5 Ways to Cut Office Costs

Managing costs is a crucial part of running any business, particularly when times are tight.  Fortunately there are some simple and effective steps which can cut office costs substantially.

1. Sell the Printers
In spite of exhortations to go green, printing is a habit for many people and the more printers there are in an office, the greater the temptation to churn out paper.  By removing printers one at a time (and ideally relocating the remaining printers to a location away from the main office space), workers will be encouraged to think before they print.
It is possible that further savings can be made by ensuring that all computers have their print settings set to print to both sides of the paper.  More computer-literate workers can be educated on ways to adjust print settings to make further paper savings, such as increasing the number of slides printed on a page or reducing a font size.

2. Turn off the lights
Make sure lights are turned on only when they are needed and that computer monitors and other electric equipment (such as projectors) are switched off unless actually in use.  IT technicians can organize computer settings which will turn off computers at a particular time, but if work-times are too flexible for this to be feasible, then employees will need to be educated about this policy and management will need to ensure that it is observed.

3. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Resell
Many offices inadvertently encourage people to be wasteful by making disposable items readily available, particular culprits in this regard include plastic cutlery and mugs and stationery.  Where possible replace disposable items with reusable ones.  Instead of supplying plastic cups (and cutlery), have employees bring their own and provide washing-up liquid (ideally in a pump dispenser) and cleaning cloths.
Put a lock on the stationery cupboard and have someone responsible take charge of it.  This will not only prevent pilfering but also encourage people to be responsible with stationery items rather than simply losing them or half-using them and just getting another one.  If there are items in the office which are rarely used, consider reselling them and just hiring them when needed.

4. Join Forces to Cut Costs
Suppliers often provide discounts to people who buy in bulk.  It may therefore be worth investigating the possibility of teaming up with other business which also need standard office and catering supplies.  Even if this is not possible, it may be worth asking an established and reputable supplier for a discount if a large order is placed for delivery in batches as needed.

5. Conduct Regular Spending Audits
Humans are creatures of habit and it is very easy to continue to pay for goods and services which are no longer required, particularly since so many companies these days use automatic billing systems.  By making a commitment to check expenses at least every quarter and to act where potential savings have been identified, businesses can free up money for essential costs.

About The Author:
Amy Harris is a writer for Expert Market which offers a free service to businesses, providing a sourcing tool for finding office equipment and business services. She enjoys helping businesses reduce their costs and drive profit.