This image has been supplied by Howard Lake
Saving money is the name of the game for many start-ups. After all, you don’t want to blow the budget in the first year of operation. You need to be savvy with your money. In some instances, being frugal is the only way to ensure that you are in the business world for the long term. Of course, when it comes to expansion and growth, you need to spend money. Speculate to accumulate is the traditional term that is used.
In the early days, however, you need to save cash. Saving money is a fundamental principle in any start-up.
So, how can this be done? Let’s find out.
Go Green
Implementing a green strategy from the off will save you an abundance of money. You need to think about where you can go green and save money in the process. Commercial LED lighting is fundamental as it is a cost-efficient means to lighting solutions. Cut down on your paper consumption. Waste management is important too. Going green is not only easy on the purse, but it is great for the environment too.
Reduce Your Marketing Costs
In the early days of your business, you need a robust marketing plan. But, do you need to outsource this straight away? Marketing agencies can be expensive. So, you need to factor the costs of doing this yourself. Start with social media. You can create your own Facebook and Twitter pages with ease. Ensure that you regularly update for maximum impact. Add blogs to your own website and share on social media. This may not be a perfect strategy for the long term. In the early days when money is tight, you need to take the helm of your own marketing efforts. Being prudent means that you will have to do a lot of the work yourself. But, you already knew this when you went into business.
Increase Your Buying Power
Increasing your buying power is important. After all, you don’t want to pay top-whack for your supplies. Ensure that your credit rating is immaculate. Reduce your overall debt for the long term. Do not take out any further credit. Having the ability to buy, at a cheaper rate is imperative. Take stock of your personal and business finances to ensure that you can increase your buying power.
Create a Financial Plan
Yes, creating financial plans can be dull. But, in the midst of conserving your funds, you need to be prudent. It’s that simple. Many startups fail as a result of having no money. They fail because they blew the budget. Don’t be another statistic. Take stock of your finances and implement a realistic and workable plan.
Roadmap your budget. Where will you be spending the most money? What do you need to make your venture successful? Where can you make cutbacks? You need to make a plan and stick to it. Have the discipline to do so. If you cannot afford to expand right now, forget about it. You can do this at a later date. A financial plan will ensure that you have a measurable system of your progress and your shortfalls. It’s that simple.
