It’s important to understand and plan for everything it will take to be successful in business and you should never underestimate the costs associated with operation, well beyond the initial startup process. Fortunately, your awareness of these three hidden business costs should help you get your venture started on the right foot and keep you going along well on your path to success:
Keep your gas and electricity bills in control
According to data compiled by BusinessEnergy, a UK based micro business will use an average of 7,500 kWh of electricity per year and be faced with a total bill of 1,062 as a result. These figures escalate to 15,000 kWh and a 2,038 bill for a small business, 25,000 kWh and a 3,146 bill for a medium-sized business and 60,000 kWh and a 7,346 bill for an industrial business.
This together with the fact that organisations with gas connections typically use 10,000 kWh per year with a total average bill of 430 if they are a small business, 25,000 kWh and a total bill of 856 if they are a medium-sized business and 45,000 kWh and a total bill of 1,424 if they are a larger business – makes clear that gas and electricity are major expenses for companies across the board.
Therefore, you should take the time, when first setting up your business, to shop around for the best deals for your energy. Flogas, for example, offer a competitively priced and reliable gas supply to a variety of companies and can help them with savings of up to 45% on their gas spending alone. Additionally, you should look into whether or not there is anything you could do to help you save money and help the environment. Sustainability is becoming more and more important in this day and age, and businesses can certainly take steps towards this. For example, if your business has data centers for its computer equipment, you may wish to reach out to someone like Walt Coulston to see if any improvements can be made here for a more sustainable future.
Show your staff you appreciate them
As you are setting up a new business and building your team of staff members, chances are you will be getting to know a lot of new faces. To ensure they remain happy and see your company as a great place to work, it is important that you demonstrate your appreciation of your employees when they are working hard and delivering the results that you are striving for – even if this comes with added costs.
Say, for instance, if you are planning to set up a logistics business and buy motor insurance (from one sure insurance or a similar firm for that matter), it might weigh a little heavy on your wallet, but it would give an assurance to the drivers that in case of a mishap their family is protected. Apparently, each employee is important to make any business a success, and valuing each one of them should be prioritized.
Anything from initiatives such as prizes for “employee of the month”, to setting aside a budget so that teams can bond outside of the workplace with a meal, engaging them in social gatherings, or any strategies you can find here might cost money. However, these are also very likely to boost morale and ensure employees appreciate their work and keep doing their work with a positive attitude.
Remember to offer staff members the opportunity to go on training courses as well, on behalf of the company, as this can help maintain high levels of motivation and engagement.
Make sure you get with the times
As a new business, there’s a big chance that you’ll be entering into a very competitive market, whatever industry you have your eye on. One way to ensure you survive is by equipping your team with the most up-to-date technology available to deliver the best results possible. For instance, understanding current digital trends can be crucial – for instance, you might be asking, “What is Paarl web development?” if you had come across the term previously. This might lead you to explore how localized expertise can elevate your online presence. Additionally, investing in tools that streamline workflow or enhance communication will also give you an edge over competitors.
Now, if your employees make a strong case that they will be better served carrying out tasks on the move, consider investing in a collection of tablet computers installed with all necessary software or other mobile technology. Are you concerned about cybercrime when you hear of stats such as that there were around 3.6 million cases of fraud and 2 million computer misuse offences recorded by the Crime Survey for England and Wales in its latest annual report? Adding robust security features to all of your computer systems should give you peace of mind.
Such implementations may add up where initial costs are concerned, but if it results in a more effective and efficient workplace then you’ll quickly reap the rewards.