mall business owners in Australia are facing increasing inflation pressure, which can lead to rising costs and reduced profits. However, there are several strategies that businesses can use to thrive in these challenging times.
5 Strategies to Thrive Under Inflationary Pressure
1.Increase Prices
One of the most obvious strategies is to increase prices. While this may be a tough decision to make, it can help businesses to compensate for the higher cost of goods and services. However, businesses need to be careful not to overdo it, as increasing prices too much can drive away customers. A more viable option is to introduce new pricing tiers or add surcharges for certain products or services.
2. Increase Operational Efficiency
Another strategy is to implement cost-cutting measures by finding ways to operate more efficiently. This could involve cutting unnecessary expenses, negotiating better deals with suppliers, or implementing automation to reduce the amount of labour needed. For example, a small retail business could use inventory management software to track sales and adjust ordering to reduce inventory carrying costs.
3.Diversify
Diversification is also a key strategy for small businesses looking to thrive under inflation pressure. If a business primarily sells one type of product or service, adding new products or services to the mix can help to spread the risk and potentially increase revenue. This could involve expanding into new markets, introducing new product lines, or offering complimentary services.
4. Access additional funding
Seeking funding through loans or grants is another strategy that small businesses can use to weather the effects of inflation. Government-supported programs or alternative financing options such as an OnDeck small business loan can provide businesses with the capital they need to invest in growth opportunities, improve their operations, or simply keep the lights on during tough times. Keep in mind however, OnDeck small business loans are subject to eligibility requirements click here to see if you’re eligible to apply.
5. Form Partnerships
Finally, collaboration with other small businesses can be an effective strategy for surviving under inflation pressure. For example, two businesses could join forces to share resources, negotiate better deals with suppliers, or pool marketing efforts to reach a wider audience. Collaborating with complementary businesses can also help businesses to expand their offerings and reach new customers.
In conclusion, small businesses in Australia can still thrive under increasing inflation pressure by using a combination of strategies such as increasing prices, cutting costs, diversifying their offerings, seeking funding, and collaborating with other small businesses. It’s important for businesses to be proactive in managing the effects of inflation and to continually seek out new opportunities to stay competitive. By doing so, they can continue to grow and succeed despite the challenges they face.
Common Questions on Small Businesses and Inflation
What businesses are most impacted by inflation?
Inflation affects small businesses much harder than medium and enterprise-scale organisations. While banks and investment companies can usually absorb rising prices and overhead costs, increasing interest rates can hit the profit margins of small business owners the hardest, causing supply chain issues, increased production costs and marketing costs, and fluctuations in consumer demand.
How does inflation affect customers?
Inflation leads to rising prices for customers. The strategies outlined here can help a small business owner save money to mitigate it, but eventually, inflation will reduce the purchasing power of consumers through higher costs and rising interest rates.
What are the positive effects of inflation?
The good news for small businesses is that inflation does have some benefits. It can encourage customer spending since the purchasing power of money decreases over time during an inflationary period. Inflation can also help improve the profits of businesses since products can be sold at higher prices.
How does inflation impact savings and investments?
Unless the savings grow at the same rate as inflation, they will be losing value each year as prices and interest rates increase. For instance, if your business is saving for a $30,000 asset and currently has $20,000 in a savings account with a 5% compounding interest rate, it would take 9 years to reach the $30,000 needed to buy the asset. By then, a 6% inflation rate will have further increased the price of the asset to $50,000. It is often better to borrow money and make the purchases you need earlier because the reduction in purchasing power caused by high inflation makes saving an inefficient use of money.
This article is for general information purposes only. Content may belong to or have originated from third parties and OnDeck takes no responsibility for the accuracy, validity, reliability or completeness of any information.
OnDeck is not a financial adviser. You should consider seeking independent legal, financial, taxation or other advice to check how this information relates to your unique circumstances. OnDeck is not liable for any loss caused, whether due to negligence or otherwise arising from the use of, or reliance on, the information provided directly or indirectly, by use of this website.
