6 Strategies to Cut Expenses In Your Business

6 Strategies to Cut Expenses In Your Business

by | Feb 15, 2023 | Profit First

Do you want to learn how to reduce expenses in your business? Feel like you never have any money leftover at the end of the month? Check out these 6 tips for cutting business expenses! These are proven strategies that will cut your expenses, and help you to create a more profitable business. 

 

 
1. AVOID DEBT
 
Going into debt, especially credit card debt, should be avoided and treated as a last resort. It may be appealing to take out a loan or buy things with credit when you need some extra cash, but it will ultimately come back to haunt you. It is far better to try some of these other tips before you even think about going into debt.

 

 

2. REVIEW DUES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS 
 
Ever gotten a free trial for something and then forgot to cancel it? I remember trying out FUBO TV for NFL season and paying $65—and not watching a single game that month! Go through the subscriptions you have and evaluate which ones you actually need to operate your business on. Chances are you’ll see many you don’t need or didn’t even know you had. Cancel them!
The first step for doing this is creating finances organized enough that you can actually find all these subscriptions. Many fly under the radar because you are not categorizing your expenses. We can help you get your finances in order, and evaluate and cut down on your subscriptions as well as other expenses. 
 
 
3. REISSUE CARDS
 
One valuable strategy is to call your credit card companies and bank and reissue cards with new numbers. Since your other cards will be deactivated, your billing information for all vendors will need to be updated. This may seem inconvenient at first, but it will enable you to look at each vendor you have and really evaluate which are low or non-benefit. Our next tip will help you to deal with the vendors you still have to keep after doing this.
 
4. NEGOTIATE
 
Many are afraid to negotiate services and pricing with vendors, and thus miss out on opportunities to cut down expenses. When you go to update your billing information with your vendors, talk with them to see if there are any adjustments to your service to make it more affordable for you. Renegotiate pricing, timing of payment, or what plan you are on. Many vendors are eager to keep you as a customer and will work with you!

 

 

5. POSTPONE PURCHASES
 
Ask yourself, is this something my business actually needs right now? Tap into the innovative entrepreneur you were when you first started your business find unique, inexpensive ways to do things. Figure out what you actually need to operate your business and do without the rest until you actually need it. This is not to say that you shouldn’t prepare for future expenses—that is essential. But buying things just because they would be nice to have is not a good business practice.
 
 
6. REINVENT/REPURPOSE PRODUCTS & SERVICES
 
We should always be evaluating the effectiveness and productivity of our services, but often don’t do so until we are in a crisis. This is your opportunity to take a look at your products and services and evaluate which are not bringing you enough value to be worth continuing. Or, if they are low value but still something you want to do, you can think of ways to repurpose or reinvent so it brings you more value.
 
 
We are Certified Profit First Professionals, masters at helping you implement a cash flow system that cuts down expenses while maximizing profits! We can help you get started on cutting down expenses, and start growing your profits today. 
Schedule Your Free Profit Call Now
 Download PDF worksheet here. 
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Is a Tax Account for the Owner’s Benefit?

Is a Tax Account for the Owner’s Benefit?

by | Jan 24, 2023 | Profit First, Better Biz Info, Taxes

Did you know that having separate accounts for Taxes, Owner’s Compensation, and Profit can all work for the benefit of YOU-the small business owner?

In the Profit First cash flow system, you open 5 separate business accounts, these three among them. Then, on a regular schedule (bi-weekly, monthly, etc.), you allocate a certain percentage of your income into each of these accounts. As the balance in these accounts build up, you begin reaping the benefits of being more prepared with an automated cash flow system. And the Owner’s Compensation, Tax, and Profit accounts directly benefit you as the business owner. Here’s how!

Owner’s Compensation Account: this account provides for the owner’s lifestyle and livelihood. It includes take-home pay and any benefits the owner enjoys like health insurance, cell phone, vehicle, etc., even if those benefits are considered business expenses on the tax return.

Profit Account: Profit is the business owner’s reward for running a profitable company. The quarterly bonus that comes from the Profit Account directly to the owner shouldn’t be thought of as just a way to continue to support their lifestyle, but as a bonus for working hard and taking their profit first!

Tax Account: Paying taxes keeps the business owner out of jail! It covers the business owner’s payroll withholding tax and any taxes the owner owes as a result of running a profitable business.

These accounts have different functions and should be kept separate from each other, but they all have the same purpose-serving you as the business owner. Having them reduces the stress of owning and operating your business.

Learn More About Profit First Accounts

As Profit First Professionals, we can help you set up these accounts in your business and learn how to allocate money into them and how much to transfer. Half a million business owners have achieved increased profits, less expenses, and less stress surrounding finances after implementing Profit First in their business. Check out how this business owner was able to pay for taxes and pay off her debts, while still taking a profit using Profit First. 

Schedule Your Free Profit Call Now

How the Profit First system Improved This Business Owner’s Cash Flow

How the Profit First system Improved This Business Owner’s Cash Flow

by | Nov 25, 2022 | Profit First

 

Mandy Shanks from Shanks Heating and Cooling talks about how working with Better Biz Info to implement Profit First has changed her business for the better. After 20 years in business, she finally has financial freedom and stability!

Profit First is the method we use to help small business owners implement a cash flow system that increases their profits, reduces expenses, prepares for future goal achievement, and automates their finances. Contact us to find out more! 

See the video on our YouTube channel here! 

Boost Profits with H.A.C.K.

Boost Profits with H.A.C.K.

by | Jun 20, 2022 | Profit First

Do you wonder why you never have any profit leftover? Wondering why your sales are not reflected in your bank balance? If you find yourself consistently experiencing negative profits, this acronym might help you.

We didn’t come up with this acronym, but trying out these strategies will help boost your profits! 

Hike Prices: increase prices, bundle, or upsell products/services.
 
Analyze Ever Dollar You Spend: examine every expense, and find cheaper ways to do things. Know your cash flow!
 
Cost-Saving Efficiencies: Analyze your processes and figure out which ones you can eliminate or streamline.
 
Kill Unnecessary Expenditures: Cut out as many expenses as you can without damaging your product/service. You probably don’t really need a lot of the stuff you are spending your money on.
To go along with these strategies, we would also recommend not keeping all your money in one account. If you keep all your money in one pot, it encourages you to spend it all, which is probably why you are not seeing a profit.

Separate revenue into different accounts to create a smaller pot for expenses. This forces you to cut down on unnecessary expenses and prepare/benefit from other parts of your business (Profit, Tax, Debt, Owner’s Compensation, etc.).
We call this system Profit First, and it has helped half a million business throughout the world acheive increased profits and financial freedom. 
To learn more about how to do this, check out our content about the Profit First system. We are Certified Profit First Professionals, so reach out to us to get started on implementing these strategies in your business today! We offer one-on-one coaching, or you can sign up for our online Profit First implementation group course! 
Schedule Your Free Profit Call Now
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Taming the Cash-Eating Beast: How to Create A Profitable Cash Flow

Taming the Cash-Eating Beast: How to Create A Profitable Cash Flow

by | May 8, 2022 | Better Biz Info, Profit First

 

We are always told to set aside a bit of our money for savings in our personal finances. In this video, Bill explains how Profit First, a cash flow management system, implements similar strategies to help your business increases profits, cuts expenses, and plan for future obligations like taxes and debt. 

See the video on our YouTube channel here! 

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Want to learn more in-depth strategies for creating a profitable cash flow? Check out our new 10-week Permanent Profitability Program–an online course that teaches small business owners to implement Profit First, a cash flow management system that increases profits and cuts expenses, all while automoating your finances in a more understandable and sustainable way!

In just 10 weeks, you will: 

👉Have learned new strategies for controlling your cash flow like a pro! 

👉Have connected with and gotten to know 8-10 other business owners like you! 

👉Have implemented Profit First, the best cash flow management system for increasing profits immediately and permanently  

👉Feel less stress regarding the finances in your business

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#businesstips #managementtips #betterbizinfo #supportsmallbusinesses #smallbusiness #profitfirst

7 Reasons Why Financial Habits are Important

7 Reasons Why Financial Habits are Important

by | Mar 29, 2022 | Profit First, Better Biz Info

 

Habits drive the course of our everyday lives. Mike Michalowicz even said that,
“PROFITABILITY IN YOUR BUSINESS IS NOT AN EVENT-IT’S A HABIT.”
Check out these 7 reasons for why developing healthy financial habits can create more profit and success in your business, and get 3 strategies to develop them!
7 Reasons Why Financial Habits Are Important
 
1. When you develop good habits with money, you’re allowing yourself to have a long-term plan. Being intentional and having a plan for how you spend your money is ensuring that you are working towards achieving your short and long-term goals
 
2. If you don’t have financial habits in place, you are more prone to irrational and impulse decisions. When faced with tough times or unexpected circumstances, your decisions tend to be rasher and ultimately lead to the downfall of your business. If you have some healthy habits and routines already set in place, you won’t be so susceptible to uncertain times or unexpected difficulties.
Check out this video that talks about how to not make bad decisions when faced with business crises.
3. Good financial habits come with more financial understanding of where your company is at and where it is going. When you develop financial habits in your business, you are naturally learning more about how those finances work in your business. Because you are working to create good habits, you automatically start to learn more about where your business is at and are in a better position to lead it to where you want it to go.
Check out this video that talks more about this. 
4. Habits set the tone for your entire life and business. If you operate with bad habits, or a lack of any good habits, it shows a lack of consistency in your life and your business. Habits bring a healthy structure to your business, and ensures a business that is well-planned, well-led, and on a path of success rather than uncertainty.
5. Having good habits will leave you better rested. If you don’t have good habits in place, you are required to make thousands of minute decisions every day. You have to spend your precious time and energy as a business owner to then choose what to do in every given situation. Why not automate your finances and spend less energy worrying about them? You will be more clear-headed and have more mental energy and actual time to do the things that you should be doing as a business owner.
6. Developing habits will make you happier! When we perform habitual actions, our brains literally release pleasure chemicals in reaction to those habits. It motivates us to continue to do those things. That’s why good financial habits are essential and contribute to a healthier relationship with your finances, and eliminating bad ones becomes even more important.
7. Business finances are more similar to personal finances than you think! Developing financial habits in business is much like developing them in your personal finances. The big stressor to develop a budget, pay yourself first, and create healthy spending habits is widely accepted when discussing personal finances. But it is the same with business finances! You need to be developing healthy saving and spending habits, so you are prepared for tomorrow, and not just surviving for today. We at Better Biz Info help you to develop those habits by teaching the Profit First cash management system, which automates your finances and develops a habit of setting aside profit and taxes.
 3 Strategies for Developing Healthy Financial Habits
1. Celebrate every victory! Developing habits is hard. It takes weeks of consistent effort, and no one is perfect. When you do well, reward yourself! We at Better Biz Info are all about rewarding yourself for your efforts, no matter how small. That’s why we love the Profit First system that rewards you with a Profit bonus every quarter! You are a business owner and deserve a reward for all the hard work you do.
 
 
2. Practice, practice, practice! Messing up is part of the process. Try again until it becomes second nature, automated. If you do well one day, and terribly the next, know that you are normal. It’s the effort that matters. If you stick with it, it will stick with you!
 
 
3. Evaluate your habits. Take a step back occasionally and evaluate the habits you have and the ones you are developing. Are they healthy? Are they effective? If they’re not, ask yourself why and make adjustments. If it isn’t a goal that is leading you towards a better relationship with your finances, reducing your financial stress, and preparing your for the future, drop it! Dropping ineffective routines is just as important as developing new ones.
 
Developing Healthy Financial Habits Worksheet:
What are 2 unhealthy habits you would like to eliminate?
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What are 2 healthy habits you would like to develop?
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Write 1 way you will work to develop each healthy habit:
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Thank you for reading, and we’ll see you next time!
Bill Litster
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See more helpful content on our blog here.
 
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Ways to Cut Business Expenses free worksheet!
 
Schedule a FREE CONSULTATION with Bill to learn how we can help you develop and maintain healthy habits in your business to achieve more profits!
 
Download this article for free here.
 

 

 

Improve Cash Flow with the Small Plate Philosophy

Improve Cash Flow with the Small Plate Philosophy

by | Feb 9, 2022 | Profit First, Better Biz Info

Mike Michalowicz, author of the best-seller book Profit First, often compares finances to diet. For both, there are a few core principle that are essential for creating a healthy balance in your life. Check out this worksheet to learn the 4 principles for creating an effective and healthy cash flow management system, called the Small Plate Philosophy!

Sign up for our newsletters here to get the first two chapters of Mike Michalowicz’s Profit First book for free, in which he explains the Small Plate Philosophy in depth! 

You can also check out how to create these “small plates” in your business by learning more about the Profit First system here!

Download the PDF version of this worksheet here.

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6 Tips to Prepare for Taxes

6 Tips to Prepare for Taxes

by | Jan 23, 2022 | Taxes

We asked thousands of business owners about the number one most frustrating part of business finances, and guess what it was? TAXES. If you are feeling the stress of preparing for tax time in your business, check out these 6 tips to help you prepare better for taxes. 
With these proven strategies, you will be better prepared to pay your taxes, and we can help you reduce your tax liabilities even further. 

 

1. OPEN A SEPARATE TAX ACCOUNT

 

 The best way to prepare for taxes is to start setting aside money for them right now. Open a separate bank account specifically for taxes, and start allocating a certain percentage of your income into it on a regular schedule (we recommend every two weeks). You can calculate the percentage your business should allocate, but we recommend 15% (Learn why we use 15% and how we help you do this with the Profit First system).

 

If you’re worried about your bank not allowing you to open multiple accounts, we can help. 

 

 

 

 

 2. SAVE MORE FOR TAXES THAN YOU THINK YOU’LL NEED 

 

It is always better to be over-prepared than underprepared. Saving a high-percentage for taxes ensures that you will have enough to pay them when the time comes, and may even be able to pay yourself back a bonus if you end up having a surplus! 

 

Behaviorally, it feels a lot better to pay taxes directly from the business and sometimes even be rewarded monetarily for your preparedness. We’ve even had a client who did this and had 3 times as much saved for taxes as she needed, and she was able to reward herself-all while running a profitable business throughout the year. Check out her experience here. 

 

 

3. KEEP YOUR BUSINESS AND PERSONAL ACCOUNTS SEPARATE

 

 

Keeping your business and personal accounts separate is good advice in general, but especially when it comes to preparing for taxes. Separate business accounts help you better estimate taxes, pay the correct amount, and keeps your finances more organized and accurate. It also prevents you from stealing from your personal money to pay for business expenses!

 

4. DON’T RUN UP EXPENSES TO CUT TAXES

 

This is one of the most damaging money myths out there. Many business owners have been told that you need to “spend money to make money”. While of course this is true from the standpoint of some business aspects, it is illogical when it comes to taxes. Running up expenses to reduce taxes is the same as spending $10 to save $3. It is very damaging to business.
The goal is to run the business as profitably as possible (that is the only way to achieve financial freedom) by creatively and carefully cutting down your expenses so that you can make more money while spending less. 

 

 

 

 

 

5. KEEP A RECORD OF EVERYTHING
 
We cannot stress this enough: keeping a record of everything makes tax time so much easier. Whether you or your accountant are preparing taxes, you don’t want to be in a position where you need a bunch of different documents from the last year and you have no idea where they are. KEEP A RECORD. Ideally, you should be keeping an organized digital record of everything and making sure it is in a secure place. 
 
6. FIGURE OUT DUE DATES
Knowing the deadlines of your taxes can save you a lot of time, stress, and-you’ll never believe it-money! No one wants to pay even more more in taxes because they missed their deadline, but too many fall prey to not being prepared for due dates. Use the last 5 steps to become better prepared for taxes so you can eliminate that stress from your business! 
 
 
We are Certified Profit First Professionals, masters at helping you implement a cash flow system that helps you prepare for taxes while maximizing profits! We can help you get started on preparing for taxes, cutting expenses, and start growing your profits today. 
Schedule Your Free Profit Call Now
 Download PDF worksheet here. 

How to Plan Ahead for Business Finances

How to Plan Ahead for Business Finances

by | Nov 23, 2021 | VLOG

 

When you look at financial statements, you are always looking backwards.That doesn’t help you know where you are or where you’re going. Profit First is the system that makes a plan for the future so you can start driving your car going forward. Sign up for our newsletter or follow us on Facebook to see more tips and tricks!