Beginners Guide to fixed and variable costs

A Beginners Guide to Fixed and Variable Costs

As a cost reduction consultant, I often get asked about the difference between fixed and variable costs. If you are a business owner, it’s important to understand not only the differences between the two but also the implications of managing each type of cost. There can be hidden costs in your business that are fixed or variable, and while it’s good to get both types of costs down where appropriate, they may need two very different approaches. [Read more…]

Business cost saving in 2018: Five business cost reductions you could be making right now

New year, new start! The new year is a great time to change old habits and put yourself on a path of health and wellbeing, whether personally or in business. The new year can often be a quiet time for many industries and using this period to give yourself and your business some headspace is never a bad thing. Don’t wait until the spring to get your business in order. Here are some things you could be doing right now to cut your costs and improve your company’s profitability.

5 business cost savings you could be making right now

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What is GDPR and how will affect business?

What is GDPRThe new GDPR regulations come into effect on 25th May 2018 – is your business ready?

What is GDPR?

GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) is a set of rules which bring the current data protection rules up to date to cope with the changing landscape in information and data technology. It is an EU mandate which is designed to set a standard for data protection rules for all EU citizens. If you market to individuals within any of the EU states, then you need to be compliant with GDPR. [Read more…]

How to reduce your business postage costs

How to reduce your business postage costs

If Christmas brings one thing home to us as a business, it’s how much postage costs! Did you know – the price of a standard letter first class stamp is now 65p? Since 2007, the rise in the price of a first-class stamp has outstripped inflation. If the price had followed inflation, then a standard stamp should cost around 42p. 65p is almost scandalous. It’s no wonder that many people are moving away from sending physical mail. [Read more…]

Three Top Tips to Improve your Cash Flow Right Now

3 top tips for improving your cash flow right now

Christmas can be a lucrative time for business, but it can also be expensive. Servicing high customer demand costs money – overtime payments for staff, Christmas bonuses and hospitality, and increased winter energy costs means any extra revenue has the danger of not actually increasing your profit margin at all.

When your assets are all tied up in premises, stock, and sales ledger but you have no actual cash to play with, things can get a little worrying. Here are our top tips for easing that temporary cash flow crises, whatever time of the year you find things a little tricky. [Read more…]

3 Areas Where You Can Reduce Your Business Costs Right Now

3 ways to reduce your business costs right now

 

Do you want to make savings in your business right now? You can. It may be that you have to wait until the actual savings can be made, but it’s never a bad time to create an action plan for business cost saving.

There will be some business costs that are fixed costs and are fixed until a specific date. Rent on your premises is a good example of this. For these expenses, you should take note of when contracts are due for renewal and make plans to shop around or to renegotiate your deal in advance, if only to save you renewing your contract in a last-minute flap never knowing if you got the best deal or not. [Read more…]

How Business Cost Reductions can Impact on Corporate Social Responsibility

Cost cutting and Corporate Social Responsibility

Corporate Social Responsibility, while has always been around as a business philosophy in some form or other, has recently increased in use as one of those dreaded business buzzwords. Whether you love or loathe buzzwords, the issue of corporate social responsibility is huge in businesses of any size. [Read more…]

Why hire a cost reduction consultant?

Why hire a cost reduction consultant

We often get asked about the benefits of hiring a business cost reduction consultant. We may be biased but we believe that to get the most out of a cost reduction programme, it is well worth hiring a specialist in cost reductions. Yes, you can do some things yourself but with specialist knowledge of current trends, you may find yourself saving even more. As our fee is based on a percentage of what we can save you, there’s nothing to lose by instructing us, either as an add-on to what you’re already doing, or to do the whole job.

Here are three good reasons why we think hiring a professional cost reduction consultant makes sense [Read more…]

Cost Reduction in Business: Recruitment and Staff Retention

How to reduce the cost of recruitment

If you hire people to work in your business then you’ll know how expensive it can get – not only on their wage but also on holidays, in-work perks, ongoing training and development, and bonuses. That’s once they’re on board; getting good staff to join your company can also prove to be a costly exercise. But that’s not to say it’s not worth it because hiring on the cheap could impact negatively on both your company’s future productivity and its profitability. [Read more…]

Ideas for Marketing your Business on a Budget

Marketing your business on a budget

Marketing your business is essential but it can take a huge chunk out of your budget. If people don’t know about you and what you can do for them, then you’re going to find that customers become very hard to attract. Good marketing can improve your company’s profile, but it doesn’t need to involve bundles of cash – some smart use of your time can reap rewards without having to dig too deep into your cash reserves. [Read more…]