You don’t have to be a Wall Street Journal subscriber to know that the world is in the throes of a major economic upheaval. Economic events both foreign and domestic are significantly impacting businesses across the planet.

In this uncertain environment many small business owners are zealously watching their bottom line and cutting anything that doesn’t seem mission critical. But too many businesses are throwing the baby out with the bathwater and making budget cuts that cause more harm than good. That’s why business owners and managers need to really examine every cut and ask themselves if there’s another, better option.

Here’s an example of how this phenomenon works. A business owner may look at a cost like business card printing and think that it costs too much and eliminate them entirely. But maybe a better option is simply finding a printing company that offers better prices. After all, serious sales people need real business cards.

Even in tough times there are certain items businesses always need. So don’t nickel and dime your employees on essential costs like sale booklet printing and laptops. Give them the tools to do their jobs and you’ll reap the rewards in the form of increased revenues.