Re: Squeezing every cent from every dollar...

First, I couldn't agree more with Mark's suggestion. One of my operating principals has always been to not buy anything until we absolutely need it. We also delay updates to new versions of software packages / suites as one means of spending only when we've got it. New features are cool, but not always necessary right away.

Second, it may seem a bit obvious, but... one of the best ways to protect the bottom line is by paying a lot of attention to pumping up the top line (gross sales).

How much are you doing to keep in touch with current and past customers? The holidays provides a great excuse for sending out gifts small and large. We routinely do a different promo piece each year that ends up costing us $3,500 to $4,000 by the time the item, the packaging, the wrapping labor and postage are figured in. It goes to 150+ of our customers as well as a few key suppliers. Why? Because it helps keep us top of mind and that's always good for the top line.