Cost Controls
Articles
"Control Your Costs by Controlling Electricity Usage" by John Dierkes. Chain Store Age Executive with Shopping Center Age, March 1997, p. 154.
—As 40 to 60 percent of a store’s electrical consumption can be due to lighting, reducing usage can result in substantial savings.
"Financial Staff Puts Skills to Work on Cost Controls" by Peggie R. Elgin. Corporate Cashflow Magazine, May 1996, p. 16.
—Cost cutting can be more effective when it is the responsibility of an entire business, not just the CFO. Assigning cost cutting tasks to different departments can save both time and money.
Books
Audit Checklist for Growing Business. SBA Publications. P.O. Box 46521, Denver, CO 80201-46521. (800) 827-5722.
—Helps entrepreneurs conduct a search to locate potential problems and opportunities in the company’s financial structure.
Budgeting in a Small Service Firm. SBA Publications. P.O. Box 46521, Denver, CO 80201-46521. (800) 827-5722.
—Shows how to keep financial records with journals and ledgers that could effectively increase profits.
Kobert, Norman, Cut the Fat, Not the Muscle: Cost-Improvement Strategies for Long-Term Profitability. Prentice Hall, 1995.
—Teaches how to respond to changing market needs while still cutting costs. Designed to reduce a company’s overhead while improving training and product development.