a business [of landscaping]

Risk comes from not knowing what you’re doing – Warren E. Buffett

When I started my business, about eight years ago now, maybe I did it with very different intentions to most. First let me dispell some myths. No business is easy; one that involves perishable goods and is weather dependent even moreso. That said I love what I do!

That aside some say life is good, even though some think very differently. I believe, the way the company was always managed behind the scenes [so to speak] was already very efficient. But could it be more efficient [not miserable!] without affecting in anyway quality and without having to increase costs.

Firstly, one should slow down, take a step outside and look down from above at what is actually happening when the business is running. These figures were already produced as part of the quality programme so I didn’t have much work to do here!

Insurance: this is the big one! it doesn’t affect our service as long as the small print is the same. We chose to go with Damien Foran and his company Arachas Insurances. They reduced our employers & public liability by €500 and our vehicle insurance by €1,300. Not bad.

heating & electricity: we use a timber wood burner [& timber that could have gone to skip] to heat the office orientation is south facing. Throw in energy saving light bulbs just in case. That doesn’t include not having to pay for radiators and associated plumbing costs. Estimated saving €900.

banking: we don’t write cheques, taxable at 40 cent [last year we wrote 320]; banking charges are negotiated/ are a set price and everything is done online. It’s so much more time efficient. From staff time/ cost and driving/ fuel etc. it can all now be done online. estimated saving €360

printing & postage: almost all done online now, including invoices. next up is the elimination of the facsilile machine. Again there’s no pint in driving 20 km to buy paper thats 1 cent cheaper, when it can be emailed. We haven’t bought letter headed paper this year and last year spent €320 on stamps, never mind envelopes and the time spent licking them! estimated saving €600

suppliers: about 15 companies I deal with are within a 5 mile radius. Fresh coffee is always on!

Why pay a dollar for a bookmark? Why not use the dollar for a bookmark? – steven spielberg

So there’s the obvious things I did to make life a lot more simple less complex. After that; it’s a little thinking outside the box ieg. all our office furniture is’recycled’; I use people like Ciara Feeley where necessary and I don’t pay plumbers for an outdoor tap when it’s not necessary.

If you think you’re too small to have an impact, try going to bed with a mosquito – Anita Roddick

{  all posts, office  }