In the quest to streamline operations and cut costs, we’ve gathered unique strategies from CEOs and founders. From implementing AI chatbots for customer service to consolidating documents to streamline processes, explore the fifteen innovative tactics these leaders have successfully used to reduce operational expenses in their businesses.
Implement AI Chatbots for Customer Service
Implemented an AI chatbot that effectively removed the cost of hiring a full-time customer service representative. This brought my operational costs down from ~$1,000 to $100 a month (a 10x reduction!). Sign up for an AI-based chatbot solution and install it on your website. Your users will be happier with a 24/7 customer service agent, and you will be running a leaner business.
Sebastian Hov, CEO, 18 Insurance
Focus on a Single Product Line
We started focusing on one product. That meant that we didn’t employ extra staff or increase our marketing budget. We kept the minimum staff needed to run and maintain our software. Contractors came in handy for our marketing efforts that only required sporadic LinkedIn and Google Ads. We could do this because we already had our regular clients. Our revenue was stable, and we could afford to lower costs and save up some capital for future improvements.
A small business could do this if they have a subscription business model or a popular set of products. They could cut everything else and focus on maximizing their greatest asset. It works for businesses that don’t require office space.
Bernardo Castro, Founder, Bybrand
Analyze Supply Chain and Inventory
Over my many years as a business owner, I’ve learned that reducing operational costs requires creativity, diligence, and a willingness to try new approaches. The most unique strategy I implemented focused on analyzing our supply chain and inventory management.
By taking a deep dive into our purchasing patterns, inventory turnover, and supplier relationships, we identified significant waste and inefficiency. I worked closely with our procurement team to consolidate suppliers, negotiate better contracts, and implement just-in-time inventory management. We also optimized our logistics network and renegotiated terms with shippers and freight forwarders. Together, these changes drove major reductions in our operational costs by eliminating unnecessary spending and waste.
The key was approaching cost reduction through a system-level perspective, rather than just cutting budgets across the board. Focusing on the supply chain and inventory opened up new possibilities we hadn’t considered before. The improvement to our bottom line was substantial. This experience taught me that real operational efficiency requires questioning assumptions and being open to new ideas. Just because something has ‘always been done’ a certain way doesn’t mean it’s the most effective approach.
Jason Hunt, CMO and Co-founder, Merged Media
Bundle Services and Supplies for Savings
For most products, the more you buy, the cheaper the cost. Did you know this purchasing strategy also works with operational costs? Take, for example, repairs, lunches, and office supplies—you can also scale and reduce the per-item cost.
Need something fixed in your office? Consider if your team can wait until you have two or more issues needing attention from the same repair crew, then bundle that work order. Need staples, boxes, and markers? Buy in bulk, if you can. Have a couple of employee birthdays coming up? Make it a March birthday lunch month and take everyone out all at once. The more you can lump things together, quite often the cheaper it gets.
Ashley Kenny, Co-Founder, Heirloom Video Books
Outsource to Third-Party Logistics Providers
In my role as an e-commerce growth specialist and the founder of First Pier, a key strategy I’ve implemented to reduce operational costs involves optimizing our outsourcing model, particularly in the realm of fulfillment and inventory management.
By transitioning to third-party logistics (3PL) providers, we not only streamlined our shipping and handling processes but also significantly cut down on warehousing and staffing costs. This pivot allowed us to scale our storage and shipping operations efficiently, adapting to fluctuating demand without the need for a large fixed-cost structure.
Additionally, we leveraged technology to integrate our e-commerce platforms directly with these 3PL providers, automating the order fulfillment process. This integration meant that orders were processed faster and with fewer errors, leading to a reduction in customer service issues related to shipping and handling. This automation also freed up our in-house team to focus on growth activities rather than the day-to-day minutiae of order fulfillment, effectively lowering our operational costs while increasing our capacity to scale.
Small business owners can apply these strategies by thoroughly evaluating their current fulfillment processes to identify areas ripe for optimization or outsourcing. It’s critical to choose a 3PL provider that aligns with your business needs and has a track record of reliability and efficiency. Implementing tech solutions that facilitate seamless communication between your sales platforms and the chosen 3PL provider can also drastically improve operational efficiency.
This approach not only reduces immediate operational costs but also positions your business for scalable growth by focusing resources on strategic initiatives rather than logistics and fulfillment.
Steve Pogson, Founder, First Pier
Embrace Remote Work and Freelance Talent
In my venture into establishing That Local Pack, a local SEO agency focused on enhancing online visibility for local service providers, I discovered a unique operational cost-reduction strategy that significantly impacted our bottom line—embracing remote work and leveraging freelance talent. This approach allowed us to maintain a lean operational model, minimizing the costs associated with physical office spaces, utilities, and full-time salaries.
By assembling a team of freelance specialists for content creation, web development, and SEO, we were able to tap into a diverse pool of talent, paying for exactly what we needed, when we needed it, without the overhead of traditional employment.
This strategy was pivotal during the early stages of my business, where budget constraints and the need for flexibility were paramount. For instance, hiring freelance SEO experts for specific projects enabled us to scale our workforce up or down based on current project demands, drastically reducing idle employee time costs. Additionally, this model fostered a culture of accountability and high performance—since freelancers are typically paid per project, they are motivated to deliver quality work promptly to maintain a steady stream of work.
Small business owners can apply this strategy by first identifying roles within their operations that can be effectively outsourced or managed by freelancers. Platforms like Upwork or Freelancer can be a good starting point to look for talent. It’s crucial, however, to establish clear expectations, deliverables, and milestones with freelancers to ensure project objectives are met efficiently.
Moreover, integrating project management tools can help keep track of progress and facilitate communication, ensuring the remote and freelance workforce is aligned with your business objectives. This approach can lead to substantial savings while capitalizing on specialized skills to drive business growth.
Ken Fortney, Founder, That Local Pack
Make Templates for Content Creation
In our quest to enhance our online presence, we initially relied on hiring ghostwriters to produce lengthy, data-rich content. However, we noticed that the process of hiring ghostwriters was time-consuming and costly.
To tackle this issue, we developed an optimization and content template system for extracting data and seamlessly integrating it into structured content. This innovation reduced our content production time by 45%, allowing us to produce high-quality content more quickly and at a lower cost.
Small business owners can apply this strategy by investing in technologies or developing processes that automate or streamline time-consuming tasks. For example, if content creation is a significant part of your operational costs, look into tools or software that can help automate parts of the content creation process, like data analysis, content planning, or even the initial drafting phases. This approach not only saves time but also frees up resources that can be redirected towards other growth-focused activities, making your business more efficient and reducing operational expenses.
Erman Kuplu, CEO, Analyzify
Optimize Procurement Through Strategic Sourcing
One effective strategy I’ve implemented to reduce operational costs revolves around optimizing our procurement process through strategic sourcing. This involves a thorough analysis of our supply chain to identify opportunities for cost savings without compromising on quality. We shifted from single sourcing to multiple sourcing for key commodities and services, which not only reduced costs through competitive pricing but also mitigated risks associated with supply chain disruptions.
For a small-business owner looking to apply this strategy, the first step is to conduct a comprehensive review of your current suppliers and expenditures. Identify which products or services constitute significant portions of your operational costs. Next, research alternative suppliers who can offer competitive rates or better value for the same quality. It’s crucial to negotiate not just on price, but also on payment terms, delivery schedules, and after-sales service to ensure a holistic benefit to your business.
This approach does require an upfront investment in time and resources to research and engage with new suppliers, but the long-term savings can be substantial. Furthermore, fostering good relationships with a diverse range of suppliers can provide your business with more flexibility and resilience, which is particularly valuable in today’s dynamic market conditions.
Jerwayne Corsino, Chief Operating Officer, SAFC
Leverage Free Software Tiers and Trials
One unique strategy I’ve used to reduce operational costs is to take advantage of free tiers or extended trials for new software apps, rather than paying for premium plans out of the gate.
As a bootstrapped startup, every dollar counts, so I’m extremely selective about what tools earn a spot in my paid software stack. Before committing, I rigorously test out apps using free trials or the lowest-tier plans to evaluate if the value truly merits the spend long-term.
For example, I tend to cap new software budgets at $20 a month unless revenue growth clearly supports and offsets the added expense. Even then, I read the fine print for ways to minimize costs, like paying annually.
This frugal approach takes more legwork upfront but allows me to keep overhead low while never limiting access to essential tools. As revenue scales later, I can always upgrade plans, knowing the value has been proven worthy.
Small business owners can apply this by outlining must-have functionality before evaluating options. Sign up for every free trial available rather than impulse purchasing. Make use of the lowest-tier plan benefits before upgrading. And interrogate whether added features offset added costs or simply offer convenience. Every dollar must earn its place in that operational budget!
Brian Meiggs, Founder, My Millennial Guide
Automate Email Marketing Campaigns
One of the strategies I used to reduce operational costs in my business was to automate email marketing. Email marketing is a powerful way to connect with customers, increase sales, and build loyalty.
However, it is also time-consuming and expensive to craft emails manually and send them promptly. I used tools like Mailchimp or ConvertKit to create email campaigns that were triggered by specific actions or events.
For example, when customers left a cart abandoned for more than three days, they would get reminded by the automated email systems and receive potential discounts. Or, if an existing customer had their birthday nearby, they would receive a special discount.
It helped me to cut down a significant portion of my operational expenses and allowed me to allocate those funds to other parts of my business.
Yuvraj Pratap, Founder, Supplement Launchpad
Adopt Eco-Friendly Operational Practices
One innovative strategy I implemented to reduce operational costs in my contracting business was adopting eco-friendly practices. By investing in energy-efficient equipment, recycling materials, and optimizing resource usage, we significantly cut down on expenses while minimizing our environmental footprint.
Small-business owners can apply this approach by conducting energy audits, exploring green alternatives, and incentivizing sustainable practices among employees. Not only does this strategy yield cost savings over time, but it also enhances brand reputation and demonstrates a commitment to corporate social responsibility.
Gil Clark Jr., CEO, GH Clark
Improve Employee Satisfaction to Reduce Costs
We focus on improving employee satisfaction. A big and often ignored way to cut down operating costs is by making employees feel more satisfied. Research shows that when employees feel recognized, valued, and understood, they work harder and better. This means employers get more benefits and profits from their staff.
When employees are stressed, feel unappreciated, and not valued, they don’t work as hard, which leads to more people leaving their jobs. Employees who aren’t contributing much make operating costs go up because they aren’t doing their part.
Precious Abacan, Marketing Director, Softlist
Integrate Cross-Functional Teams for Efficiency
Having worked as the Chief Marketing Officer at FireRock Marketing, I’ve spent over two decades partnering with businesses to refine and optimize their marketing and operational strategies.
One of the most effective strategies I’ve employed to reduce operational costs is the integration of cross-functional teams to streamline communication and decision-making processes. This strategy entails aligning marketing, sales, and other operational departments toward common goals, enabling faster, more cohesive responses to market changes and customer needs.
A concrete example from my experience involved restructuring the internal structure of a client’s business to promote closer collaboration between the marketing and sales departments. Traditionally, these teams operated in silos, leading to duplicated efforts and slow responses to market opportunities.
By implementing regular cross-departmental meetings and shared performance indicators, we not only enhanced the agility of the business to respond to opportunities but also significantly reduced overhead costs associated with misaligned strategies. The outcome was a 30% reduction in operational costs related to marketing and sales efforts within six months.
For small business owners looking to apply this strategy, the first step is to break down existing silos within the company. Encourage and facilitate regular communication between departments with shared goals and KPIs. Leveraging technology such as project management tools can help keep everyone on the same page and create a transparent work environment. The goal is to create a cohesive team that operates more efficiently together than separately. This not only reduces costs but also fosters a more innovative and adaptive business culture.
Ryan Esco, Chief Marketing Officer, FireRock Marketing
Implement AI for Supply Chain Optimization
You’ll be surprised just how beneficial automation can be when it comes to reducing operational costs. The thing is, while certain tools can initially be expensive to implement, the abilities that automation provides will reduce long-term costs. For example, at O+, we implemented AI into our supply chain to help us identify bottlenecks and issues. Not only did this allow us to make changes that sped up our supply chain and reduced costs in that way, but it also helps us identify issues in real time, further reducing the costs that can come as a result of only picking up those issues later.
Automation is essential in the modern day of business. It’ll help your business become more efficient while giving you the opportunity to reduce a number of costs that you may not even have known were an issue to begin with.
Lauren Carlstrom, COO, Oxygen Plus
Consolidate Documents and Streamline Processes
Overseeing various projects, I’ve recognized the significance of reducing operational costs without compromising the quality of service or product. One unique strategy I’ve implemented involves simplifying and consolidating business documents and operational processes. This approach not only reduces expenses related to document management but also streamlines operations, making them more efficient.
For instance, I consolidated essential business documents such as Incorporators’ Statements, Stock Certificates, and corporate seals into a single, easily accessible binder system. This not only saved on storage and management costs but also significantly improved retrieval times during audits or when necessary for strategic decisions. It’s a simple yet effective way to reduce physical storage costs, and for digital documentation, similar consolidation can reduce software or cloud storage expenses.
Small business owners can apply this strategy by assessing their current operational processes and document management systems. Begin by identifying redundant processes or documents that can be merged or eliminated. Use digital tools for document management, which are often cheaper and more secure than physical storage. Introducing a culture of simplicity and efficiency in document management can lead to a significant reduction in operational costs over time, making this strategy both easy to implement and highly beneficial in the long run.
Adrienne Fischer, Founder, Basecamp Legal
Brett Farmiloe is the founder of Featured, a Q&A platform that connects brands with expert insights.
Costs stock image by Olivier Le Moal/Shutterstock
