There are many disadvantages that small businesses have to put up, but a low budget is the main one. Combine that with the fact that you aren’t an accountant or math whizz, and you’re bound to have a problem. Scarily, 61% of businesses may not even have an official budget.
So, it’s no surprise that money is tight and there isn’t enough to go around. Finding additional resources isn’t always an option because most investors aren’t happy to throw money at an ordinary company. What are your options?
The key is to tighten your belt buckle so that you don’t waste money needlessly. To do that, you should check out the reasons why the coffers are bare below.
Variable Costs
Companies need to invest in tons of solutions to deliver a quality product or service. However, the downside of this is that you have lots of monthly expenses. While this isn’t a death sentence, it isn’t healthy if the fees vary each month. What you require is IT support and marketing advice that you can pay as a flat fee. That way, you can budget for every payment with confidence, and you will also know how much you have to spend on other areas of the company. Try and negotiate a flat fee where you can to save money.
Lack Of Updates
Of course, securing flat fee services isn’t an option that’s always on the table. Sometimes, outsourcers and third-parties will lock you into a variable cost contract, and there’s no way out. In this case, your best tool is updating your budget regularly. Unfortunately, entrepreneurs and bosses fail to subtract the necessary amounts and continue spending as if the budget hasn’t changed. It has, and you need a hard copy to refer back to as a reference point makes it real. When your circumstances change, your budget should reflect this fact.
Cheapness
There is a difference between frugal and being cheap. The latter is about spending as little money as possible, whereas the former is about spending what funds you have effectively. You want to be frugal because this will encourage you to splash the cash when necessary, and there are times when it’s essential. Investing in equipment is a prime example. Not only will low-quality tools prevent your workers from being productive, but you’ll likely have to spend money on replacements, too. Buying the more expensive brand is more expensive in the short-term, yet not in the long-term.
Failing To Pull The Plug
Something is wrong and you want to fix it before it escalates out of control. So, you forensically analyze the numbers to see if there is a pattern. Then, you hire a third-party specialist to take a look, and there are still no developments. Some businesses even participate in counseling to uncover a hidden problem. However, by the time you realize the issue, if you do, you’ve eaten into your budget even further. Therefore, it’s vital to work out when you need to pull the plug and accept the losses.
Is your budget low because of the reasons above? How are you going to stretch your commercial dollar?
