| With the recession looming, many businesses are | | | | 4. Visit specialty office supply stores or bulk discount |
| looking to cut costs wherever possible. Fortunately, | | | | warehouses to get the best savings on your office |
| there are several reputable ways to reap the benefits | | | | products and needs. You can purchase pens, pencils, |
| of business discounts, promotional codes and coupons; | | | | printer paper, CD spindles, ink cartridges and toner, and |
| bulk purchasing savings, and more. Businesses can | | | | more. Use discount coupons and promotional codes to |
| take advantage of amazing discounts and smart | | | | save more on office supplies. |
| operational moves to save big on all of their business | | | | 5. Give discounted gifts, and consider giving logo or |
| needs. In this article, I'll outline several steps you can | | | | promotional items to your colleagues and customers. |
| take to help your business save money. | | | | What are the benefits of this? You will spread your |
| | | | name and your brand, thereby netting more business. |
| 1. Join a business discount club. This is a simple way to | | | | And, many logo and promo product outlets accept |
| access hundreds or even thousands of deals | | | | discount coupons, promotional codes, or business |
| simultaneously. You can usually apply discount promos | | | | membership discounts. |
| or coupon codes offered through the discount club to | | | | 6. Join a trade association for great insurance |
| save big on goods and services from flowers to travel | | | | discounts. It's difficult to provide small businesses with |
| to shipping. | | | | health insurance at affordable rates because the risk |
| 2. If you're looking for places to cut back, technology is | | | | pool is too small. However, small business owners who |
| one of the biggest budget-busters. Join a technology | | | | join a trade association - such as a group of writers or |
| discount buying service, or scout the Internet for | | | | a group of designers - join a larger risk pool. They are |
| promotional coupons and discount codes. Many | | | | then usually able to offer group healthcare plans with |
| vendors offer seasonal or buy-in-bulk coupon discount | | | | lower premiums - the savings are passed on to |
| deals, so always compare prices between different | | | | employees. |
| seasons and different vendors. It never hurts to buy | | | | 7. Hire part-timers and contractors to take on some |
| used technology, either. Laptop or notebook computers | | | | duties. Let's face it: hiring an employee on full-time can |
| usually should not be purchased used, because the | | | | be costly. You need to worry about comprehensive |
| internal hardware could be infected, corrupted, or failing. | | | | training costs, benefits, health insurance, and paid |
| Never buy used computer towers, either. However, | | | | vacations. Have you ever considered hiring staff part |
| purchasing used desktop computer accessories, such | | | | time or on a per-project basis to complete tasks? |
| as keyboards, monitors, and ball or optical mice, is a | | | | Many people don't want to work full-time, either - |
| great way to save a few bucks. | | | | maybe they have kids, maybe they're pursuing other |
| 3. Consider outsourcing your IT services, or using | | | | projects, or maybe they just want a project a week |
| remote tech support to help boost your budget's | | | | to get some experience in a new field. Whatever the |
| staying power. With remote staff, you won't need to | | | | reason, send out feelers and you're sure to find some |
| pay for benefits or training time. More importantly, you | | | | part-timers or moonlighters ready and eager to help |
| can usually use discount coupons and promotional | | | | you with your business tasks. Operating a business |
| codes to shave a few bucks or more off of the | | | | can be costly. However, by using smart buying tactics, |
| services. Bonus: Remote IT services often staff help | | | | great discounts, and strategic business moves, you |
| desks 24/7/365, so there's no downtime during your | | | | can cut costs as you work on growing your profit |
| technology emergency. | | | | margin. |