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Barter: If you have a
business you should be bartering goods and services with other businesses.
You should try to trade for something before you buy it. Barter deals
usually require little or no money.
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Network: Try
networking your business with other businesses. You could trade leads or
mailing lists. This will cut down on your marketing and advertising costs.
You may also try bartering goods and services with them.
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Wholesale/Bulk: You'll save money
buying your business supplies in bulk quantities. You could get a membership
at a wholesale warehouse or buy them through a mail order wholesaler. Buy
the supplies you are always running out of.
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Free Stuff: You should try
visiting the thousands of freebie sites on the internet before buying your
business supplies. You can find free software, graphics, backgrounds, online
business services etc.
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Borrow/Rent: Have you ever
purchased business equipment you only needed for a small period of time? You
could have just borrowed the equipment from someone else or rented the
equipment from a "rent-all" store.
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Online/Offline Auctions: You can
find lower prices on business supplies and equipment at online and offline
auctions. I'm not saying all the time, but before you go pay retail for
these items try bidding on them first.
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Plan Ahead: Make a list of
business supplies or equipment you'll need in the future. Keep an eye out
for stores that have big sales. Purchase the supplies when they go on sale
before you need them.
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Used Stuff: If your business
equipment and supplies don't need to be new, buy them used. You can find
used items at yard and garage sales, used stores, used stuff for sale
message boards and newsgroups etc.
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Negotiate: You should always try
negotiate a lower price for any business equipment or supplies. It doesn't
hurt to try. Pretend you are talking to a salesman at a car lot.
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Search: You can always be
searching for new suppliers for your business supplies and equipment. Look
for suppliers with lower prices and better quality. Don't just be satisfied
with a few.
