This post from internet entrepreneur Jason Calacanis was just too good to pass up, even though it doesn’t have anything to do with web site effectiveness. Jason shares 17 tips for running a startup on a budget, and I’m sure that we can all learn a thing or two from this list.
My favorites:
Buy Macintosh computers, save money on an IT department
It’s no secret that Microsoft products require more maintenance and support, which is why I switched to Mac early last year.
Buy cheap tables and expensive chairs
A good ergonomic chair and a trusty computer is all most office dwellers need to be productive (comfortably, of course). I picked up a few desks from an ad agency that moved into a new office and purchased two Humanscale Freedom chairs, which keep me comfortable all day long.
Outsource accounting
Who has time to fiddle with the books (unless, of course, you own an accounting firm)?
Outsource to middle America
Small firms can only do so much in a day, so building a reliable team of 1099 contractors gives you a way to quickly ramp up your productivity for large projects while saving the costs of employing a team you can’t keep busy full-time. And a contractor in Nebraska won’t charge as much as one in NYC.
I’ve also discovered two other ways to save money and be more productive:
- Use Skype for voice calls and iChat for video conferencing.
I can call phones all across the country using my iMac’s built-in microphone for only $3 per month. I can also hook a Skype phone into my router for cordless Skype calls. That beats a $40+ per month Verizon bill. - Buy software brand new on eBay.
This tip from my CPA saved me about $70 on QuickBooks — you can pick up software brand new on eBay much cheaper than stores.
