Nothing compares to the feeling of starting something new. Those first few months and years of business ownership are incredibly exciting, but they don’t come without their financial burdens as well. It might seem like an impossible feat to get through this startup phase by spending smartly, but fortunately, you are wrong. Today we will discuss a few ways you can avoid some hefty spends, and get the same results for less. You can also explore your business financing options if you need additional funds for your startup costs.

Identify what you can bring inhouse

It’s tricky to know what things you should invest in, and what you should take offsite in the early days. In your startup phase, it’s likely you are getting a name for yourself and will be building out collateral and brand awareness. This makes the need for premium printers and ink cartridges by Canon one of the first spends. The alternative is to get your printing done by a professional printer, which can attract an enormous invoice. You may also want to employ a graphic designer for a six to 12 month period so that you can be agile with your content creation and bespoke branding. Like printing, engaging an external designer can be a hard cost to control and making changes and providing feedback is not as simple as having a trusted resource inhouse.

Considering franchising for wise resource allocation

Starting your own business can be quite an expensive undertaking, involving high startup costs and oftentimes significant risks. However, purchasing an established franchise could be a valuable alternative to starting from scratch. By investing in a franchise, you can take advantage of the brand recognition, infrastructure, and support offered by the parent company. You can utilize information resources like Franchise Clues to get guidance around cost-effective solutions or informed decisions about where to allocate your budget. The franchisor will have already laid the groundwork for marketing and advertising materials, legal paperwork, and employee training; this means you won’t need to start all these projects from the ground up, saving you time and money. All in all, if you’re looking to invest smartly when starting your first business and make the most of available resources, consider an established franchise – it might just put a spring in your step!

Your operation can exist anywhere

Often one of the first things on the list is to find a place where your business can be done. Renting commercial space is an eventuality, but it certainly does not need to happen in those first few months, or even the first year. In the early days, you will have only a few employees and will be shopping for a rental which can accommodate a large workforce down the line. Wait until you reach this milestone, and conduct your business at a residential address or in a coworking space that is available at a reasonable price. Remember that fully-fledged, successful businesses are starting to scale back their physical operation, so don’t rush into this lightly.

Flexible working hours

There are some roles that are critical to every business. Finance, sales, and marketing are just a few of these vital roles. The truth is, you probably don’t need these roles working around the clock, Monday to Friday from 9-5 pm. Take on your first staff members under the proviso that they work a certain amount of hours per week so that you can have the high-performing team you need without the commitment of paying them when there might not be enough work for them yet. This frightens a lot of employers who think they may not get the right talent under these conditions. You couldn’t be more wrong, as the rise in part-time employment is dominating the workforce in 2019 and beyond.

Get a business mentor

You might not see this as a way to spend smart, but that’s probably because you haven’t had your first business fail yet. As the old adage goes, good advice is priceless, and you should be actively seeking someone who can provide this valuable advice early on in your business pursuits. Sidestep any issues or problems with the insights and decades of experience of your mentor, and act with confidence knowing that you can meet your mentor and discuss the progress and viability of an idea.

It’s all too easy to blow our a budget in your first business venture. Some owners don’t even start with a budget in mind at all! The horror. Take into account the guide above, and insist on making well-measured and research decisions at every turn.