Regardless of whether you are a small business or a large corporation, it’s never a bad idea to look at ways to save money. Don’t be daunted by the prospect of a money-saving drive either – there are small changes you can implement that will make a big difference.
Tip 1: Go green
Not only are green initiatives great for the environment, but they are also beneficial for businesses. Investing in energy efficient equipment will save on your bills and on your impact on the planet. Long-lasting equipment should need to be replaced less frequently, reducing the amount of equipment that needs to be thrown out (or preferably recycled).
Another way to ‘go green’ is to get your employees to think about the impact of the way they work. Are lights left on in meeting rooms when no one is in them? Are they turning their computers off when they leave for the day? Get everyone bought in to your green crusade and you’ll be able to foster a positive collective attitude.
Tip 2: Reduce paper use
Reducing paper is an easy – yet often forgotten – money-saver. Some documents can, of course, be emailed instead of printed but there’s more to it than that. As and when you need to print, think about smart ways to reduce paper consumption to a minimum.
You should, for example:
- As a default, print double-sided
- Think about how different fonts and sizes affect how many pages are printed
- Use waste paper to make notes
- Add whiteboards to the office and eliminate paper flipcharts
- Use electronic signing technology to avoid needing documents to be signed by hand.
Tip 3: Cost-effective alternatives
When it comes to buying supplies for the office, consider cost-effective alternatives. Shop around and don’t just stick to a supplier ‘because you’ve always used them. When replacing the ink, are there compatible cartridges at a more affordable price that still offer the same quality as branded? Is there a more affordable coffee and tea brand you could switch to? And would rechargeable batteries work out cheaper than one-use batteries?
Tip 4: Employee wellbeing
Sometimes you need to invest some money in order to save it. Employee wellbeing is an area which will require some funding but the rewards will be massive for a business. Not only will taking care of employees boost productivity, but it can help to improve mental wellbeing and ultimately, contribute to a reduction in sick days. HSE reported that in: “2018/19 stress, depression or anxiety accounted for 44% of all work-related ill health cases and 54% of all working days lost due to ill health”. Indeed this report revealed that the cost of worker sickness is £77billion annually – so investing in your employees will be beneficial. Make sure someone in your business is given time to focus on wellbeing and ensure you do your bit to reduce stress and sickness.
Whether you want to make quick and small changes or implement strategies for long-term changes, there are several ways to save some money in your office. Some can be done at no expense others may need a little investment, but there is a range of opportunities for all office sizes to save.
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