Find a cheaper business energy supplier
Of course, you can do that: via ikvergelijkonline.nl you can review and compare a large part of the various business costs for your company. Based on that, you will know where you can save money. What many entrepreneurs do not know is that there is a very large cost item besides rent or mortgage: the business energy bill. Private energy may already be expensive, but for a company where several people use electricity and heat daily, energy costs can skyrocket.
Therefore, take a critical look at your current business energy contract. Is the contract about to expire? Great - in that case, don’t do nothing, but start comparing multiple energy suppliers that provide business energy. The only thing you need to know for this is your annual energy consumption and the choice for sustainable energy or gray business electricity. You fill this in, in a business energy comparator and the tool will search for you. Remember that there is always a better deal for business energy to be found elsewhere. Energy companies want to attract you as a customer.
Opt for refurbished equipment and second-hand office furniture
Another way to save money on business expenses is by not purchasing completely new equipment and office furniture anymore. Preferably choose refurbished equipment for your business. Nowadays, there are quite a few (online) stores that sell quality devices that are refurbished. These are devices like laptops, tablets, and smartphones that are second-hand but have been fully refurbished and repaired where necessary. This means that you are buying a device that has indeed been used before, but works perfectly.
The advantage of refurbished equipment is that it is much cheaper. Additionally, you contribute to a better environment by choosing to reuse products. This also applies when you buy office furniture at thrift stores or at a specialty store for second-hand office furniture. Even within that sector, you will find various webshops and physical stores that offer complete sets of chairs and desks for sale. That will, of course, go out the door at a sharp price again.
Encourage remote work - now more than ever
Now that the coronavirus crisis is still ongoing, you are probably noticing one thing or another as an entrepreneur. Due to all the working from home, your business energy bill is lower and you generally spend less on your company. The whole remote work situation is a very convenient outcome for many companies and many people; a large part of people loves working from home. The first weeks and perhaps even months of 2021 will still be focused on remote work. But: what will happen afterwards with on-site work?
The expectation is that many companies will continue remote work after the coronavirus crisis. Many entrepreneurs are suddenly realizing that remote work seems to work just fine. With the current technological possibilities, you can practically work wherever you want. The fact that this also saves money for the business is, of course, just a nice bonus. Perhaps you can even ultimately cut back on office space, which can also save you more money.
Involvement in administration to save money
Finally, it is advisable for entrepreneurs to always be involved in the business administration, no matter how attractive it may be to outsource this completely to a professional accountant. You certainly do not have to keep your entire bookkeeping yourself; it is actually better not to do that. However, having some insight into what comes in and what goes out is very pleasant. Based on that, you will know which business costs are necessary and which may not be, and you can start working on eliminating certain costs yourself.
Use an online accounting program in combination with an accountant for your administration. This way, you have access to your administration yourself and can keep all data well organized. Cutting out an accountant to save costs is not advisable because such an accountant knows exactly what subsidies are available and what you can deduct where. Additionally, an accountant saves you a lot of time in maintaining your finances. You can better invest that time in developing your business.