Gary's 10 Ways To Reduce Your Business Costs 1. Barter: If you have a business you should be bartering goods and services with other businesses. You should try to trade for something before you buy it. Barter deals usually require little or no money. There are many barter companies advertising online that can manage high volume barter for you that will address the sticky IRS issues. 2. Network: Try networking your business with other businesses. You could trade leads or mailing lists. This will cut down on your marketing and advertising costs. You may also try bartering goods and services with them. 3. Wholesale/Bulk: You'll save money buying your business supplies in bulk quantities. You could get a membership at a wholesale warehouse or buy them through a mail order wholesaler. Buy the supplies you run through the fastest. 4. Free Stuff: You should try visiting the thousands of freebie sites on the internet before buying your business supplies. You can find free software, graphics, backgrounds, online business services etc. 5. Borrow/Rent: Have you ever purchased business equipment you only needed for a small period of time? You could have just borrowed the equipment from someone else or rented the equipment from a "rent-all" store. 6. Online/Offline Auctions: You can find lower prices on business supplies and equipment at online and offline auctions. I'm not saying all the time, but before you go pay retail for these items try bidding on them first. 7. Plan Ahead: Make a list of business supplies or equipment you'll need in the future. Keep an eye out for stores that have big sales. Purchase the supplies when they go on sale before you need them. 8. Used Stuff: If your business equipment and supplies don't need to be new, buy them used. You can find used items at yard and garage sales, used stores, used stuff for sale message boards and newsgroups etc. No need to be proud here. Buy used equipment. Your business doesn't always need new items. Set your ego aside. 9. Negotiate: You should always try to negotiate a lower price for any business equipment or supplies. It doesn't hurt to try. Pretend you are talking to a salesman at a car lot. You'll be surprised how many vendors will come down in price if you simply ask for it! I find it is effective to admit that you are a small business and don't have much of a budget to work with. A little humility scores a lot of points. 10. Search: You can always be searching for new suppliers for your business supplies and equipment. Look for suppliers with lower prices and better quality. Don't just be satisfied with a few. Gary Brose has owned over a dozen small businesses in a 30 year entrepreneurial career and is now a business consultant and paid speaker. For more information, visit www.smallbizsherpa.com or email him at Gary@smallbizsherpa.com