Studies show that 8 out of 10 small businesses fail within the first 18 months. While most entrepreneurs focus on increasing sales, lowering expenses is equally important when trying to achieve or maintain profitability. In an uncertain economy where every cent count, even the minuscule increase in revenue or reduction in expenses can affect a company’s profitability.

The good news is a large-scale company modernization is not necessary. It is often simple, common-sense steps that improve the bottom line, especially for a small business. Mid-year is an excellent time to step back and look carefully at our business practices. It is in terms of what you are doing well and what you can improve as a business. The following are simple practices that will help you cut costs and improve the bottom line of your business:

Reduce Production Costs

As a business owner, you are always in search of ways to cut material costs and optimize your resources. It would help if you tried selling leftover cardboards, paper, and metal instead of sending it to a recycling center. You should ensure that you are getting the most out of your production real estate. You can do this by centralizing or consolidating the space necessary for production. You can also lease unused space to another business or an individual. It will help if you track and measure the operational efficiency of your business to adjust and optimize the use of available resources.

Reduce Supply Expenses

You can save money on office supplies by contacting vendors to let them know you are price shopping. Look outside your pool of traditional vendors. Large discount suppliers can often beat usual office supply vendor prices. Therefore, this reduces the costs of the supplies around the office.

Lower Financial Expenditure

It would be best if you took a look at your insurance policies and financial accounts for places to save money. You can save money on insurance by comparing providers for the most competitive rate then ask your current insurance provider to match that rate. You can also consolidate insurance policies or bank accounts if possible. Evaluating insurance policies ensures you are not over-insured or duplicating coverage. Debt is one thing you must avoid when trying to cut costs, especially unnecessary deficit. It would help if you did a thorough cost-benefit analysis and future forecasting when considering business expansion. It would be best if you put into consideration things like opportunity costs and the effect of debt payments on cash flow. Excess debt affects business ratings, interest rates, and the ability to borrow in the future.