Business owners often grapple with cost control within acceptable thresholds without compromising the quality and output of their goods and services to maintain profitability. 

In today’s economy, inflation rates have risen to unprecedented levels. Businesses appear to be in a state of survival mode. As of March 2025, the consumer price index in the United States hovered around 2.4% – 2.8%, 2.6%- 2.8% in the United Kingdom, and 23%- 24.23% in Nigeria.

In light of these, it has become imperative to apply the fundamentals of cost management. . 

So, what is cost control? 

Cost control embodies the methods and processes used to manage or reduce expenses. However, while maintaining the quality of product and service delivery. It encompasses budgeting, variance analysis, and systematic identification of wastage across all levels of the business operation. 

What is profitability and how does cost control factor in? 

Profitability is when a busines generates more revenue than expenses. This is typically measured by margins (gross margin-revenue less cost of sales), (operating margin-gross profit less overheads), and (net margin-after all other expenses and taxes). A healthy profit margin is industry-specific and indicates operational efficiency and pricing power. Thus, it serves as a barometer of financial health. 

Key strategies for cost control 

1. Streamlining operations and process efficiency:  

To improve cost control, businesses need to assess operational processes. Then, evaluate the interdependencies across all functional units, eliminate low-value-adding activities, and then seek ways to automate iterative processes. 

Robust time management and project controls can also be implemented to prevent deadline overruns and labor cost creep. Spend-management platforms like Duplo with real-time dashboards can also be adopted to ensure early detection of budget variances. 

2. Strategic Sourcing and Procurement: 

Businesses can implement cost control associated with procurement processes by leveraging on the economies of scale which may require sourcing vendors both locally and globally. Then, evaluate the product or service price, by benchmarking against industry standards and other competitors; and the logistics involved to get the items to their destination at the right time and in the right quality. E-procurement tools can also be leveraged to streamline vendor selection and enforce compliance with negotiated rates.

3. Embracing Automation and Technology 

Businesses can also implement cost control by automating repetitive tasks such as invoicing or ticket management. 

Also, depending on the financial capacity, full-scale enterprise resource planning software, AI, and advanced analytics can be deployed to pinpoint high-impact cost drivers and enable predictive maintenance to lower downtime. 

4. Budgeting, Forecasting, and Variance Analysis 

Budgeting involves creating a detailed plan that outlines how you will implement cost control to cover your expenses, save for the future, and potentially invest for growth. This is achieved by drawing up periodic budgets for medium to long term, and forecasting for short term cycles. 

Implementing driver-based cost control and budgeting ties expense forecasts directly to operational metrics  (e.g., headcount, machine hours). Regular variance analysis against actuals flags overspending early, allowing corrective action before margins deteriorate. 

Profitability and Cost Control Maximizing Strategies 

1. Optimizing Pricing Strategies 

Businesses can adopt various pricing strategies taking into cognizance the peculiarity of the sector in which they operate. 

Here are a few pricing strategies that a business can adopt include: 

• Dynamic pricing is a strategy where businesses adjust the prices of their offerings  based on changing demand and market trends. Factors influencing dynamic pricing include supply and demand, competitor pricing, inventory levels, historical data, and  customer preferences. It is commonly used in industries like travel, hospitality, and  entertainment. It has the potential to unlock incremental margins.
  
• Value-based pricing is a strategy where businesses set prices of a product or service based on a consumer’s perceived value. Instead of calculating production costs and applying a standard markup, businesses gauge the perceived value to the customer and charge accordingly. This strategy is widely adopted by businesses that sell commoditized items.
  
• Monitoring sector-specific pricing power involves tracking and analyzing the prices of products or services offered by different businesses within the same industry. This way, businesses gain valuable insights into market trends, competitor strategies, and overall pricing dynamics. This information enables businesses to make informed decisions about their pricing strategies, ensuring they remain competitive and profitable. It helps tailor price increases without triggering customer attrition. This strategy is widely adopted by businesses in the tech and grocery sectors.

2. Enhancing Revenue Through Sales and Marketing 

• Upselling or complementary products or services- customers can be convinced to purchase more expensive items, upgrades, or other add-ons to generate more revenue. It can be as simple as exposing the customer to other options that were perhaps not considered. Goods and services that can be used together or add value to each other can also be marketed to customers as a bundle to generate more revenue and raise the average order value per transaction. Examples of such goods are air purifiers and filters,  events planning, and catering.
  
• Cross-selling and loyalty programs- A cross-selling strategy is a well-thought-out plan devised by a company to leverage its existing customer base and market presence. This strategy aims to capitalize on the trust and familiarity established with current clients by suggesting and promoting additional products/services that align with their needs,  preferences, or the original purchase. It involves various elements, such as product selection, customer segmentation, marketing tactics, and sales techniques, all tailored to maximize the likelihood of clients making additional purchases. The activities  deployed in achieving the objectives may include targeted marketing communications,  personalized product recommendations, bundled offerings, discounts, and loyalty  programs, 

3. Product Mix and Value Addition 

A business can maximize profit margins by creating a product mix. Product mix consists of product lines, which are associated items that consumers tend to use together or think of as similar products or services. 

Examples are beverages produced by Cadbury, Nestle, Coca Cola. Product mixes usually have dimensions such as

• Width– number of product lines offered by a company e.g. Coca-Cola offers fizzy drinks, table water, etc
• Length- total number of products in a company’s mix, e.g. Coke, Fanta, Sprite, and so on.
• Depth– number of variations within a product line e.g. Coca-Cola comes in varying types like Diet Coca-Cola, zero sugar, and sizes like 50 cl, 60 cl, etc
• Consistency- how closely related product lines are to each other e.g. Coke, Fanta, and Sprite are closely related to each other, which has given Coca-Cola a brand positioning advantage and also afforded them economies of scale in their product distribution.

A business can also adopt a value-addition strategy which involves creating products that command higher perceived value by consumers far beyond their cost of production. Examples are fine dining restaurants and quick service restaurants like Chicken Republic. Their products are sold at prices higher than their input cost, because of the perceived value created by the ambiance, packaging, taste and so on.

Integrating Cost and Profit Strategies 

In an environment of economic uncertainty and rising costs, businesses must adopt comprehensive cost-control measures and strategic pricing strategies to maintain profitability. By streamlining operations, leveraging technology, and making data-driven decisions, companies can navigate financial challenges and achieve sustainable growth. 

• Holistic Margin-Improvement Framework 

A comprehensive framework aligns cost levers such as procurement automation and process efficiency with revenue drivers like dynamic pricing and upselling. By adopting an end-to-end margin-management mindset, organizations ensure profitability becomes the decisive metric in every strategic decision. This Cost Improvement Model transcends traditional cost-cutting, embedding cost optimization into supply-chain and technology strategies to unlock sustainable value across the entire value chain. 

• Establishing Governance, Roles, and KPIs 

Strong governance underpins sustained margin discipline. Clear roles and responsibilities ensure accountability for both cost and revenue targets, while robust KPIs such as cost-per-unit, contribution margin, and upsell rate serve as objective performance measures.

• Real-Time KPI Monitoring & Analytics Dashboards 

Continuous monitoring via real-time dashboards empowers leaders to detect variances and implement corrective actions swiftly. Integrating data from ERP, procurement, and sales systems into a unified analytics platform improves margin visibility and responsiveness, enabling faster adaptation to market shifts. 

Conclusion 

By weaving together disciplined cost control and dynamic revenue management supported by a strategic, organization-wide framework; defined governance with clear roles, targets, and KPIs; and live analytics dashboards, businesses can sustainably maximize margins and secure long-term profitability. Such an integrated approach is the cornerstone of resilient, profitable growth in challenging economic landscapes