10 Ways for Small Business Owners to Save Money - To learn more about this author, visit Daryl James's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
You may have noticed that the economy is on shaky ground pretty much everywhere. It's been in all the papers.
While everyone from the consumer to the corporation is on edge, the small business owner is probably the most nervous. They share the concerns of everyone, while also worrying about their budget in relation to the future of their business and their employees.
The real challenge for small business owners is how to make their budget dollar go further - expenses can't be slashed any further because they're already running lean, and they don't want to stifle potential business growth out of economic fear.
So, how does the small business owner balance the budget to ensure the prospects of future success? By:
1. Outsourcing customer service to a remote team thereby decreasing small business product maintenance expenses and increasing profit margins.
2. Modifying existing outsourcing relationships with system administrators, network professionals and/or support teams by moving them from a retainer to an hourly pay schedule (re-tasking and limiting them to the essential functions of their specific small business needs).
3. Outsourcing to graphic designers from rural areas rather than more expensive urban areas and managing them remotely using services such as oDesk.
4. Re-focusing online marketing efforts to focus on search engine optimization rather than paid search efforts (there is no distinction between large corporation and small business at the top of a Google search).
5. Expanding the role of existing in-house staff members and their counterpart outsourcing teams such that everyone can participate in and share the responsibility and success of corporate savings and financial well-being.
6. Outsourcing data entry and other time-consuming, lower-level tasks whereby freeing up already overtaxed small business executives to focus on higher-value activities that actually move the business forward.
7. Buying used equipment from failed companies that need to sell computers, furniture or office supplies (cost-aware small business owners may even be able to score an amazing deal on that cool espresso machine they've always wanted).
8. Using what's free and available to consumers and small business professionals alike, e.g. trading land lines for Skype, ooVoo or TokBox and using oDesk Share instead of paid web conference tools.
9. Using free open source tools instead of paid software, e.g. PostgreSQL instead of Oracle, Gmail and Google Apps instead of an expensive in-house email and collaboration server.
10. Reducing their small business travel expenses and gas costs by using freeware like oDesk Team software to encourage and monitor outsourcing and working home when possible.
Everyone is worried about riding out the current storm, but small business owners especially can't let fear swamp their ability to think tactically about their budget and its corresponding direction. As with all storms, this too shall pass and the structures left standing will be those who managed to secure themselves for the recovery. Be sure to find value where you can, and remember, a rising tide isn't so threatening when you're a strong swimmer.
Budget Salvation 10 Ways for Small Business Owners to Save Money - To learn more about this author, visit Daryl James's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
 | |
 |
No article feedback found. |
| |
Leave Your Feedback |
 | |
| |||
Cheryl MatthynssensCheryl is a life skills coach, licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor and a 20 year entrepreneur. Cheryl's dedication to achieving a life of balance led to her expanding her teaching from the simple managing of life's daily challenges to adding financial well being as well. A direct marketer with DrinkACT, she is gaining ground in the online community with her concepts of making sure business owners, entreprenuers and employees have well rounded life styles. She opened up a small affiliate site - The Balance Guide- to help others find resources for mental and emotional well being. Visit Cheryl's blog to see more of the diversity beyond business she has began offering online at www.thebalanceguide.blogspot.com - Visit Cheryl Matthynssens's Website |
|||
John AlexanderJohn has taught keyword research and SEO skills to small groups of business owners and Webmasters from over 80 different countries world wide since 2002. John is also the Director of Search Engine Academy ; Co-director of Training at Search Engine Workshops offering live, SEO Workshops with his partner SEO educator Robin Nobles, author of the very first comprehensive online search engine marketing courses at SEO Training Online and the SEO Workshop Resource Center. I look forward to hearing from you! - Visit John Alexander's Website |
|||
Dave KurlanDave Kurlan is the founder and CEO of Objective Management Group, Inc., the industry leader in sales assessments and sales force evaluations, and the CEO of David Kurlan & Associates, Inc., a consulting firm specializing in sales force development. Dave has been a top rated speaker at Inc. Magazine's Conference on Growing the Company, the Sales & Marketing Management Conference and the Gazelles Sales & Marketing Summit. He has been featured on radio and TV, including World Business Review with General Norman Schwarzkopf, in Inc. Magazine, Selling Power Magazine, Sales & Marketing Management Magazine and Incentive Magazine. He is the author of Mindless Selling and Baseline Selling – How to Become a Sales Superstar by Using What You Already Know about the Game of Baseball. He created and wrote STAR, a proprietary recruiting process for hiring great salespeople, and he writes Understanding the Sales Force, a popular business Blog and is a contributing author to The Death of 20th Century Selling and 101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life, Volume 2. - Visit Dave Kurlan's Website |
|||
Anne BarrAnne Barr has over 26 years experience in sales and marketing, six years as a franchisee. She has assisted over 367 business owners and purchasers to achieve their goals in career change, transition and exit strategy. She holds the designation of Certified Franchise Executive from the International Franchise Association, Certified Business Intermediary from the International Business Brokers Association and Board Certified Broker from the Texas Association of Business Brokers. Anne is active in professional organizations, networking groups and volunteers for non-profit entities. As owner/operator of four successful businesses, Anne has proven people skills and enjoys helping clients find the right "fit" in business ownership. Visit www.FranchiseOpportunitySpecialist.com for more information about me and my company. - Visit Anne Barr's Website |
|||
John BrennanJohn Brennan Ed.D. Dr. Brennan is President of Interpersonal Development, LLC, a training and development firm. Interpersonal Development has provided sales training and coaching to more than 3,000 sales reps from over 100 companies. A native of Australia, Dr. Brennan received his doctorate from the University of Rochester. His dissertation researched the effectiveness of Behavioral Modeling Technology in training people in interpersonal skills. While he has spent most of his career designing or delivering training, he was also a Vice-President of Sales of a training and development franchise with operations in 25 markets. Dr. Brennan has designed and delivered sales training in North America, Asia, Europe, Australia and the Middle East. He has been a guest speaker at numerous national and regional professional conferences. When Microsoft wanted Best Practices articles on sales for their web site, they called Dr. Brennan. The results are at http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/FX011387391033.aspx His firm’s clients have included Volvo, The Prudential, Merrill Lynch, Eastman Kodak, Gannett, Equifax Europe, the Economist Group and countless small businesses. - Visit John Brennan's Website |
|||
David BarrDavid Barr is the President of Venture Opportunities, Inc. David has been a professional business broker/intermediary since 1980 focusing on General Business Brokerage and Mergers and Acquisitions representing client transaction value from $400,000 to $20,000,000. Mr. Barr has handled the sale of over four hundred and fifty companies. David earned a university degree from the State University of New York majoring in economics and business. David holds the Mergers and Acquisition Master Intermediary and the Certified Business Intermediary designations from the International Business Brokers Association. He is also a Senior Business Analyst and a Texas licensed Real Estate Agent. For more information about David and Venture Opportunities, visit www.bizdealmaker.com. - Visit David Barr's Website |
|||
Casey GollanCasey Gollan, Business Coaching & Mentoring Programs. Add $1 Million to $10 Million in the next 1 to 3 years. Since 1996 Casey has to added hundreds of millions of dollars to businesses. Watch a free video see client results Business Coaching website. - Visit Casey Gollan's Website |
|||
Kim CastleWith nearly two decades in the advertising and design business, with clients like Domino's Pizza, General Motors, Direct TV, Pedigree, Wolfgang Puck, Higher Octave Music, Hollywood Celebrity Products, Disney, and Paramount, as well as thousands of entrepreneurs around the world define, structure, communicate, and position their business for greater profits, BrandU(R) co-creators Kim Castle and W. Vito Montone discovered that entrepreneurs could experience the same power that big brands command for a fraction of the cost with the world's only process-based results-drive Integral approach to business creation. BrandU(R) is helping entrepreneurs grow with the power of extreme clarity from idea...to brand...to market(TM) and helping one million entrepreneurs become successful and whole so that they can make a difference in the world. Are you one of them? If you want to experience clarity all the way to the bank(TM), get started now at http://www.brandu.com. - Visit Kim Castle's Website |
|||
|
To learn more about the Evan Elite Author Program please contact us. | |||
 | |
|  |
Subscribe to Daryl's articles
 | |
|
|  |
 | |
|
| |
 | |||||||
|
 | ||
 |
||
|
||
 |
||
|
| ||
 |
| Have you written articles that would be of value to entrepreneurs? Become an expert on our site by publishing them! Expose yourself to a wide audience, drive more traffic to your website and get more sales! Click Here for details. |
|
|
 |
| Modeling the Masters: Learn the true secrets behind Walt Disney's business success factors & grow your company! Video produced by Phanta Media |
|
|
 |
"Learn straight from Evan how you can Make a Full Time Income (And More) from a Website"
Click Here To Learn More |
|
|
|
|
Get advice & tips from famous business owners, new articles by entrepreneur experts, my latest website updates, & special sneak peaks at what's to come!
|
|
|
 Entrepreneur Flight Manual Business Owner Guide Manage, Click, Learn. 2009 Entrepreneurship Or Job? Start eTutoring Business |
|
 | ||
 |
Top 50 Marketing Blogs
Top Blogs To Watch In 2008 | |
 |
More PR Resources
Press Release Builder | |
| ||
 | ||||
| ||||
|
| ||||
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
|
Email us your ideas on how to make our website more valuable! Thank you Sharon from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for your suggestions to make the newsletter look like the website and profile younger entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez and Sean Combs!
|
|
|
