10 ways to reduce the cost of starting a business

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

You can start your own business even with little capital - you don't have to take out a bank loan or borrow from friends. This is confirmed by the experience of Russian companies: 71% of entrepreneurs open a business at their own expense. However, money is not always enough. In order not to abandon the idea, you can optimize costs and open a business with minimal investment. Together with Mastercard, we figure out what steps need to be taken in order to open a business and not go bankrupt.

Take money from the state

Part of the money for starting a business can be taken from the state. It is interested in creating new jobs and is ready to provide grants to start-up entrepreneurs. To apply for a grant, you need to obtain unemployed status at an employment center, write a business plan and defend it before the commission. The amount of the subsidy depends on the region and averages about 100 thousand rubles. This money does not need to be returned, it is given free of charge. From you - to report on expenses and not to close during the year.

This method has many nuances, such as the need to be fired, endless trips to the employment center and reports. But 100 thousand rubles will not be superfluous. In addition, in this way, willy-nilly, you will draw up a working business plan and you can get help with paperwork.

Choose a bank with favorable conditions

When starting a business, you will need a checking account. Many banks offer this service, but the conditions are different for everyone: they compete for customers, therefore they give different bonuses, privileges and discounts. If you use them, you can save a lot. Here are some things to look out for to keep your start-up costs down.

Free maintenance of the current account

This way you will save 5-10 thousand rubles a year. Pay attention to the tariffs: you may be charged a commission for transfers, receipt of money to the account and cash withdrawals. Decide which transactions you will carry out with your current account most often, compare offers from different banks and choose the most profitable ones.

Business card with bonuses and discounts

Usually it is issued by the bank in which you open a current account. This is a payment card, only for a legal entity or individual entrepreneur. It simplifies the process of paying expenses through a bank account, speeds up the processes and allows you to control expenses. An individual entrepreneur on a simplified taxation system can pay for any purchases to her - no need to transfer money to a personal card and pay a transfer commission. Even 1-2% of the commission of the transfer amount is a waste that can be avoided.

Additionally, when paying with business cards, you can receive discounts and privileges from partner companies. For example, there is a Business Bonus program for Mastercard business cards, according to which you can get significant discounts in five categories: "goods and services", "transport and travel", "everything for the office", "accounting and finance" and "advertising and promotion ". You can apply for a Mastercard business card at any of the partner banks.

Business development bonuses

Many banks give additional bonuses: a budget for promotion and contextual advertising, a discount for creating a website or shipping, free access to services (CRM systems, telephony, accounting). Study the offers of different banks and evaluate what is more profitable for you.

Free merchant acquiring

It is needed to accept payments by bank cards, not just cash. This service saves money well at the start: it is better to rent a POS terminal and pay a commission on turnover (1.5-4%) than to buy a new one and pay for the installation.

Choose the right tax system

It's boring and dreary, but take the time and figure out the topic - it depends on how much money you will give to the state and how you will report back. The simplest system is the STS "Income". It is suitable for those who provide services and have low costs. For example, if you have a small law firm or dance school.

There is also a simplified taxation system "Income minus expenses" - it is suitable for a business with high costs. For example, if you have an online store and you purchase goods from suppliers. For retail trade and cafes, UTII (single tax on imputed income) is more suitable, for business in agriculture - Unified agricultural tax. If you do business with large federal companies or budget organizations - OSNO.

In addition, there is a patent taxation system. It may be more profitable than the STS or UTII, but it is not suitable for all types of business. Each region has its own list (it is selected from the general list, Article 346.43 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation, approved in the Tax Code).

When registering an individual entrepreneur, you can pay a fee with a 30% discount - it is valid for electronic submission of an application and non-cash payment.

Use online accounting services

An entrepreneur needs to pay taxes and fees. If you are an individual entrepreneur on the simplified tax system without employees, free online accounting will suit you. This is offered by some banks and accounting services. With its help, you can file a tax return and submit tax returns.

If you have at least one employee, free services will not work. Staff accountant costs How much accountants and auditors earn: labor market analysis. business on average 50-100 thousand rubles a month. Costs can be reduced by using paid online accounting services or by hiring an outsourced specialist.

You can additionally save on accounting services using a Mastercard business card. She gives a 15% discount in the "Accounting Module", 3 months of free service in the Internet accounting "My business", a 50% discount on the first month of service in the "Button" or 3 months free of charge at the maximum tariff in "Kontur. Elbe".

Make a website using the builder

Almost any business needs a website. You can order it from an agency or a freelance programmer, but development will require at least 100-150 thousand rubles. And to edit or add information, you have to go to additional costs. If you have a small business, then this is useless. It's easier to create a website yourself in a convenient constructor and promote it in search queries.

Holders of Mastercard business cards receive two months of the Master tariff for free on the Nethouse website creation platform.

Rent online checkout

As of 2018, virtually all entrepreneurs must use the online checkout. You can buy it, but together with the installation and configuration of the device, it will cost tens of thousands of rubles. At the initial stage, such spending is inexpedient - it is better to rent an online cash register for 3-4 thousand rubles a month than to take out 40-50 thousand from the budget.

The Mastercard Business Bonus program provides a discount on Subtotal online cash registers: a month of free use, and after that - service with a permanent 50% discount.

Save on freight

If you are renovating a room, transporting furniture or making bulk purchases of goods, you will need the services of trucking and movers. There is high competition in this area, so do not rush to agree to the price that is offered to you in the cargo taxi service. You can find a cheaper car on Avito or in the Vkontakte groups - private traders submit ads there.

Hire employees gradually

At the start of a business, you should not hire a full staff of employees - do it as you grow. This will cut costs and bring your business to zero faster. At first, you will have to work a lot yourself - for example, make coffee instead of a barista or meet guests instead of an administrator. But this will allow you to get to know your customers better and build processes competently. With this knowledge, it will be easier for you to hire staff and formulate job responsibilities.

You can reduce employee search costs by using the Mastercard business card and the Business Bonus program, which gives you a 50% discount on recruiting at HeadHunter and SuperJob.ru.

Search for cheap rentals

Due to the high prices for commercial real estate, start-up entrepreneurs cannot afford to rent premises with high traffic. For example, the average rental rate for retail space in Moscow is The price of commercial real estate has grown in most cities in Russia. 49.6 thousand rubles per year for 1 sq. m, in St. Petersburg - 23, 7 thousand rubles, in Novosibirsk - 16, 7 thousand rubles.

And yet, the success of a business largely depends on the location. If you find a suitable space, ask the owner for a rental vacation for the duration of the renovation, and if you are doing major repairs, try to agree on a longer period. If business allows, work from home or in a coworking space, and meet with colleagues and partners in a cafe.

Another way to cut costs is to rent an office in a technology park or business incubator. There are such in many regions. List-list of Russian technoparks in 2018., and the rental price there is much lower than the market. There is a nuance: in order to rent a room in a technopark, you must work in the field of innovation, science and IT.

Buy used equipment and furniture

A significant part of the costs is spent on the purchase of equipment and furniture. Instead of buying a new one, find a used one on popular marketplaces. It is sold by entrepreneurs who close their businesses and want to recoup at least part of their costs.

It is important to save wisely. The efficiency of the business depends on the equipment: if the coffee machine breaks down, you cannot brew coffee, the hood breaks down - there will be smoke and an unpleasant smell in the hall, the freezer will break down - the semi-finished products will disappear. Therefore, it is better to find a technical specialist who will assess the condition of the equipment and tell you whether it is worth buying.

Business is not a privilege of the elite, but a real way to live better. It can be carried on without suffering or loss if management and costs are well organized. And you can additionally save with the help of a Mastercard business card and the Business Bonus program.