• Simple banking habits that lower operating costs. 
  • Faster, cleaner payments that boost cash flow.
  • Fraud controls that save thousands with a few clicks.
  • Smart account structure to reduce fees and earn more.
  • Low-cost cybersecurity steps that shrink insurance premiums.

If you think the cost of running a business is rising, you're not imagining it. Cybersecurity spend and insurance premiums are climbing; new regulations add steps to everyday processes; freight and utilities remain stubbornly high; labor costs continue to rise in almost every industry.

Instead of stressing over the broader economy, get more out of what you have by pulling the levers you can control. Let's explore ten low-friction actions you may take to improve cash flow, reduce avoidable fees, and prevent expensive mistakes.

10 Ways To Save Without Hurting Your Growth

PNC has been helping small business owners build smart banking habits to lower everyday costs and strengthen resilience. Here’s how to protect margins now and reduce surprise expenses later.

1. Match the Payment Rail to the Job

Choosing the lowest-cost, fit-for-purpose payment method helps you reduce fees. For example, use cards or mobile wallets for fast checkouts, ACH to handle larger or scheduled invoices, and real-time payments only for true emergencies.

2. Digitalize Receivables

Send e-invoices with embedded payment links so customers can pay in a few clicks, not a few days. Clean digital inflows speed up deposits, reduce late fees, and shrink interest costs on lines of credit.

3. Use Analyzed Checking With an Earning Credit

High activity accounts often qualify to offset service charges when you maintain a modest target balance. Sweep anything above the target into a savings or money market account to earn more interest.

4. Turn Speed into Savings

Faster inflow via RTP® or same-day ACH enables you to shorten borrowing windows and reduce the need to carry "just in case" cash over weekends. Meanwhile, scheduling payments to agreed terms helps prevent late fees.

5. Nip Fraud in the Bud

Preventing fraud is much cheaper than recovering from one, and a few precautions go a long way. Enable simple banking controls like dual approvals, Positive Pay with payee match, and ACH blocks or filters. Also, turn on alerts for large debits, new payees, and unusual return activities.

6. Adopt a "Verify Before You Pay" Rule

Instead of accepting email requests, always phone a known contact (not the number in the email) before processing vendor bank-detail changes. Also, standardize your workflows to hold first-time payments for 24 hours.

7. Automate Tax and Compliance Set-Asides

Reserve a percentage of every deposit into a subaccount dedicated to tax or fees. Use consistent labeling and e-statements to reduce tax prep time, avoid penalties, and simplify audits.

8. Support Renegotiation With Data

Use payment history and merchant reports to highlight your reliability and volume during contract renegotiations. Moreover, offer faster electronic payment to vendors in exchange for improved terms, discounts, or freight rates.

9. Strengthen Cybersecurity on a Budget

Reduce breach risk and cyber-insurance premiums with these low-cost measures: Turn on multi-factor authentication (MFA), use a password manager, automate device updates, and conduct quarterly access reviews.

10. Audit Subscription and Creeping Fees

Review your monthly debits for unused software, duplicate apps, and out-of- contract services. Cancel or consolidate them to lower your overhead.

Keep Costs Manageable With Smart Habits

Rising operating expenses are frustrating, but you may be able to control how money moves through your business to reduce fees and preserve margins. Small changes, like choosing the right payment rail, tightening fraud controls, and structuring accounts strategically, may have cost-saving impacts.

An experienced banking partner that understands the needs of small businesses can help you make small but impactful adjustments. Book an appointment with our business banker today and see how we may be able to help you build a resilient financial foundation.