As the owner of a new business, you can’t afford not to use technology. Deploying the right tech can help you win over new customers, leverage data in powerful ways, be more productive and ultimately grow your business. 

 

Moreover, the right software and devices can give you a competitive edge, especially when you’re up against larger, more established businesses. 

 

But investing in technology also can get expensive. How can you get the right technology for your business needs while keeping your costs in check? Here are four strategies:

 

  1. Consider buying refurbished devices

 

Refurbished business devices—such as laptops, tablets, smartphones, printers and even drones—are those that have been returned to the manufacturer for various reasons. It could be that the original owner discovered a defect, or they simply didn’t need it anymore.

 

Either way, the manufacturer fixes any issue and tests it to ensure it’s in working condition before reselling it. Refurbished devices can cost anywhere from 20% to 50% less than the same device purchased new, depending on age and condition.

 

“Businesses can cut their tech hardware budgets in half by opting for refurbished hardware, while potentially not suffering any drawbacks in processing capabilities and employee productivity,” says Rob Bartlett, founder and CEO of WTFast, a client-server solution company that creates and commercializes new internet-based technologies. 

 

You can find local businesses that specialize in refurbishing and reselling technologies, or you can turn to the device manufacturer, eBay, Amazon or a host of other websites. Many resellers offer warranties—so you’re not left without recourse if the device malfunctions. eBay, for example, provides an extended two-year warranty on all refurbished devices.

 

It’s also important to make sure whoever is selling the refurbished device would let you return it. Find a seller that lets you make returns no less than two weeks after you made the purchase, recommends PCMag.com. Also make sure to shop around, so you’re finding the best refurbishers offering competitive prices on whatever device you’re looking to buy.

 

“​​The best refurbishers are not always big companies—so be sure to check smaller businesses’ reviews, too,” Bartlett says.

 

  1. Get software with a “freemium”

 

The software and apps you use can greatly enhance your productivity and customer experience. And good news: many software programs today offer a free version geared to small businesses just getting started. 

 

Mailchimp (email marketing software), Zapier (a workflow automation tool), Dropbox (cloud document storage) and Trello (project management) are three popular business software platforms with a free version.

 

However, don’t be lured into spending time on “free” software that’s not a good fit for your business needs. Software review sites such as G2 and Capterra let you read about the pros and cons of various potential software, provided by other businesses that have firsthand experience with them. 

 

  1. Find technology that can scale up 

 

While free software can help you save money when you’re just starting out, your business hopefully will grow—and someday that free version may not have all the features and capabilities you need. So whenever you’re evaluating a particular type of software or hardware, consider whether it would be able to scale along with your business.

 

This means, for example, that if you outgrow your free or low-cost software, you can easily switch to a version that can support your growing business needs without having to spend the time and money moving your data to a new provider.

 

Here are some examples of different technologies that can be scaled:

 

  • Apps. Look for business software with multiple tiers and the features and capacity you may need. (Don’t forget to consider whether any app you get has a reputation for good customer support—so you can get help if you need it.)
  • Business phone. Look for a business phone provider that makes it easy to add additional users to your phone system and offers advanced features, such as seamless call transfer, that you may need as your business adds employees or has more sophisticated phone needs.
  • Internet plans. Look for a business internet provider with multiple tiers, including those with the fastest speeds that can facilitate growing businesses. Spectrum Business Internet, for example, offers plans with speeds starting at 200 megabits per second (Mbps) geared for small businesses with basic needs. But it also has a 600 Mbps plan and gig-speed internet, which can serve businesses with more than 20 employees and the most intense internet connectivity needs. Spectrum Business also offers additional features and add-ons such as business Wi-Fi and wireless internet backup that you may want to add once your business gets off the ground.

 

  1. Go for a bundle

 

You can save money by buying multiple business solutions from one provider. Not only does this cut costs, but it also means you have simpler billing—paying for all those services at once—and a go-to resource for customer support.

 

HubSpot, for example, offers a discounted Starter CRM Suite with customer relationship management, marketing, communication, sales and other tools geared to young, growing businesses. 

 

Spectrum Business also offers bundles that combine business internet, business phone and even business TV service at a significant discount over what it would cost to buy those services individually. Moreover, you just pay one simple monthly bill for everything.

 

As a new business, you need to balance the importance of leveraging technology with being mindful of your spending. Thankfully, there are several ways to bring down the cost of the most important technologies your business will need.

Want to learn how Spectrum Business can help your new business save money on your technology needs? Contact us at 855-299-9353.

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