When thinking about how to reduce labor costs as a business owner, there are options that you can explore, without having to reduce your staff.
Like other areas of managing expenses, reducing the costs of labor associated with running your business is all about finding where fat can be trimmed, without making drastic changes that could negatively impact your company.
So, what can you do?
That’s a question we’ll explore in this post as we talk about how to reduce labor costs while keeping your operations intact as much as possible, so keep reading to learn more.
Cost Reduction Ideas That Can Keep You Going
Before anything else, you need to realize that labor costs don’t just vary wildly across industries, but across businesses within a particular industry as well.
There is no one catch-all solution that can solve the issue of cutting your operating costs when it comes to labor, but there are general guidelines that can lead you in the right direction.
Among those steps, you can:
- Look Closely at Overtime and Consider Part-Time – The former only really works if your company pays its employees hourly, but the latter may be applicable no matter what your company’s staffing situation is.If your company has employees that it pays overtime to when they work more than 40 hours in a week, then examine the hours those employees work and cut back where necessary. It’s a simple enough practice that could save more than you might realize.In the case of part-time vs. full-time work, there might be certain jobs that only need to be done two or three days a week instead of across the full week. Look at the jobs that are absolutely necessary for your company to function and see what needs to be carried out full-time versus what can be reasonably be carried out by a part-time employee.
- Freeze Hiring – When thinking about how to reduce labor costs, putting a hold on bringing on new talent not only saves you time and resources on interviewing and training, it will also allow existing employees to take on new roles.This action could potentially motivate them to move up in the company and advance their position to a point where they will be a greater asset to your business team. When that happens, it will be easier to run your company more efficiently in the long run.
- Consider Your Hours of Operation – This varies by industry, but can be something worth thinking about.One labor cost reduction practice that you might consider is changing your hours of operation. Just about every business has a peak time at which they are busiest, so you can focus your resources on that area and cut costs at times when things aren’t as busy.
- Think About Outsourcing Non-Critical Tasks – This one seems to come up whenever we talk about reducing expenses of any kind, but that’s because it’s something that just about any business in any kind of situation can do.You or someone in your organization might be in charge of a task like payroll processing or bookkeeping, but outsourcing those tasks to agencies that specialize in them could save you time and money so that you can focus on expanding your business.
- Emphasize the Importance of Communication – When thinking about how to reduce labor costs, you also want to give a good amount of consideration to the steps you can take to cut back on mistakes.Without the right kind of communication, you might find yourself having to repeat tasks and processes. You could also face a situation where work is not being carried out as effectively as possible.When this happens, going back to correct those issues will take time and resources that should have been reserved for more constructive tasks.By communicating best practices with your staff and always making sure they know what is expected of them, you can lower labor costs associated with getting the job done and increase your company’s efficiency.
Mastering the Balancing Act
When you’re thinking about cost reduction initiatives as they relate to what you spend on labor, it’s important to remember that nothing you do should negatively affect your customers.
It’s with that consideration in mind that you want to approach the question of how to reduce labor costs in a way that will allow you to maintain strong margins without alienating those whom you serve.
If you are able to keep your labor costs low and your customers happy, then you’ll easily see the kind of success that you set out for when you began planning your business.
Remember, running a business successfully does not need to be complicated. Keep it simple!
For more information on business analysis, business planning, and ways to grow your small business profitably, please check out our website www.portalcfo.com. Follow us on Twitter @portalcfo
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Manny Skevofilax is a consultant and speaker that helps his clients successfully navigate the challenges of growing their businesses profitably. Since 2003, Manny helps businesses enhance their results by using his experience in strategic planning, financial statement analysis, operations, organizational development, and team-building. His consulting firm, PORTAL CFO Consulting, Inc., has attracted clients from diverse industries in the United States and abroad.
Manny can be reached at 410-808-3441 or via email at manny@portalcfo.com.