The 'Overhead' Audit: Finding €10,000 in Your Filing Cabinet

Profit is not just about making more money. It is about keeping the money you already made. I recently watched a business owner stress about landing a €10,000 contract, while simultaneously wasting €10,000 in lazy overheads.

He was filling the bucket while leaving the plug out.

The 2-Hour Audit Protocol

You need to set aside two hours. No phone. No emails. Just you and your bank statements. Go through every line item. Apply the Incrementum Rule: "Does this expense help me get a customer or keep a customer? If not, kill it."

The "Silent" Killers

Here is where the money is hiding:

Vendor Lethargy

When was the last time you audited your suppliers? Your internet provider? Your insurance? If you haven't switched in 2 years, you are paying the "Lazy Tax." A simple call can drop rates by 15-20%.

The "Middleman" Markup

Are you paying a cleaning company? They pay the cleaner 30% and keep 70%. Hire the student directly and pocket the difference.

Credit Card Fees

Compare your merchant rates. The difference between 2.5% and 1.5% is pure profit.

The Supplier Shake-Down

Don't just accept price increases. If a supplier says, "Prices are going up 5%," do not shrug. Get a quote from their competitor. Send it to them. Ask them to match it.

If you save €500 a month on supplies, that is the equivalent of selling an extra €60,000 worth of goods (at a 10% net margin).

Stop working harder. Start buying smarter.