Save Money by Buying in Bulk

In many cases, you get a lower per-unit cost on office supplies when you buy them in bulk. Legal pads that cost $1 each, for example, may only cost 60 cents each when you buy them in a pack of 10.

Buying in bulk doesn't always guarantee savings though. With more expensive products, such

If you don't see a difference in price between the individual and bulk prices, contact the supply vendor and ask whether they offer volume discounts. Often, bulk prices are not advertised.

There are other advantages to buying in bulk besides lower prices. Many office supply vendors offer free delivery if you buy more than a certain amount (usually $50 for local deliveries). And if your business is large enough, ask your office supply vendor about corporate discounts or frequent-buyer programs — those can add up to serious savings if your business qualifies. Even if you're not big enough to qualify for a corporate discount on your own, you may be able to combine your office supply orders with one or two neighboring small businesses to get a price break.