Entrepreneur’s Guide: Time & Money Saving Strategies for Startup Success

I’m going to share 11 entrepreneur tips that I’ve developed from growing my company, CuriosityBased. These tips are focused on saving money, time management, and business efficiency. 

1. Get one-on-one business consulting and mentorship.  Many free programs offer personalized guidance, which saves time. For instance, SCORE is a great resource, and in Seattle, there’s Business Impact NW.
2. Utilize your public library. Make an appointment with your reference librarian who can introduce you to a wealth of free resources and databases essential for growing your business.
3. Learn your tax saving strategies. Understanding these will help you save money in the long run. 
4. Join membership associations that will help you save money or make money.These associations often provide discounts that can be very beneficial. Sometimes, membership in one association can lead to free or discounted memberships in others.
5. As for discounts. You’d be amazed by what you can get just by asking. CuriosityBased subscribes to a software and every year we ask “hey, can we get a discount?” and they give us that discount because we ask. 
6. Choose a business credit card that rewards you with points useful for your specific business needs. For instance, if flying isn’t essential for your business, points for air travel might not be beneficial.
7. Borrow money only if you really need to. If you do borrow, have an idea of how you’re going to pay back money. Otherwise, you can get into a trap. 
8. Value your time when considering software subscriptions. While free versions may seem appealing, they often require more time and effort. Sometimes, subscribing to the paid version for a short period can be more efficient, allowing you to accomplish more and then canceling the subscription.
9. Network strategically. Look for free or low-cost networking opportunities that can help you grow your business and make valuable connections. If you’re considering expensive events, ensure you understand the potential return on investment, whether in savings or earnings.
10. Host your own networking events. Invite people in and that way you can control the cost. 
11. Instead of meeting someone for happy hour, lunch or coffee, suggest a phone call or walking call to get to know one another. 

I hope that these startup strategies prove useful to you.