As recently as a couple of years ago, I would never have considered searching for an online coupon for a B2B service. That’s because I wouldn’t have expected to find one. Today, however, it’s just standard practice for me to search online for coupons before I make any major purchase. This simple step has saved me literally thousands of dollars in the past few years.
Yet, even though I now think more frequently about searching for online coupons, I know I have overlooked savings opportunities simply by not being mindful enough of where and how to look for discounts. And discounts take the form of more than online coupons. Here are five steps to take today to find discounts for your business – both offline and online:
1. Check all recurring invoices and billing statements for discounts – You’ve heard of trade terms, right? Trade terms allow you a discount for early payment of an invoice. Check each and every vendor contract to see if discount terms are indicated in the invoice or other documentation. Don’t forget insurance premiums and other types of recurring payments. If discounts are available, do what it takes today to take advantage of those discounts. Schedule automatic electronic payments so that you don’t miss early-payment deadlines. If you pay by paper checks, schedule reminders to make sure the checks go out in plenty of time. Instruct your staff or your outside bookkeeper to put through payments promptly to take advantage of discounts. Likewise, be aware of late payment charges and when those kick in – you want to avoid those, too.
2. Ask for discounts – If your ongoing vendor arrangements do not contain discounts, evaluate each to determine whether you have enough bargaining power to get better terms. Typically you will have to offer some kind of concession in exchange for a discount – such as committing to minimum purchase volumes or agreeing to pay 6 months or more in advance. To keep a valued customer, some vendors will gladly offer a discount. As long as you keep your requests businesslike, you have little to lose – so ask.
3. Save by consolidating – Look at all your existing service providers to see if you can consolidate services under a single provider. By bundling services you may get significant savings. Telecommunications and Internet services are examples of where it is possible to save through bundled offerings or buying from the same provider. Insurance premiums are another area – you may be able to save by having multiple types of insurance through a single insurance carrier.
4. Seek out vendor partner program savings – Visit the website of each of your existing vendors to look for vendor partner programs. Somewhere in the site – perhaps on a page labeled “partners” – you will find information about discounts provided by your vendors’ partners. Providers that frequently offer partner savings are: credit card and charge card issuers; telecommunications providers; financial institutions; online communities including forums and discussion boards.
5. Sign up for vendor newsletters – I know, I know… we all have email inboxes bursting at the seams. But vendors often send out email communications with special offers and discounts for their own products – and those of their partners. Those emails can save you money.
If you are like many of us, you will be surprised at how many discounts are available for your business if you just start looking for them. Being conscious and mindful of discounts is the first step to saving thousands of dollars.
Editor’s Note: This article was previously published at OPENForum.com under the title: “5 Things to Do Today to Get Discounts for Your Small Business” It is republished here with permission.
Anita,
Do you know about some web sites that have listings of different discounts?
Thanx a lot for such a valuable advise. We usually search for coupons for small online purchase but never think for B2B purchase, However after reading your post I am going find coupons for B2B purchase too..
Thanx for pointing this out..
Hi Anita
A timely reminder to us all. I know that I become very accepting, particularly when it comes to service providers, of what I am buying and tend not to shop around. This blog post has just got me to look at bundling my phone and internet (and yes – it is amazing that I havn’t done this yet!!) and I expect to save 35% on my on-going costs from what I’ve seen so far.
Thanks for the nudge along.
The best way to get a discount is to ask. Believe me, many will give you a discount when asked just to try to secure the deal. I do it all the time.
As the above post mentions, the best way is to ‘ask’.
With competiton for new business (and even to keep existing customers) so tough nowadays. I think many suppliers and providers feel somewhat obliged to give you a good discount or deal, but only if you ask.
For example, for my own business, I have a standard sale all the time. Now, for those customers who ask for further discounts from me, 99% of the time I feel the need to say yes (to secure new business etc).
It’s like I have no option. Otherwise, there are plenty of other places they could go to, of which many would most probably say yes for even bigger discounts.
Anyway, the best and ‘easiest’ way is to ask. I think very few would say decline and so on.
@Martin – I have found that asking my LinkedIn connections has been a great way to find discounts. I saved $200 on an online certification course (after the company saw my question and offered the discount directly) and hundreds more on conference registrations.
Absolutely the best way is to ask. No need being afraid…
Thanx for that useful information. we can get more margin by following these tips and guidelines.