Are you a small business owner looking to save money? Check out our tips to save some big bucks!

2. FREEBIES
Don’t buy when you can get it for free.
 Forms: There are many free forms and templates available online; save time and money
by checking here before you go to the office supply store.
 Formnet from Entrepreneur magazine offers instant access to forms for
marketing, legal, finance, real estate and more.
 Microsoft Office has templates for Word, PowerPoint and Excel. You can create
expert presentations, business cards, labels, brochures – everything you’ll need to
reach your customers.
 Software: Can you say “freeware”?
 Check out Download.com from CNET for business software downloads that will
increase your productivity: Accounting, CRM, Inventory Management, Database
Management; plus many more – Graphic Design, Security, Networking and more.

3. INSURANCE
Preparation and Group Savings are the key.
 Prepare: Think about how your business will be affected in a disaster. Based on your
geography, how likely are you to be a victim of a tornado? Hurricane? Flood? Check your
policy and make sure you are balancing risk with reality.
 The American Red Cross can help you prepare. Take their free assessment called Ready
Rating to learn where you stand and what you still need to do.
 FEMA also offers an Emergency Management Guide for free; you can download it here.
 Group Savings: What associations do you belong to? Chances are they offer a group
discount on all types of business insurance. And even if you don’t belong, the savings could
make it worth joining.
 Contact your local Chamber of Commerce for a discount rate or the National Association
for the Self-Employed for member benefits.
 Check out InsureU if you’re not sure about what coverage you need.

4. INTERNET
Start getting social.
 Social Media: Most social media is free – you just have to know how to do it. But here’s
the great news: there are many free videos and resources online for you to learn from.
Don’t have the time? Hire a college student or other tech-savvy person to set up your
accounts for you.
 If you have a Facebook account, creating a business page is easy and you can start
engaging with the people you already know by sharing your Page.
 Consider a blog if you have a product or service worth writing about. Wordpress is
easy but there are plenty more to choose from. Check out Inc. magazine’s Social
Media Toolbox for more ideas.
 Website: Make sure people know where to find you – put your URL on EVERYTHING.
 Need a website? There’s plenty of free resources here that are easy to use too. Try
WIX.com for a clean, professional looking site – in minutes.

5. STAFFING
Interns and Contractors provide low cost options.
 College Students: Consider contacting local universities and trade schools to see if there are
available students to hire for free or a low cost.
 You can post your opportunity for free at Internships.com. You’ll also be able to search for
available interns in your area.
 Monster.com offers postings for internship, although a fee is involved. It can be cost-
effective if you are hiring a larger number of interns.
 Independent Contractors: Those who choose to set their own hours and employers are
growing in number. Why? They like the flexibility and you like not paying benefits.
 The Small Business Administration and the IRS can help you tell the legal differences
between a contractor and employee.
 Search on LinkedIn for available contractors in your area; use “independent contractor” in
the keyword search.

6. WORD OF MOUTH
Referrals and Content generate revenue.
 Referrals: If you have happy customers, chances are they are telling someone. Make sure
they know how to find you.
 Offer referral bonuses on your Facebook page or other social media. Use a special code so
you can track where the referral come from.
 Send out an inexpensive postcard to your current customers and offer a future discount for
a referral that buys. Have them use the postcard to track and reward your customers.
Vistaprint offers 100 postcards for only $24.99 + shipping.
 Give good content: Today’s business world revolves around seeking and providing good
content. Look for opportunities to speak in your community to relevant audiences – your
Chamber of Commerce is a good place to start.
 Your local media (TV, Cable, Newspaper) may need someone with your expertise to
contribute to a segment they are doing in your industry. Reach out and let them know you
are available to speak or contribute articles.

7. MONTHLY BILLS
Check your recurring charges and shop for deals.
 Recurring charges: Check your credit card statements for recurring charges. Weed out what
you don’t use or can buy a la carte when you do need them.
 Also check for discounts on automatic payment. Some companies will give you a
percentage off for setting up recurring payments.
 Utilities: Essential for every business but they can be one of your most costly budget items. In
today’s deregulated environment, it pays to shop around. You’ll get the same benefits, just at a
lower cost.
 Energy Savings: You can shop your gas and electric services within certain states.
Companies like Liberty Power offer savings to both residential and business customers.
Resources like Save On Energy let you check if your state is deregulated.
 Long Distance: Did you know you can pay separate for your long distance service and save
big bucks in the process? You’ll get the same bill – just a lot lower. Check out Business
Network Long Distance to see how much you can save.

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GREAT TIPS ON SAVING MONEY!