Business Savings: Overhead: Credit Card Fees - Most retailers can save on credit card processing by checking their credit card merchant rate. There are very competitive rates available. Considerations - Merchant services through your bank can mean the money will go into your account a day or so earlier. Check - per transaction fees, monthly charge, statement fees as well as the transaction percentage as these charges can increase your rate up to 1-1.5% beyond the transaction rate. DO NOT EVER Lease your terminal. This is another way they make money and you can be locked into paying hundreds to thousands of dollars in this way over a period of years. Alpha Card is one of the best card services we have found. If they can't save you they can will at least educate you with the questoins to ask. Freight - Depending on how much freight you receive in, it can be beneficial to get a UPS or Fed Ex account just for incoming freight. This can save you on Freight Costs by 5-10%. You then give this number to all of your vendors to charge to your account rather than them charging you shipping. Contact your local rep to inquire. Phone - Compare frequently phone and DSL. There are very competitive rates out there. Be aware of long contracts as well as short term special rates. Phone rates/DSL are steadily coming down. You may also be able to consolidate services with your neighbor and share the costs since fequently the service is the same just adjoining locations. Utilities - We recently were contacted by a local Natural Gas company that informed us that gas in our state was recently deregulated and our large utility was charging higher rates - We saved 15-20%.