The main areas where costs can be rationalised include telecommunications, energy, freight, couriers, mail, office supplies, waste management, reprographics and stationery. There are other areas such as cleaning, merchant card services, maintenance contracts and document storage, but of course the list is endless.

Apart from reviewing overhead costs and establishing benchmarks, there are a number of other factors that need to be taken into consideration to achieve long-term success in maintaining cost savings. These include improved inventory management, cost-analysis and management tools, better compliance with corporate contracts and ensuring t

Looked at the operating costs of your business lately? You might be surprised at the savings that can be gained with a systematic approach to cutting costs.

The easiest way to lift profits is to cut the fat out of costs. Cost-cutting and profit increases can amount to much the same thing if handled correctly. Cost-cutting does not necessarily mean slashing and burning budgets on a 'let's-see-if-this-works' whim, nor does it mean the intense scrutiny of entertainment expenses in August, before reverting to three-hour lunches in December.

But what if a company could save 20 percent a year on its stationery spend? Or 26 percent a year on its courier costs? Or 76 percent annually on its printing bills? Wouldn't that represent real savings - and an increase on the bottom line? The truth is that a significant cause of poor business performance in Australian companies is the lack of attention given to the cost of running the business.

The reasons for this lack of attention are many, but here I am going to focus on three of them:

· the process of cost management and review can be difficult to manage

· tough-minded resolve is usually required

· cost-reduction initiatives are not always positively received by colleagues and staff.

Any executive who chooses to undertake a program of cost-management, then, is probably going to find themselves out on a limb and needing to show true leadership skills. And he or she is going to have to do it in today's business world, when the buyer is often at a disadvantage.

The seller, or supplier, possesses vital market knowledge that the buyer, or company, does not have because of a lack of resources, time, expertise - or a combination of all three. Consequently most, if not all, organisations overspend significantly on their business operating costs.

Experts estimate that 90 percent of Australian businesses are overspending on day-to-day expenses, by as much as 75 percent!

How does a company know if it's one of the 90 percent? If a company can answer 'yes' to any of the following there is a good chance it can reduce its business operating costs and free up profits:

YES/NO There is no centralised purchasing system. Each department seems to have its favourite suppliers and its own purchasing processes. YES/NO We always seem to be purchasing in an ad hoc, as-needs manner, instead of benefiting from bulk purchases. YES/NO We seem to stick to the same supplier and trust that they're giving us value for money.

Major areas of cost control

The main areas where costs can be rationalised include telecommunications, energy, freight, couriers, mail, office supplies, waste management, reprographics and stationery. There are other areas such as cleaning, merchant card services, maintenance contracts and document storage, but of course the list is endless.

Apart from reviewing overhead costs and establishing benchmarks, there are a number of other factors that need to be taken into consideration to achieve long-term success in maintaining cost savings. These include improved inventory management, cost-analysis and management tools, better compliance with corporate contracts and ensuring th

But what if a company could save 20 percent a year on its stationery spend? Or 26 percent a year on its courier costs? Or 76 percent annually on its printing bills? Wouldn't that represent real savings - and an increase on the bottom line? The truth is that a significant cause of poor business performance in Australian companies is the lack of attention given to the cost of running the business.

The reasons for this lack of attention are many, but here I am going to focus on three of them:

· the process of cost management and review can be difficult to manage

· tough-minded resolve is usually required

· cost-reduction initiatives are not always positively received by colleagues and staff.

Any executive who chooses to undertake a program of cost-management, then, is probably going to find themselves out on a limb and needing to show true leadership skills. And he or she is going to have to do it in today's business world, when the buyer is often at a disadvantage.

The seller, or supplier, possesses vital market knowledge that the buyer, or company, does not have because of a lack of resources, time, expertise - or a combination of all three. Consequently most, if not all, organisations overspend significantly on their business operating costs.

Experts estimate that 90 percent of Australian businesses are overspending on day-to-day expenses, by as much as 75 percent!

How does a company know if it's one of the 90 percent? If a company can answer 'yes' to any of the following there is a good chance it can reduce its business operating costs and free up profits:

YES/NO There is no centralised purchasing system. Each department seems to have its favourite suppliers and its own purchasing processes. YES/NO We always seem to be purchasing in an ad hoc, as-needs manner, instead of benefiting from bulk purchases. YES/NO We seem to stick to the same supplier and trust that they're giving us value for money.

Major areas of cost control

The main areas where costs can be rationalised include telecommunications, energy, freight, couriers, mail, office supplies, waste management, reprographics and stationery. There are other areas such as cleaning, merchant card services, maintenance contracts and document storage, but of course the list is endless.

Apart from reviewing overhead costs and establishing benchmarks, there are a number of other factors that need to be taken into consideration to achieve long-term success in maintaining cost savings. These include improved inventory management, cost-analysis and management tools, better compliance with corporate contracts and ensuring t

Any executive who chooses to undertake a program of cost-management, then, is probably going to find themselves out on a limb and needing to show true leadership skills. And he or she is going to have to do it in today's business world, when the buyer is often at a disadvantage.

The seller, or supplier, possesses vital market knowledge that the buyer, or company, does not have because of a lack of resources, time, expertise - or a combination of all three. Consequently most, if not all, organisations overspend significantly on their business operating costs.

Experts estimate that 90 percent of Australian businesses are overspending on day-to-day expenses, by as much as 75 percent!

How does a company know if it's one of the 90 percent? If a company can answer 'yes' to any of the following there is a good chance it can reduce its business operating costs and free up profits:

YES/NO There is no centralised purchasing system. Each department seems to have its favourite suppliers and its own purchasing processes. YES/NO We always seem to be purchasing in an ad hoc, as-needs manner, instead of benefiting from bulk purchases. YES/NO We seem to stick to the same supplier and trust that they're giving us value for money.

Major areas of cost control

The main areas where costs can be rationalised include telecommunications, energy, freight, couriers, mail, office supplies, waste management, reprographics and stationery. There are other areas such as cleaning, merchant card services, maintenance contracts and document storage, but of course the list is endless.

Apart from reviewing overhead costs and establishing benchmarks, there are a number of other factors that need to be taken into consideration to achieve long-term success in maintaining cost savings. These include improved inventory management, cost-analysis and management tools, better compliance with corporate contracts and ensuring t

How does a company know if it's one of the 90 percent? If a company can answer 'yes' to any of the following there is a good chance it can reduce its business operating costs and free up profits:

YES/NO There is no centralised purchasing system. Each department seems to have its favourite suppliers and its own purchasing processes. YES/NO We always seem to be purchasing in an ad hoc, as-needs manner, instead of benefiting from bulk purchases. YES/NO We seem to stick to the same supplier and trust that they're giving us value for money.

Major areas of cost control

The main areas where costs can be rationalised include telecommunications, energy, freight, couriers, mail, office supplies, waste management, reprographics and stationery. There are other areas such as cleaning, merchant card services, maintenance contracts and document storage, but of course the list is endless.

Apart from reviewing overhead costs and establishing benchmarks, there are a number of other factors that need to be taken into consideration to achieve long-term success in maintaining cost savings. These include improved inventory management, cost-analysis and management tools, better compliance with corporate contracts and ensuring t

The main areas where costs can be rationalised include telecommunications, energy, freight, couriers, mail, office supplies, waste management, reprographics and stationery. There are other areas such as cleaning, merchant card services, maintenance contracts and document storage, but of course the list is endless.

Apart from reviewing overhead costs and establishing benchmarks, there are a number of other factors that need to be taken into consideration to achieve long-term success in maintaining cost savings. These include improved inventory management, cost-analysis and management tools, better compliance with corporate contracts and ensuring that staff remain focussed on strategic tasks.

So how does a company implement a plan of effective cost-management? I would suggest the following:

1. Care about effective cost-management

If staff are complacent about financial performance and cost control, there is little chance that a cost-saving project will succeed. Executives must find the time to take an interest in reviewing expenses and reducing costs, and staff generally mould their behaviour to match that of their leadership.

2. Cost-cutting should not be allowed to become 'flavour of the month' Remain motivated to keep costs in check on a regular basis. If a cost-management 'culture' is not established, employees will quickly allow your 'push' to fade away. It's important to instigate measurable strategies for cost reduction.

3. Over-confidence can be a killer

Companies which assume that their costs are under control based on historical trends, or that their market knowledge is watertight, run the risk of overspending through arrogance. You know what you're paying, but do you know what your competitors pay for the same products? Never assume that you know the market as well as your suppliers - and never assume that they're doing you the best deal possible. Compare your cost-management performance to others in your industry and region. Gather the data from outside agencies, consultants or benchmarking services, and be careful that you understand the data as it applies to your situation. Data is useless unless it is interpreted correctly.

4. Understand what you're buying

Determine your product and service requirements. Don't purchase premium services unless absolutely necessary. Sales people will often use bait-and-switch tactics to move you on to their higher margin items. You end up buying unnecessary extras or add-on services such as maintenance agreements. Also watch for relationship-building tactics. Do you really want to pay higher prices for the occasional lunch or rugby game?

5. Talk to your suppliers

Companies that buy the same product and the same quantities year in, year out, are probably paying way too much. Suppliers will price their offerings according to what the market will bear. Having done your research, inform suppliers that you are reviewing your costs, which have to be reduced. Then prepare to negotiate, and to comparison shop.

6. Stay alert

Monitoring your cost-management strategies is vital. You need to watch that staff members don't slip back into old habits, the supplier charges correct prices, and service matches the agreed specification.

Using consultants

Most Australian companies do not have the staff re