Everyone wants to save money. No one wants to pay more for something than they need to. However, many business owners are trying to save money by going too far. They’re only using a free Gmail address. They’re not paying premium for webhosting. Doing this makes them look unprofessional and not credible.

It’s tempting to get a “free” (or cheap) GoDaddy, Wix or Squar Space website. So tempting. Limited funds is a real thing.

It seems like you’re saving money by using a free Gmail account (or worse Hotmail or AOL) and not investing in a custom email with a domain name. However, in the long run, you’re just hurting your business.

My friend Dr. Friend Jones, Worthologist, is all about helping business owners identify and get paid for their worth. He’s taught me this.

Cheapening Your Brand

Oftentimes by using the free online tools especially as fronts for our brand, we cheapen our brand.

When we cheapen our brand we do not showcase our brand value and have a hard time commanding what we’re worth.

I often get unsolicited emails from people pitching me on this or that service. They got a PR firm they want me to pay to get me some publicity. They want me to invest in their SEO services or they want to publish a guest blog post on ZoneofGenius.com.

Think about it.

You get an email from Jenny.Sue.12489@gmail.com or you can get an email Jenny.Sue@CelebrityCEO.com – which person seems more credible, which person seems to have more trust?

All things being equal, you’re going to trust the one with the custom domain name. They just LOOK and FEEL more credible.

Same thing for websites.

Yes, you can get a free or cheap website, as long as you’re willing to have the logo of GoDaddy, Wix, Squarespace, Zoho or any number of services.

Many of these services let you use some version of their services for free as long as you display their logo. Quite fair. However, your brand looks better and more credible without their logo on your website. You scream CHEAP and (less credible) when you have a “free website powered by GoDaddy” on your new t-shirt website.

Saving money is great. However cheap hurts you more than you think.

Invest In Your Business

Change your mindset and begin to INVEST in your business. If you’re not willing to invest in your own business, why should your customers. Do you believe in yourself enough that you’re willing to invest in it and put your best image forward?

Money and mindset go hand in hand. If you don’t have a growth mindset, willing to INVEST in your business to gain a greater future return, you won’t invest in it.

Frugal is great. However, being CHEAP at the expense of the growth of your business is not good.

Here’s a few ways you can save money on your software subscriptions:

1. Audit Regularly: Periodically review all your subscriptions and eliminate any that are no longer essential.
2. Bundle Services: Some providers offer bundled packages with several services at a discounted rate.
3. Annual Plans: Opt for yearly subscriptions instead of monthly. Many services offer discounts for longer-term commitments.
4. Negotiate Prices: Don’t hesitate to negotiate or ask if there’s a discount available, especially if you’re a long-term customer.
5. Loyalty Discounts: Some providers offer discounts or bonuses for long-term customers. Ask about loyalty benefits.
6. Downgrade Plans: Review features and see if you can function on a less expensive plan. You might not need all the premium features you’re paying for.
7. Use Free Versions: Many software applications offer free versions with basic features that may suffice for smaller businesses.
8. Group Licenses: Some software providers offer group or bulk licenses at discounted rates.
9. Open Source Alternatives: Consider using open-source software, which is often free and can be just as powerful as their commercial counterparts.
10. Employee Training: Ensure your employees are well-trained on software to avoid the costs of unnecessary upgrades or additional tools.
11. Avoid Overlapping Tools: Make sure you’re not subscribed to multiple tools that serve the same purpose.
12. Referral Discounts: Some companies offer discounts for referring other businesses or customers.
13. Early Payment Discounts: Some providers might offer discounts for paying bills early.
14. Beta Testing: Offer to be a beta tester for new software. Companies sometimes give testers free access in exchange for feedback.
15. Monitor Usage: Some tools charge based on usage. Ensure you’re not paying for a higher tier than you actually need.
16. Review Contracts: Before auto-renewals, review contracts to check if you’re still getting a competitive rate.
17. Join Online Communities: Online forums or business communities often share exclusive deals, discounts, or group-buy opportunities.
18. Use One Comprehensive Tool: Instead of multiple tools, consider using comprehensive business management software that covers several needs in one.
19. Limit User Licenses: Only pay for licenses for employees who truly need access. Regularly review and adjust.
20. Promotional Offers: Keep an eye out for promotional offers, especially during holiday sales or end-of-year deals. This could be a good time to purchase or renew a subscription.