When you run a business, sometimes it can seem like the expenses just keep rising. This can be a total nightmare, because it can make it even harder to run your business within your budget. On average, business costs tends to increase by 10 to 20 percent per year, which means that after five years of running, your business costs will have increased by between 50 and 100 percent, which is a large sum of money.

These business expenses are constantly squeezing smaller businesses dry, which can lead to them having to close down. If you run a small auto repair shop and have noticed that your costs have begun to rise, you may be starting to panic about how you’ll cover them. The most important thing is not to panic – you can reduce your spending, it’s just a case of knowing what steps to take to do so.

Below is a guide to everything that you need to know to cut your business expenses and keep running costs affordable.

Reduce staffing costs

One of the highest expenses that comes with running a business is the cost of staffing. That’s why it’s so important to ensure that the staff you have on your books, you actually need. You may not like the idea of getting rid of a team member, but if your business’s future depends on cutting costs, then it’s something that you may have to do. If you don’t want to get rid of a team member, another option could be to reduce their hours and give them some unpaid time off. There are always ways around situations like this, it’s just a case of finding them.

Be mindful of where you order supplies from

Another high cost is the price of supplies. Of course, your customers cover the cost of these when they pay to have work done, but maybe they aren’t covering the entire cost anymore. If you supplier has put their prices up, it may be time to consider looking elsewhere for your supplies – head over to Google and search ‘auto body supplies near me’ and see what comes up, there’s sure to be somewhere more affordable. The fact is that while you don’t want to compromise on quality, you do need to keep running costs affordable, which is why shopping somewhere that’s more affordable for your supplies, may be necessary.

Put your prices up (slightly)

A good rule of thumb in business is that each time your suppliers put their costs up, you do the same. While you don’t want to lose customers, you also don’t want to run your business into the ground, which is why it’s so important to ensure that you are realistic when it comes to your pricing. There’s no need to increase your prices by a huge amount, just enough to cover any costs that have risen for you.

When it comes to running a business, if you want to ensure that your venture remains successful, it’s vital that you understand how to cut costs and keep things affordable. Hopefully, the tips above will help you to do this.