Can Couponing Reduce My Overhead?

You are here:

In an effort to reduce your business overhead, you may consider “couponing” for your tools and supplies. This process does have the potential to save you money, but it may not be the best solution for your needs at the time. In this article, we will look at how couponing can benefit your business and other ways you may cut down on your costs.

Couponing On TV Vs. Couponing In Reality 

When most people think about couponing, they think about shows like Extreme Couponing on TLC. There, you will see people buy $1,000 worth of grocery items for under $10. While this may work in a rare instance, the fact is that most of the tactics they use on those shows aren’t allowed in your local stores. Most areas of the country will not allow you to “stack” coupons, which gives you the option to use a coupon on an item that is already on sale. Most stores also limit the number of coupons you can use or double per transaction, which may not yield the massive savings you see on television.

Keep in mind that true couponers devote 40+ hours a week to finding deals and saving money.  You don’t have time for that. You may ask your spouse or children to do this for you, but as a business owner, you cannot sacrifice work time just to save a couple bucks on office supplies.

How To Coupon For Your Business 

If you want to make an effort to coupon for your business, start by gathering coupons for items you regularly use. Cleaning companies often use common dish soap to wash windows, and that regularly goes on sale in grocery stores and supermarkets. If a store near you offers a “double coupon” day, you may use the coupon at the store to get twice the discount on the item you need. Buy in bulk when the time is right, and you could purchase everything you need for your business at a fraction of the cost.

Time Vs. Savings 

There is nothing wrong with trying to save money, but the fact is that it may not be worth your time to hunt down deals on supplies. You’ll be better off working with a vendor to get a discount on the items you buy frequently. You may also explore ways to reduce the amount of supplies you use on the job, which will make the supplies you have last longer. Coupon when you can, but don’t rely on it to save you from business debt.