How to choose the best business supplier

Finding the best business supplier for your start-up can be a challenge, but our guide to choosing the best supplier – from IT and equipment suppliers to manufacturers – will help avoid problems as your business grows.

Business suppliers come in all forms, and choosing the right one for your business is a vital part of any business strategy.

Get the best business supplier, and you’ll benefit from an efficient supply chain that can make your business more profitable.

Get it wrong, and supply problems can delay production, vital equipment and even cause your business to fail.

Suppliers form the foundation of your business.

Even if you're a sole trader, you'll need to source materials – from office stationery and a mobile phone contract, to raw materials that you'll use to make your products.

Making sure that you choose the best business supplier and have safeguards in place to minimise problems should they let you down, will help protect your business.

Suppliers fall into four camps: distributors, manufacturers, specialists and import sources.

Distributors act as a bridge between manufacturers and businesses, handling lower quantities orders than a business would need to place directly with a manufacturer.

Specialists offer bespoke and unique goods, while import sources supply goods from overseas for resale in a local market.

Most small businesses will deal with distributors – whether an IT equipment distributor or a reseller of materials that you use in the operation of your business.

How to find the best supplier

Draw up a list of potential suppliers – search the internet for examples of companies that supply what you're looking for.

Check their credentials and clients – some suppliers list the businesses that they supply.

Look for online reviews of the supplier, and use search terms such as ‘supplier name problems' to get an insight into how they treat customers.

Contact some of your shortlisted suppliers to see how responsive and helpful they are – all signs of good customer service. An unresponsive supplier should sound alarm bells.

Supplier price and location

For any small business, supplier pricing is important especially if funding is tight.

Call shortlisted suppliers to get and then compare quotes.

Narrow the list to two or three suppliers and contact each, explaining your new venture and that you're looking for a longer term partnership – it can be useful to see which supplier is willing to lower prices in the short term to help your business.

Supplier location matters, too. Suppliers closer to your business can mean lower shipping costs.

Check delivery times and delivery schedules – how often and how quickly orders can be delivered.

Check supplier flexibility for adjusting orders and the notice needed, and how are products shipped.

Make sure you negotiate free delivery if you're placing sizable and regular orders.

Choosing the most stable supplier

While price is important, it shouldn't be the only reason to use a particular supplier.

Many businesses are exposed to financial problems as a result of supplier failure – especially if that supplier is critical to the operation of the business.

Supplier stability is more important in the long term, so look for one that's been in business for several years and has a good reputation.

Check how long their management team has been in place – a more established management team shows greater stability.

Find the most reliable supplier

After price and stability, supplier reliability will directly impact your business.

Late or lost delivers, poorly packaged goods and inconsistent communication can mean you spend more time chasing up a lacklustre supplier than actually running your business.

Speak to other customers – ask the supplier for references – and place a few, smaller orders to see how delivery works.

Generally, larger suppliers have better and more robust distribution networks and the capacity to handle problems – such as snow and wintry roads – so you continue to get your supplies.

However, small suppliers will spend more time on your business if you're one of their biggest clients – resulting in better deals and more attention.

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Disclaimer: The Start -Up Loans Company makes reasonable efforts to keep the content of this article up to date, but we do not guarantee or warrant (implied or otherwise) that it is current, accurate or complete. This article is intended for general information purposes only and does not constitute advice of any kind, including legal, financial, tax or other professional advice. You should always seek professional or specialist advice or support before doing anything on the basis of the content of this article. 

The Start-Up Loans Company is not liable for any loss or damage (foreseeable or not) that may come from relying on this article, whether as result of our negligence, breach of contract or otherwise. “Loss” includes (but is not limited to) any direct, indirect or consequential loss,  loss of income, revenue, benefits,  profits, opportunity, anticipated savings, data. We do not exclude liability for any liability which cannot be excluded or limited under English law. Reference to any person, organisation, business or event does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation from The Start-Up Loans Company, its parent company British Business Bank plc, or the UK Government. 

 

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