A snazzy office, the latest equipment, smart employees and the option to complete a project on your time, and perhaps at the beach – many new entrepreneurs dream big when they plan their first venture. The only problem is that a new business is much more about hard work, sincere efforts and reduction of costs than the way they picture it.
It is important that you pay attention to how much you spend when you begin a new business. Spend just a little above your means and your dreams could fizzle. You need to keep track of all expenses and cut down wherever and whenever possible.
You may not be able to cut down on certain expenses such as trade licenses, business permits or any other aspect that directly affects your business. But there are ways that you can reduce costs and still attain your dream.
Cut Startup Costs Down
Start From Home
A well-equipped office space may feature high on your wish list, but it is best to hold off for now. Buying, or even renting, an office requires a considerable investment, which you had better avoid until your business starts to make money.
Start your business from home. This saves overhead charges, which makes it easier for your venture to break even in the early years. Designate a space for this and treat it the way you would treat a corporate office. If the space is appropriate, you may meet your clients there. Or you may book an office space such as a conference room for particular days or weeks.
Don’t Recruit Immediately
Starting a new business requires donning a number of hats and you have to handle different aspects of it at times. If you have a partner, he/she can lend a helping hand with the tasks.
While it is much easier to manage different tasks when you have a team of professionals, it also increases the costs. Wages can add to the startup costs quickly. If you are not comfortable doing something on your own, the smart thing to do is to outsource it to a professional. This way, you only pay for the work you cannot do on your own.
Rent Instead of Buy
If a moving business needs a heavy piece of machinery, but only for specific tasks that require its use for a few days in a month, a decision to buy it would be worthless. In such a situation, renting makes more sense.
The same applies to all new ventures. You can always keep off the purchase of big desks and ergonomic chairs for the present. Instead, you can rent furniture, fixtures and accessories for your home office and invest the money in something more fruitful. Moreover, this can also reduce your tax burden as leasing is deductible.
Get Free Advice
Knowledge and awareness of your industry is essential for any new entrepreneur. Connect and communicate with key people from your industry to keep yourself updated.
You can attend conferences, seminars and events. Get a mentor and use your social media network. Join online forums and keep track of what’s happening in the industry. You can often get the best advice for free when you connect with the right people.
Ensure Best Value for Money
The cheapest option often doesn’t guarantee the best value for your money. Don’t opt for the cheapest supplies or outsourcing services. Pay equal attention to the quality and the cost to get the best value for your money.
Here’s an example. You can get fancy stationery for your new business at a high price. Or you can get plain stationery for the lowest price. In the first case, your money is wasted. In the second, your business image becomes poor. The right thing to do is to get simple but good quality stationery at a reasonable price.
Use Existent Resources
You need not set up a separate infrastructure to begin a new business nowadays. You can tap into the resources that already exist. This can save a considerable amount of money.
If you plan to sell something online, you need not create a website with the option of online transactions as soon as you begin, though it is often a good idea to do so. You can choose to use existing platforms for online transactions temporarily. You may have to pay for it, but it is money well spend.
Don’t waste your money on superfluous things that have little to no impact on your core business when first starting out. Instead, invest it in avenues that will benefit your endeavor in the long run.
Cut Startup Costs Down Photo via Shutterstock
[“source-smallbiztrends”]
