8 Ways To Save Money On Supplies For Your Business
As a business owner, your resources are going to become finite, and you have to figure out how to stretch them. Your supplies might not seem like a big part of the budget, but these costs add up over time. Fortunately, there are ways to save money on supplies for your business so that you can stretch your resources further.
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Group purchasing organizations
The old saying of “buying in bulk” is very relevant to many business owners. By teaming up with other businesses, you can take advantage of the purchasing power that comes from buying in bulk. This often provides far better deals than individual purchases would provide. Check online for group purchasing organizations that could save you money on various supplies for your business.
Using gpo or group purchasing organization and by combining the buying power of multiple enterprises, they benefit from the collective leverage of the membership. While all group purchasing organizations work on a common spend aggregation principle, not all are cut from the same cloth. Some charge fees to join, while others are free for members and derive their revenue from their supplier partners. Some drive overall value through total cost reduction, whereas others simply offer a competitive purchase price.
Find out if you’re buying name brands
Oftentimes, business owners just assume that they should be buying their supplies in the form of brand-name items. If your employees can just as easily use generic or store-brand products, then going with the less expensive options will save you a ton over time.
The only time when a brand name is a necessity is when it comes to safety issues and major purchases. For everything else, shop around for the best price possible. Additionally, if you’re purchasing supplies from outside your country, it may be necessary to have an import broker involved to take care of your needs.
Shop by unit cost for supplies
It’s not uncommon for business owners to simply look at the unit price on their supplies, but this is often a bad idea. If you are buying supplies in very large quantities, you might have a better per-unit rate if you buy them in smaller units. At first, it may seem counterintuitive to buy 5 items when that seems more expensive than one item, but the per-unit cost drops dramatically as the number goes up.
Use your purchasing power
Every purchase doesn’t have to be an individual transaction. One way to save money on supplies for your business is to use your purchasing power to negotiate special rates or discounts with suppliers. Obviously, this works best if they need your business more than you need theirs, but it’s worth at least asking about.
It also helps if there are multiple suppliers for the same product because you can play them off of one another. Sometimes, your supplier may even offer to help pay for training or other related costs if you’re able to increase their business.
Review your current suppliers
When you first opened up shop, these were probably the easiest people to find that could supply all your needs at the time. Now that your business is growing, however, it’s time to review them and see how they can better meet your requirements.
If they are too expensive, look elsewhere. There are always options out there. You should also consider if this supplier will be around long enough should anything happen (fires, labor strikes, etc.). The last thing you want is a lack of supplies for your business at the most inopportune time.
Just say no to certain things
Although it may hurt the pride of some, there are times when you can simply say no to something without feeling like you’re missing out on a fantastic opportunity. Anytime someone is offering you cheap supplies with an expensive catch (perpetual contract), beware!
You should also be careful when buying through third-party suppliers; they often sell overpriced or counterfeit materials that could do more damage than good. If you need more time than it takes to play around looking for deals on supplies, ask them if they can provide customized pricing — usually, this will mean lower prices without any hidden charges.
Time your purchases correctly
The best time to purchase supplies for your business is when they are on sale, of course. Even if you can’t always wait for that, it pays to know when the best times are; some places may even offer price breaks on certain days of the month or year. It’s also helpful to let your suppliers know how quickly you’ll need your supplies, so they can either hold it for you or be prepared in advance.
If you’ve found yourself saying “I wish I had more time” too many times lately, deploying new supply management software might help ease your workload. This way, all you have to do is place an order and everything else will be taken care of. Not only does this prevent costly mistakes, but it speeds up the entire process, making sure that everyone has what they need faster than ever before.
Make your own supplies when possible
When you start to look around, you may find that what you thought were necessary expenses for your business would actually be better spent making them yourself. This strategy works best if it saves time rather than money, but the savings can add up quickly.
For example, replacing paper clips with staples can not only reduce waste but make sure everyone in your company has exactly what they need every day. You could even use this opportunity to promote recycling or an eco-friendly image by using sustainable resources when available. Lastly, make sure everything is always stocked and any excess items are kept in a safe place for when they’re needed next!
Businesses need to rethink their strategies when it comes to buying supplies for the company. In order to save a good deal of money in the long run, it’s necessary to buy in bulk, shop around for deals and look at your current suppliers. These simple tips will save you a ton over time, so implement them today!
