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.

You should begin by comparing your current supplier's prices to those of competitors. Not all suppliers will be consistent in their pricing across every product line, so your comparisons should be based on the types of products you use the most. You can maximize your cost savings by being sure the supplier you choose offers the biggest advantages in cost across the products you're likely to buy most often.

In addition to choosing a reasonably priced supplier, you'll want to compare the cost of different types of till rolls. The least expensive option is economy paper single-ply till rolls. Grade A paper is brighter than the standard off-white economy paper, but isn't necessarily more expensive. This is the best option if you don't require carbon copies of printed receipts.

However in business where duplicate receipts may be required, such as one for the customer and one for your own records, then buying single-ply paper till rolls will mean printing two separate receipts. This can use a lot more printer ink ribbon, which can actually increase your costs. Work out the pricing for double-ply or even triple-ply paper till rolls that are able to print a single receipt but create copies, thus using less ink ribbon. This may actually save you money in the long run.

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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