Thursday, November 12, 2009

Reducing Business Costs by Controlling Consumable Spending

By Shaun R Tillby

Keeping business costs low is important for maintaining a high profit margin in retail and service businesses. While businesses use a variety of budgeting methods to keep costs down, one often overlooked area is the cost of certain administrative supplies. Supplies like till rolls, ink ribbons, and related items can quickly create a dent in your budget if you aren't careful about choosing the right consumable products.

Any business that offers goods and services to the public will require tills rolls. These items are used daily and are consumed quickly, which means replacing them on a regular basis can be a hidden cost that adds up quickly without you even noticing. If you're in a situation where cutting your business expenditure costs can mean the difference in staying profitable, then start looking at the costs of some of these smaller consumable items.

First, choose a competitively priced supplier. Remember that supplier pricing may not be consistent across all product lines. In practical terms, this means you should comparison shop for companies that offer competitive pricing on the types of till rolls that you use most frequently. Company A might offer a better deal on single-ply till rolls, whereas Company B might have more competitive pricing on double-ply till rolls. Choosing a supplier that offers the best pricing on the products you use most frequently will maximize your savings.

Once you've chosen a supplier, you then should consider working out the total cost of using different types of till rolls. While the economy-grade paper in a single-ply may appear to be the cheapest option at first glance, you could possibly be spending more than you need to. For simple transactions where a single receipt is acceptable for the customer, then perhaps this option is the most obvious for you.

Some registers are also able to create duplicate copies. For any business that requires multiple copies of receipts then you should begin by comparing the cost of printing duplicates one after the other using single-ply paper. This might seem cheaper initially, but when you consider the extra costs of using the printer ink it's not always the cheapest option. Now work out the cost of buying double-ply paper and then factor in that you'll be using the printer ink less often as each receipt is duplicated as it's printed.

Of course your business may require alternative till roll options, such as thermal or impact action paper rolls. Thermal till roll paper is generally used in chip and pin machines. Or you may need impact action paper, which is carbonless paper that can also be used in chip and pin systems that means you won't be spending extra money on ink ribbons.

With careful planning, it is possible to improve the profitability of your business by limiting the cost of consumable supplies. By taking stock of your needs for till roll paper and related supplies, and by carefully choosing a supplier that offers competitive pricing, you can save a significant amount of money in your day-to-day business operations.

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