You’re working hard, your sales are steady, and customers seem happy, but your profit margins aren’t where they should be. Many small business owners experience this frustration. Often, the issue isn’t one big problem, it’s a series of small, hidden leaks quietly draining your profits. Understand your true costs Profit margin leaks often begin with not fully understanding your actual costs. If you’re pricing products or services without accounting for…  Read more

Be wary of discounting on a regular basis to gain sales. It can be a sound strategy if you are aiming to find new customers and sell loss leaders, or you have a cost or price advantage. Discounting can also work in certain circumstances, for example, selling off old stock or to release working capital if funds are required more urgently elsewhere. But if you’re fighting a price war with…  Read more