Time and focus, actually. Because if you are used to doing things a certain way, sometimes it takes a real effort to examine your systems and see where they've broken down or become burdensome. Remember, the point is not to rush out and buy all these new products or adopt all these new processes. The idea is to spend money on solutions that get to the root of the problem, stop the waste and let you quickly recapture your investment. Here is ASID's guide to reducing overhead across five key areas where design firms tend to leak the most money.
Facilities Consider sharing space with another designer or noncompeting firm.
Or get adjoining spaces that allow you to share a conference room - maybe even a receptionist and support staff. Start out by working from home and renting meeting space only when you need it. Compensate for modest facilities by investing in a great Web site. Staff Be conservative about full-time hires. Most new employers significantly underestimate labor costs.