Stretching your business budget
Even as you're feeling the burn of the current economy, you can still keep your office running smoothly by taking the time to make small changes in unexpected places to save money.
- Keep an eye on wasted postage costs. Did you know The U.S. Postal Service will clean up your mailing list for free? You can have them correct addresses and add ZIP+4 numbers (which will let you be eligible for bar-code discounts). This will keep you from spending more on postage than you need to, and you can be sure you're not throwing money away on mail-outs that don't reach anyone.
- Refill printer cartridges, or buy recycled. Printer ink is expensive! More and more stores are offering lower-cost alternatives to buying a brand-new cartridge every time you need one. Buying a recycled or remanufactured unit can save you almost 30% of the cost of buying new, and refilling cartridges can save even more.
- Make sure "off" really means "off." You know turning off lights, computers and other pieces of office equipment when you're not using them will reduce your energy consumption and save you money on your bills, but "vampire" appliances will keep sucking energy even though they've been switched off. Use a power strip at your desk and shut the strip off at night so you know everything has been powered down completely.
- Lighten up the place! Are your walls painted a deep hue? Dark walls require more energy than light-colored walls to achieve the same amount of light. Lighten up your space with a fresh coat of paint or pictures to reduce the amount of energy you use.
- Comparison shop. Different brands of office or cleaning supplies can help you cut costs without giving up the stuff you need to maintain your business. Switch to store brands or generics when you can to help keep your costs under control.