International trading company

Thin trade margins, and the company was overpaying across nearly every back-office category. The merchant rate was close to double market. A smaller payroll platform could deliver the same work for a quarter of the cost. The CPA retainer sat above actual scope. Freight had never been shopped against a broker network.

• Merchant processing
• Payroll processing
• CPA services
• Health insurance
• LTL freight
• Telecom
• Auto insurance
• Packaging materials
• Bank services

• Phase I targeted merchant processing, payroll, CPA services, health insurance, and LTL freight.
• Merchant processing was repriced to interchange-plus, cutting the effective rate by more than half.
• Payroll consolidated onto a single online platform.
• CPA services stayed with the same firm; we renegotiated scope and fee.
• Freight moved to a national broker network. Health insurance switched to a level-funded plan.
• Phase II covered telecom, auto insurance, packaging, and bank services.
• The relationship continued into 2024 with merchant processing and health plan design work.

Merchant processing

~57% savings

Repriced to interchange-plus, cutting the effective rate by more than half

Payroll processing

~81% savings

Consolidated onto a single online platform

CPA services

~61% savings

Same firm, renegotiated scope and fee

Freight (LTL)

~37% savings

Moved to a national broker network

Health insurance

~15% savings

Switched to a level-funded plan

Bank services

~19% savings

Rebid to a competing bank

Packaging materials

~18% savings

Consolidated to a lower-cost supplier

Phase I recurring

~$103,400/yr

Phase I blended reduction

~29%

Phase I 5-year value after fees

~$414,000

Phase II recurring

~$10,500/yr

Phase II 5-year value after fees

~$42,000

Combined recurring impact

~$114,000/yr

One-time refund identified

~$20,000

1. 01

   Merchant processing was the biggest lever

   A 57% cut on one line item funded most of the first-year return.

2. 02

   Payroll consolidation removed a redundant vendor

   A single platform cut cost 81% while reducing admin work.

3. 03

   The relationship compounded

   Two structured phases in the first 18 months, then continued reviews for years.