A clear understanding of startup costs for a business will go a long way in making your venture financially healthy and viable. When you know what your costs are, it will be easier to reduce them, especially when you’re launching your business.

If you’re a founder or entrepreneur in the early stages of setting up your business, here are ten practical ways in which you can reduce your costs which will help you maximise your profits.

1. See if you need an office: Do you really need a physical office? From lease to rent to utility bills, an office comes with sustained expenses. Can you start your business from home? If you don’t have to meet your customers or clients directly, a virtual office with a remote team might work for you.

2. Create a budget: Healthy businesses are those that create and stick to their budgets. Even if you have no revenue in the initial stages - especially if you have no revenue - you should have a budget that will reveal your monthly overheads and projected earnings. This will tell you how many people you can afford to hire and where you need to draw the line on your expenses.

3. Develop a viable marketing plan: Here’s the golden rule about marketing: if you don’t plan it well, you’ll end up spending too much. The earlier you develop a plan, with a blog, and social media pages for example, the easier it will be for you to increase awareness and build brand equity.

4. Rely on automation: There are several repetitive tasks that you can automate, from accounting to expense tracking. It will save you both time and money as you won’t have to do it or hire people. Automation will also free up your time that you can use to develop your product or service and market it well.

5. Get rid of your landline: It’s expensive with unfriendly plans. If you were to get a virtual number through a second-line app, you’ll save on the cost of a new device and be able to work remotely. Importantly, it will also give you enhanced features such as auto-replies and professional voicemail.

6. Avoid the use of paper: Go completely digital and you’ll be making significant savings on paper costs. From invoices to payments, make everything digital. It will also ensure that you don’t end up with unnecessary printouts, which will reduce your printer’s maintenance costs.

7. Don’t spend unnecessarily on software: You shouldn’t buy software because every other business has it. Go for an open-source version wherever possible. Don’t buy apps that your business doesn’t need at the moment. This will also reduce the costs of upgrades and maintenance.

8. Get refurbished equipment: If you decide to get an office, go to any online marketplace that sells used equipment or furniture. Buy only what you need and what your budget will allow you to maintain.

9. Cut down on travel: Conduct virtual meetings with vendors and team members. Email clients and make cold calls instead of meeting them, especially if they’re in a different city. Use screen-sharing software and video conferencing tools to make the most of remote work.

10. Outsource whenever possible: If you need content writing, graphic design or web development, you can always find experienced professionals online. You can hire them for projects instead of employing them. This will also give you access to experts from around the world.

In short

Reducing startup costs for a business will give you fewer things to worry about. Once you’re financially stable, you’ll have the right frame of mind to develop, deliver and market a product that your target audience will love.