Most small businesses that we work with spend way more than they realize. Between overlapping software tools, unused subscriptions, and services that have outgrown their value, these costs quietly add up and cut into profits. The good news? A few simple steps can bring immediate savings without sacrificing efficiency.
For startups and small businesses, cash flow is everything. Yet many owners rarely pause to ask:
“Are we paying for things we don’t really need, or paying too much for what we do?”
50% of company subscriptions being billed are unused, collectively costing businesses almost $738 million annually. That’s a huge amount of money that could be redirected toward growth.
A regular review of monthly expenses helps answer that question. By identifying duplicate tools, underused services, and outdated plans, you can free up money to invest where it really matters.
This is where small business operations consulting comes in. A small business consultant looks at the big picture of how your business runs day-to-day and spots ways to reduce unnecessary spending. Working with multiple small businesses allows them to spot trends more easily than the owner, who may have blinders on. They can quickly provide feedback on how to trim costs.
It’s common for businesses to use multiple software tools that do similar things. Think project management apps, file storage solutions, or CRM platforms. Often, one tool can replace three.
The subscription economy itself is booming and has grown approximately 437% over the past decade. In fact, it is projected to rise from approximately CAN$1 trillion to CAN$16.5 trillion in the next five years. This makes regular expense reviews more critical than ever.
Some quick wins might include:
An operational strategy consultant can guide this process, making sure your business isn’t just cutting costs, but choosing the right tools to stay efficient.
Reducing expenses goes beyond simply saving money—it creates capacity for growth. Every dollar recovered can be reinvested into marketing, operational improvements, or developing new offerings that move the business forward. Or, better yet, it can be taken out of the business as profits, or a higher salary from the owner.
This is where business consulting for startups is especially powerful. Instead of focusing solely on cost-cutting, the goal is to build a more efficient, agile business that’s ready for its next stage of growth.
At TradeBrain, we help small businesses and startups cut unnecessary costs, simplify their operations, and build a path toward long-term profitability. If you’re ready to uncover hidden savings and optimize the tools that power your business, we’re here to help.
Book a free 15-minute consultation today.