Many small-business owners know where their money comes from, but are not as clear on where it goes. This can have a significant impact on their businesses’ cash flow.

It’s important to review your expenses regularly – every quarter if possible – so you can accurately manage your outgoing expenditures and look for ways to save.

Demos Parneros, president of U.S. stores at Staples Inc., provides the following suggestions to save your business money.

* Buy last year’s model. Furniture, computers, PDAs – there is always something new. This also means that there is always something old. If you wait until the end of the year or for sales throughout the year, you can save on your office needs.

* Buy in bulk and buy ahead. By buying commonly used items in large quantities, you can save a lot. Replenish your supplies before you run out. Thinking ahead, and thus buying ahead, gives you a chance to comparison shop and take advantage of sales.

* Buy products that save money. Consider quality alternatives to national brands. Staples ink and toner products, for example, offer consumers quality products at a 15 percent to 20 percent cost-savings per cartridge.

* Take advantage of discounts. Professional and trade associations often offer their members discounts on insurance, travel, shipping and other common expenses. Similarly, some credit cards, like the American Express Corporate Card for Small Business, may get you discounts as well.

* Save on mail costs. Mail costs for your business can add up fast. To save money, use postcards or consolidate shipping. You also can buy or lease a postage meter or get a mail scale to eliminate overpaying.

1) Forklift operating area separated from pedestrians
2) Pedestrian access to forklift work areas restricted by barriers
3) Pedestrian walkways clearly marked and provided
4) Forklift in operation signs
5) Mirrors for drivers and pedestrians provided at all blind spots
6) Changes to workplace daily schedule communicated to ALL affected employees for forklift use
7) Forklift and tires suitable for use on all operating surfaces at this workplace
Seatbelt fitted to the forklift and used
9) Seat is in good shape
10) Forklift is on a regular maintenance schedule
11) Forklift is inspected and is certified each year
12) Forklift an appropriate size for the tasks
13) Forklift has a readable load chart
14) Operators understand the load chart
15) Load chart indicate the safe capacity for different attachments and is rated for each
16) Forklift fitted with correctly operating warning devices (horn works, turn signal and brake and reverse lights work, reversing beeper)
17) Forklift has a correctly operating speed control device fitted
18) Overhead cage is fitted on the forklift
19) Forklift operators hold an appropriate certificate for operation
20) Uncertified forklift operators are directly supervised in sight of an authorized person
21) Forklift operators observe speed limits and warning signs
22) Forklift operators receive appropriate training and instruction on all models of forklifts in operation and on workplace hazards and safe work procedures
23) Forklift operators understand the requirement to report any equipment damage and forklift incidents
24) Use a pre-test checklist at the beginning of each shift

If you have answered “yes” to these points, congratulations on a fine job on forklift safety. If you did answer “no” to a few, just make adjustments and introduce the policies to your employees and make sure if you do have visitors on the floor, to make sure everyone knows of the safety policies. Make everyone safe.

One inquiry on their personal credit report in a given year
54% of credit holders carry a balance of less then $5,000 on all debts other then a mortgage
Have access to $12,190 on all credit cards combined

“Now are entrepreneurs, like you, the typical consumer?” I asked one of my clients (J.G.). “No.”, said J.G.. “You will see that as an entrepreneur, we have several more credit needs then the average consumer. So when the personal credit bureaus compare us to the average consumer, our credit consumption is not normal. Which is why your credit score lowered since starting your business.” “That’s not fair” said J.G. My reply, “If you don’t understand how the system works, you’re right.”

Let’s look at J.G.’s situation. He has applied several times with suppliers for various credit lines over the last year. Each inquiry will likely drop his credit score approximately 5-10 points. The credit bureaus as suppose to lump three together and only drop 5-10 for the three, we’ll see if it happens. He also has a $60,000 line of credit available and carries a balance of $42,000. Both the amount of credit and balance are more then the consumer average which can hurt his score as well. This is without looking at anything else in the business or his personal life.

If J.G. had just taken the time to develop a business credit profile and start establishing basic lines of credit in the business name and then slowly build the businesses credit over time, he may never have ended up without the ability to buy the home he and his family wanted.

This is why I have written books and developed products and services with our company, Business Credit Services, to provide an education to the entrepreneur on how to “become the typical consumer again” and “separate your personal and business life”.