Category lower overheads

Entries 26 Total

Reducing Overheads Can Save A Business

Jun 30, ’10 7:30 AM

Running a successful small business is a matter of controlling cash-flow. In the simplest form this means having more money coming in than is going out. The money that leaves a small business is often taken up with overheads that are necessary for the day to day running of the business. But if these overheads…

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More Supplier and Customer Solidarity Needed To Beat Credit Crunch!

Oct 7, ’08 10:35 PM

With credit availability non existent or in sharp decline, a more transparent relationship between suppliers and customers is needed to overcome the credit hurdle. In times when money is short a very open relationship based on partnership will allow a chain of suppliers and customers to fulfill orders in a “joint venture per order” kind…

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Q & A: What should I do when my bank cancels my overdraft without warning?

Nov 11, ’07 11:55 AM

This question is hard to answer, because there are no simple answers here and the outcome of this situation could easily be fatal to the business and if you are personally guaranteeing this money - and you probably are - this could potentially be very serious for your personal life too.The things that you need to do, in my opinion are: Find out why?... Many years ago someone made the the umbrella analogy and it goes like this: When the sun is shining your bank gives you an umbrella (O/D, Loan);when it is raining, they need the umbrella themselves.It is best if you do everything possible to not need banks in the first place, by bootstrapping, outsourcing, planning your business and keeping your fixed costs as low as possible.Remember sometimes, attack is the best defense even with banks, they may need their money, but they do not need bad publicity either.

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Q & A: What does “Fixed Costs” mean and why should they be as low as possible in a Small Business?

Oct 25, ’07 8:11 AM

Examples are rent, some employee costs, property taxes, telephone, heating and interest/bank expense.As opposed to "Variable Costs", they only occur in proportion to activity within the business and hopefully that will lead to sales and revenue.Why should I keep my "Fixed Costs" as low as possible?So when I talk about outsourcing, I'm talking about changing fixed cost into variable cost.... And depending how often you are in or out of your office, the 50 inclusive calls are probably enough to cover your needs.Should that not be the case, then you have "variable costs" of $1 per call, which means you are out of the office, working or enjoying life while it is quiet, for example during holiday season.

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Q & A: What are successful cost-cutting solutions in small business?

Oct 18, ’07 11:49 AM

Let me give you some pointers here, but please remember you can always do more on the cost-cutting front in any small business and start-up business, like SOHO-, SME, SMB-, Micro-, Lifestyle-, Home-, DIY-, Hobby-, Boomer- or Personal business, like professional, contractors, freelancer, self-employed, sole-trader and virtual assistants.... Or have it done on a results basis, doesn't cost you time and gets you money back.Do credit control - get your money in lower your bank overdraft cost and charges.This is only a short list of what you can do, but it's a start.

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Small Business Checklist: Business Process Outsourcing

Oct 18, ’07 10:52 AM

As many of you know by know I'm a sucker for bootstrapping for small business and start-up business, like SOHO-, SME, SMB-, Micro-, Lifestyle-, Home-, DIY-, Hobby-, Boomer- or Personal business, like professional, contractors, freelancer, self-employed, sole-trader and virtual assistants, and outsourcing is a big part of my bootstrapping philosophy, so here a re a few pointers: To outsource, or not to outsource ....... or you new service provider makes you feel, as if they are doing you a favor, don't deal with them, you need partners and not people you feel guilty calling.Nobody answers the phone - put the phone down and do not call back.

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Bookkeeping for Small Business

Oct 12, ’07 6:33 AM

More important than that, you will learn new things about your business: You may have higher (good) or lower (bad) sales, than you expected?Your cost in your business may be higher (bad) or lower (better) than you expected?Your cash-flow may be better or worse do to the above two points?You may need to outsource some business processes to lower your fixed cost structure, to make your business more recession proof or just more profitable?You may need to ramp up your sales and marketing activities for your small business products or services?You may also have to adjust your SWOT analysis and your business goals?You will be surprised how creative you can be, once you know about and understand a problem in your business plan.... There is no excuse not to do it, all the tools are available for free, for anyone.If you feel the initial process of business planning is too much for you, than get your accountant or bookkeeper to help you to set your cash-flow fore-casting, SWOT analysis with you, doing it online will give you strategic advantages, like you can work with your accountant or bookkeeper in real time in different places, this lowers your cost, no time wasted and is good for the environment.I would like to make one more point here, the aim of all this planning is not to get it spot on - no, the aim is to understand what is happening in your business, that is why you should be doing it.

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Cynicism rules, tell them what’s in it for you.

Oct 11, ’07 6:30 AM

Reason being, if people recommend someone it is kind of a reference and that can only be good for my clients.Message number four read like this:He's not looking for help he's trying to sell his softwareAt first I was quite angry, how could she say that?... But then I checked and realised we could have made the "free"-bit a little more obvious, and I had not explained myself in my question well enough, so there are a few lessons to be learned here:Tell people what is in it for you, because if they don't understand where you are coming from, otherwise cynicism rules.Don't expect people to read your web site as they may not - make your offers clear.

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Managing A Small Business In A Recession

Oct 10, ’07 6:01 PM

The government set out it's plans to get small business owners to pay more tax, they increased capital gains tax by 90%.... Keep your fixed cost down, make sure you have reserves, keep up with your credit control, here I had to help him with most answers.I've been talking about "bootstrapping" or "cost-cutting" for a long while now, with business planning as an additional tool, to combat any surprises.

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Coworking and Small Business

Oct 9, ’07 7:35 PM

If you don't know what co-working is then let me quote from the Coworking Wiki:"Co-working is cafe-like community/collaboration space for developers, writers and independents.Or, it's like this: start with a shared office and add cafe culture.... More information can be found in an article by Small Biz Labs " Nerd Values and Small Business".It is a great way to work for yourself, bootstrapp and have a social life while working.

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