By Glenn Clifford-Perkins, accounting partner, Armstrong Watson
As interest rates continue to rise, and with inflation stubbornly high, many businesses are experiencing rising costs.
While you need to keep pace with these cost increases when pricing your products and services to maintain profitability, this can be particularly difficult when coupled with the current cost of living crisis as, more than ever, your customers will want to ensure they are getting value for money.
This is a challenge that can put additional pressure on your business’s bottom line profitability and cash flow, but careful management and planning can help to ease some of the pressure.
6 tips to tackle rising costs
- Maintain close relationships with your suppliers and take full advantage of any special offers available to obtain the lowest unit cost. Negotiate favourable payment terms wherever possible.
- Seek alternative quotes where necessary to ensure your suppliers remain competitive. Shop around for the best deals on your utilities, telephone and broadband bills.
- If your business has substantial borrowings, consider whether you have any refinancing options available to manage rising interest costs.
- Review the individual margins on all products and services you provide. If certain products are not profitable then consider either repricing or removing them from your offering.
- Make sure you are doing all you can to minimise wastage to keep your margins as healthy as possible.
- Regularly review your stock levels to ensure you are carrying the correct amounts of each product. Carrying too much stock ties up cash unnecessarily but carrying too little can lead to loss of potential earnings and dissatisfied customers.
In order to weather the economic storm and in anticipation of any further rate rises, it is wise to conserve cash where possible.
However – and often sadly as a result of some businesses having been forced to sell up after a turbulent few years – despite high-interest rates, there are still opportunities for those looking to expand, with new locations to buy or lease available on favourable terms.
Similarly, if your product and brand are strong, and you have a detailed vision of what you would like to achieve, expanding your business to capitalise on increased post-pandemic trade could be a viable option.
For support and advice on any issues surrounding your family business, please call 01768 222030 or email help@armstrongwatson.co.uk.
