In my last blog, we talked about 3 sure-fire ways to make more profit.
Today, I’m going to share with you 3 ways to boost profit without having to make any more sales.
There are many different ways you can go about making more profit in your business, whether you are in a growing market when profits are rolling in, or in a shrinking market when you’re a little worried. Regardless, now is the time to take control and make a solid plan to ensure your business is surviving and thriving.
Here are 3 easy ways business owners can make more profit by being just a little more strategic. You just have to know what to look for.
1. Key Suppliers
Every business needs to keep a close eye on costs. Suppliers are your biggest cost and a key area to look at. Use my 3-step system for success: First, look at your largest suppliers and write down the most significant products or services you buy from them. What does it cost you? Now, get in touch with other suppliers that sell similar products and get a comparison. You will find other suppliers will be cheaper in some areas.
Finally, negotiate with your current suppliers, quoting the better prices you have discovered from the others. Don’t just use the other suppliers pricing for leverage. Look at their offer genuinely and see if they are a better fit. If you were quoting for new business, you would want to be treated this way also.
When talking with your suppliers you might even discover you are still at old rates. If your business has grown, old pricing based on smaller volumes may not apply anymore. You should be able to get a much better deal. In most cases, just asking the question and pointing out your value as a customer and/or letting them know you can get a better deal elsewhere, will shake out improved prices and significant savings on your costs.
This will increase your margins and a little bit of attention here ultimately equals a lot more profit for you. Yay!
2. Stop Discounting
Another thing to look at: How often are you or your staff discounting when you don’t need to? Every business should have a clear policy on discounting. Without a policy, it is too easy for you and your staff to cut prices unnecessarily. It doesn’t seem like a big deal at the time, but discounting randomly means margins blow out and destroy profits.
I find that some business owners are naturally generous and discount far too often which has a big effect on their profits. You can still be generous to customers when the conditions are right, but you need to be in control. Ultimately, making good profit puts you in a much better position to give back to those around you including your customers, your staff, your family and your community.
3. Hold Your Advertising Accountable
Advertising is one area where costs can get wildly out of control. I have seen businesses waste thousands each year (sometimes up to $100k!) on advertising campaigns that are simply not working. They’re unhappy, but don't know what else to do, so continue burning cash month after month.
Don’t get me wrong: Advertising is vital, and everyone should be spending money on getting more customers into their business. But marketing and advertising must be tested.
How do you know? You must measure every dollar you spend on promoting your business. John Wanamaker famously said, “Half the money I spend on advertising is wasted, the trouble is I don’t know which half”. Always ask new customers “How did you hear about us?”. Do this for a little while and the results will be obvious. Stop what is consistently not working and you’ll spend less, in most cases resulting in significant savings on your advertising budget. And yes - do more of what is working! (which should pay for itself and then some!).
For more practical ways to increase profit, come to my "Rocket Your Profit" workshop - Tuesday 4 April 2017 - Otago Chamber of Commerce, Dunedin
Find out more here: https://goo.gl/3ZxbGL
Today, I’m going to share with you 3 ways to boost profit without having to make any more sales.
There are many different ways you can go about making more profit in your business, whether you are in a growing market when profits are rolling in, or in a shrinking market when you’re a little worried. Regardless, now is the time to take control and make a solid plan to ensure your business is surviving and thriving.
Here are 3 easy ways business owners can make more profit by being just a little more strategic. You just have to know what to look for.
1. Key Suppliers
Every business needs to keep a close eye on costs. Suppliers are your biggest cost and a key area to look at. Use my 3-step system for success: First, look at your largest suppliers and write down the most significant products or services you buy from them. What does it cost you? Now, get in touch with other suppliers that sell similar products and get a comparison. You will find other suppliers will be cheaper in some areas.
Finally, negotiate with your current suppliers, quoting the better prices you have discovered from the others. Don’t just use the other suppliers pricing for leverage. Look at their offer genuinely and see if they are a better fit. If you were quoting for new business, you would want to be treated this way also.
When talking with your suppliers you might even discover you are still at old rates. If your business has grown, old pricing based on smaller volumes may not apply anymore. You should be able to get a much better deal. In most cases, just asking the question and pointing out your value as a customer and/or letting them know you can get a better deal elsewhere, will shake out improved prices and significant savings on your costs.
This will increase your margins and a little bit of attention here ultimately equals a lot more profit for you. Yay!
2. Stop Discounting
Another thing to look at: How often are you or your staff discounting when you don’t need to? Every business should have a clear policy on discounting. Without a policy, it is too easy for you and your staff to cut prices unnecessarily. It doesn’t seem like a big deal at the time, but discounting randomly means margins blow out and destroy profits.
I find that some business owners are naturally generous and discount far too often which has a big effect on their profits. You can still be generous to customers when the conditions are right, but you need to be in control. Ultimately, making good profit puts you in a much better position to give back to those around you including your customers, your staff, your family and your community.
3. Hold Your Advertising Accountable
Advertising is one area where costs can get wildly out of control. I have seen businesses waste thousands each year (sometimes up to $100k!) on advertising campaigns that are simply not working. They’re unhappy, but don't know what else to do, so continue burning cash month after month.
Don’t get me wrong: Advertising is vital, and everyone should be spending money on getting more customers into their business. But marketing and advertising must be tested.
How do you know? You must measure every dollar you spend on promoting your business. John Wanamaker famously said, “Half the money I spend on advertising is wasted, the trouble is I don’t know which half”. Always ask new customers “How did you hear about us?”. Do this for a little while and the results will be obvious. Stop what is consistently not working and you’ll spend less, in most cases resulting in significant savings on your advertising budget. And yes - do more of what is working! (which should pay for itself and then some!).
For more practical ways to increase profit, come to my "Rocket Your Profit" workshop - Tuesday 4 April 2017 - Otago Chamber of Commerce, Dunedin
Find out more here: https://goo.gl/3ZxbGL
