Launching a startup is never easy, and there are lots of things you have to take into consideration before you decide to make that massive step. This is particularly true with e-commerce startups.
One of the issues you should focus on is your finances, and creating a proper budget could really go a long way. You should also try to cut costs as much as you can, of course, and save as much money as possible. If that’s something you’re thinking about doing as well, here are some strategies you should look into.
1. Opt for online accounting
Having your own accountant is one of the things people used to pay lots of attention to in the past, and entrepreneurs of the previous generations took huge pride in having the best accountant in the area.
This could, however, turn into a massive expense, and that’s not something you should want for your new business. Luckily, you can find a solution in the online world and opt for an online accountant instead.
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This will probably be a lot easier, cheaper, and quicker than having your own accountant. You can also opt for a helpful app, and do everything on your own, thus saving quite a lot of money on a yearly basis.
2. Use an inventory control app
No matter what you do and how big your e-commerce startup is, the chances are you’ll have to deal with some sort of inventory. This means you’re going to need to find a way to control your inventory and manage it properly, which could turn out to be rather expensive.
But, again, if you choose an online solution, you could accomplish quite a lot for only a fraction of the price. Using an app is also a quicker alternative, and you’ll basically be saving valuable time every time you’re checking, changing, or working on your inventory.
3. Design seamless experience
Making your customers feel fully satisfied with your services should be your top priority, as it not only builds brands loyalty but also reduces the cost of developing new products and services.
It is no wonder, then, that the people behind an innovative master course in service design underline the importance of testing specific approaches, methods and tools when developing projects related to creating new services, evaluating and transforming existing services or implementing operational changes at the supplier level.
Also Read: 3 ways voice assistants is going to change the game for e-commerce
Your business should encourage an experimental attitude and collaboration with users to come up with the solutions that the consumers need more quickly and effectively.
4. Rethink your office supplies
Every business needs some office supplies, and your new e-commerce startup is no different. However, not just any supplies will do, and you need to think long and hard before spending your money on them.
Buying your essential office supplies in bulk might make a lot of sense financially, and you won’t have to worry about running out of supplies anytime soon.
So, what you need to do is find everything you need at one reliable seller and use their affordable paying options as much as you can. This will save you more money than you’ve anticipated, and make your life a lot easier at the same time.
5. Switch to cloud-based services
Instead of cluttering your office with tons of paper, hundreds of binders, and a ton of useless junk, you should explore the benefits of the 21st century, and switch to cloud-based services.
This way, you’ll be able to do your work more quickly and efficiently than before, but will also be able to share it with your colleagues, business partners, and other people you work with. From Google Apps for work and Dropbox to Skype and Slack, these things will make your job much easier and quicker, and that’s something all e-commerce startups need.
6. Consider outsourcing
Instead of speaking tons of money on hiring full-time employees, you should consider outsourcing them. There are lots of people all around the world who would be happy to work for you as freelancers or home-based employees, and both of these options will significantly cut your costs. Outsourcing comes with a number of other benefits as well, so explore this idea and invest your time into turning it into reality.
When it comes to working from home, if you let your employees do that, you’ll be saving money on office costs. Instead of spending a ton of money on designing, equipping, furnishing, and running an office full of people, you could all work from your own homes and still do an amazing job. Discover reliable apps that allow you all to stay in touch, assign tasks, and solve problems at the same time – wherever you are in the world.
Reducing your e-commerce startup costs won’t be easy, but, after all, running a successful company is as far from easy as you can imagine. That’s why you need to work hard in order to find the ideas that are cost-effective and figure out ways to make them work for your startup as well.
Once you do that, you’ll immediately start being more successful and productive, and that’s always a good thing.
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Image Credit: rupixen
This article was first published on October 29, 2019
The post 6 strategies to reduce your e-commerce startup expenses appeared first on e27.