5 Tips on How to Choose the Right Supplies for Your Small Business

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Small businesses are crucial to the local and national economy. They provide products and services that larger companies may not be able to. However, just like any other business, small businesses need supplies in order to operate. 

Regardless of industry, there are several things to consider when purchasing supplies for your small business. By considering these tips, you can get a head start on making your small business successful.

How to Choose the Right Small Business Supplies

1. Zero in on what you need most

For starters, you need to factor in what kind of business you’re running. That will help you figure out the must-have supplies for your business. A daycare would probably need to stock up on things like snacks and wipes, while a real estate agency might need pens and paper clips. Also think about how often you need to restock your basic supplies—weekly, monthly, quarterly or even yearly. 

Once that’s taken care of, you can start thinking about small business supplies that will help elevate the business. These could be as small as peppermints at the front cash register in a restaurant or a free bag of flossers after a dental appointment.

2. If possible, buy in bulk

Small business owners need to be smart with their budgets, and one of the best ways to get the most bang for their buck is to order supplies in bulk. This decreases the price per unit, resulting in substantial savings over time.

Bulk ordering is a smart way to save money, but only do it for supplies that you go through quickly. A good example is ketchup and mustard packets for restaurants—they’re always in need and customers go through them fast, so ordering in bulk will not only save you money, but also help ensure you don’t run out. On the other hand, your restaurant might only need to replace its tablecloths once or twice a year, so buying them in bulk wouldn’t be as helpful. 

3. Know who you’re working with

Make sure you do your due diligence as you search for the right supplier. It’s tempting to go with the business that offers you the lowest price, but don’t sacrifice quality for savings.

Newer suppliers might be untested, but they may also be more amenable to negotiating prices in order to win your business. An older business might have a great reputation, but just because they were excellent years ago doesn’t mean they still are. Look for reviews to get a sense of the kinds of experiences current customers are having.

Even better, talk to other businesses in your community about the suppliers they’ve had good experiences with. Ask about suppliers’ reliability and customer service—you want to know how they’ll handle it if something goes wrong with your order.

4. Track your inventory

This might sound obvious, but when it comes to managing your small business supplies, it’s important to know what you have and what you need. Keeping an accurate, up-to-date inventory lets you know at a glance what you’ll need to order and when, which is crucial for managing your cashflow. You don’t want to suddenly have to stock your shelves with rush delivery because you ran out of something vital. 

Most point-of-sale systems can integrate with tracking software and update it automatically whenever anything is sold or used. Even if you have to do it manually, it’s worth knowing what you have on hand. Tracking your inventory over time can also give you insight into what your customers like most. If you’re regularly running out of one particular item, you know that’s a favorite. 

5. Stay true to your values

Every element of your business is a reflection of your values as a small business owner. Even something as simple as the supplies you use can tell potential customers what you stand for.

If sustainability is something you care about, make sure you’re looking for suppliers that share those goals. Sourcing supplies locally lets customers know that you’re willing to invest in the community. Research increasingly shows that shoppers want to buy from businesses that share their values, so make sure you let customers know where you stand!

Make Walmart Business your partner for small business supplies

Walmart Business is here to help when it’s time to stock up on the small business supplies you need. Subscriptions make sure you have what you need, when you need it, and a Walmart Business+ membership can unlock additional savings such as free shipping,¹ free delivery from store on orders over $35² and 2% rewards for purchases over $250.³ It can all add up to over $500 in savings a year!⁴ Learn more here.

¹ Excludes most Marketplace items, freight and certain location surcharges.

² Restrictions apply. 

³ Rewards can only be used toward future purchases on Walmart Business. Additional terms apply.

⁴ Savings based on 1 free $35+ delivery order vs. $9.95 fee and 1 free shipping order under $35 vs. $6.99 fee biweekly, plus 2% Walmart Business rewards on monthly order >$250 (average value of $400).