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5 Ways to Save Money on Small Business Office Supplies

John McMalcolm

November 06, 2013

If you want to maximize your profit margins, you need to find ways to cut costs wherever possible.

One of your small business expenses that can be easily reduced is office supplies. Office supplies may not be expensive, but they can add significantly to your monthly expenses if you do not keep them in check.

Here are a number of ways you can save money on office supplies…

Buy in Bulk

Many small business owners purchase office supplies in small quantities and replenish them when they run out. By doing so, they have to pay "a la carte" prices for their office supplies.

The best thing to do is to purchase your office supplies in bulk. Most stores offer good discounts to customers who purchase items in bulk quantities, and these discounts enable you to cut your office supply expenses considerably.

Just make sure you do not buy too much, or you may have trouble storing them. Find out which items are used the most and purchase them in large quantities.

Sign Up for Reward Cards

If you are buying your office supplies from Office Depot, Office Max, Staples or Best Buy, you can save money by signing up for their reward cards.

These cards can be obtained free of charge, and they allow you to accumulate points, which can be converted into discounts or other benefits. Card holders will also receive coupons by mail.

Shop Online

Online office supply stores usually offer better discounts than walk-in stores, and they also provide free shipping if you spend a certain amount of money.

Shopping online is also a convenient way to do comparison shopping. You can either use a comparison shopping website or get quotes from several suppliers to find the best deals.

Discount Warehouse Stores

Discount warehouse stores such as Costco and Sam's Club may not offer the best prices for office supplies, but they give excellent discounts on selected items. If you want to know which items are being offered at discounted prices, you can sign up for email alerts.

One disadvantage of shopping at Costco and Sam's Club is that you need to become a member and pay an annual fee. However, the savings you gain may make the investment worthwhile.

Create an Office Supply Station

Allowing every employee to have their own office supplies can increase your monthly expenses considerably.

Certain items that are not frequently used, such as staplers and adhesive tape, can be shared, and you can place them on an office supply station. By creating an office supply station, you can significantly reduce the amount of office supplies needed to keep your office running.

Also, make sure your employees do not use too much office supplies unnecessarily.

Office supply expenses are often overlooked by small business owners, but they are recurring expenses that can set you back substantially.

Reducing office supply expenses should be a part of your long-term cost-saving strategy.

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