When a small business is struggling, the first instinct is almost always to sell more. More marketing, more outreach, more networking, a new offer. Sales matter, of course. But growing revenue is slow and uncertain. A new client might take months to land, and might not come at all.

The other side of the equation gets far less attention: what the business spends. Over a few years, most small businesses quietly collect costs. Software subscriptions nobody uses anymore. A phone plan that’s twice what it should be. Insurance that hasn’t been compared in years. Services that made sense once and don’t now. Each one is small. Together they can add up to a serious amount every month.

Every dollar you stop spending is a dollar of profit, right away, with no sale required. A full review of your costs usually takes an afternoon and pays off for years.

Pull three months of statements. Business bank account and credit cards. Three months is enough to catch most monthly and quarterly charges.

List every recurring cost. Software, subscriptions, phone and internet, insurance, memberships, rent, contractors and anything else that charges you on a schedule. Include the amount and how often.

Sort them into three groups. Keep: things you clearly need and use. Question: things you use but might be paying too much for. Cancel: things you don’t use or don’t need.

Cancel the obvious ones today. Unused subscriptions and forgotten trials are the easiest savings there are.

Call about the rest. For anything in the “question” group, ask the provider for a better rate, a cheaper plan or a discount for paying annually. Many will offer one, especially if you mention you’re comparing options.

I’ve been a customer for three years and I’m reviewing all my business costs. Is there a lower-cost plan or a discount you can offer to keep my account?

Compare the big ones. Insurance, phone, internet and software are often worth getting a quote from a competitor. Even if you don’t switch, it gives you a number to negotiate with.

Then put a reminder on your calendar to repeat the review every six months. Costs creep back in, and a regular check keeps them under control.