Why Cutting People Isn’t Always the Answer

When there’s a financial issue, companies cut people. According to Deloitte in 2025, 84% of companies, when faced with a crisis, implement layoffs as a first step. But should they? Sarah Jennings says no.

BrightWave Digital is a marketing company with 42 employees owned by CEO Sarah Jennings. Earlier this year, her company was in trouble. Within 6 months, revenue dropped nearly 50%. Costs were rising. Sarah’s trusted mentors were encouraging her to lay people off.

But she refused.

Sarah believes her employees are the lifeblood of her business. Instead, she evaluated where money was being spent and made adjustments in other areas. After diving deep into the company’s money flow, her findings were extraordinary—and it turned her company around.

Where Is The Money Going?

Sarah started with a review of all expenses. What is BrightWave spending money on every month? 3 areas stood out:

• Graphic design costs $18K/month
• Marketing efforts cost $12K/month
• Landing page development costs $9.5K/month

These three expenditures took over 65% of her monthly budget. Without action soon, she’d be out of business in one quarter’s time. “I realized that my biggest expenses were not the staff, but the platforms and services we were paying every month to get things done,” she said. “This gave me hope. Maybe we can solve this problem without losing an employee.”es we used to get work done. That gave me hope. Maybe we could fix this without losing anyone.”

Step 1: Reduce Graphic Design Spend with Penji

BrightWave spent a significant amount of money on freelance designers and in-house designers. While the work was always satisfactory, the payments fluctuated. Last-minute designs due to client requests multiplied the graphic design monthly charges up to four times some months.

Sarah turned to Penji, a flat-rate graphic design service starting at $499/month. Penji offered her and her team access to its in-house team, able to do anything from social media graphics to PowerPoint decks. No hidden fees, no per-project charges—just a flat, monthly fee.

The results were:

• Design expense went down from $18K to $4.5K/month
• Turnaround time went from 5 days to 1-2 days
• Consistency improved across all designed tasks

“The design work with Penji became predictable because we knew what we had to spend and got much more done quicker,” Sarah said.

Business Owner Tip: If your design needs fluctuate month over month, a flat-rate service will save you time and money. Pay attention to how your service is used to maximize your benefit.

Pros: Predictable costs, quick turnaround, unlimited submissions.

Cons: Favors digital work over personal, creative collaboration.

Step 2: Automate Ad Spend with Adaptify

This could be another administrative expense challenge with manual ad spending management. The marketing team would spend hours testing ads, modifying budgets, and assessing what would work; error results meant lost, unreported income.

For $299/month, Sarah used Adaptify, an AI service that manages ad spend. Adaptify automatically adjusted spending amounts, targeted audiences, and rotated effective creatives—24/7. No human on Sarah’s team could put in that amount of time.

Results included:

• Ad spending decreased by 35%
• Return on investment grew by 28% per campaign
• Her marketing team could prioritize creative goals instead of mundane tasks

“Adaptify does the work of 3 specialists; it pays for itself almost immediately,” Sarah said.

Business Owner Tip: If you deal with time-consuming functions, consider automated services. While AI may never replace creativity, it can alleviate mundane tasks that suck your employees’ time.

Pros: Lowers costs; increases results; saves employee time.

Cons: Needs initial set-up and supervision.

Step 3: Use Flowpages for Faster Landing Pages

BrightWave hires freelancers for client landing page work. Each landing page costs between $800-$1,000 and takes several weeks to develop. This delays campaigns and frustrates clients.

For $79/month, Sarah used Flowpages, a drag-and-drop landing page creator. Now her in-house marketers can develop their landing pages in a matter of hours.

The results were:

• Landing page expenses decreased by 90%
• Campaigns go live four times faster
• Clients reported quicker turnaround and improved results.

“Flowpages eliminated one of our biggest bottlenecks,” Sarah explained. “We can facilitate client requests quickly instead of leaving them without a page for weeks.”

Business Owner Tip: Speed is crucial! The faster you can get campaigns up and running, the more customer satisfaction and revenue you’ll see.

Pros: Cheap, easy implementation, quick turnaround time.

Cons: Limited options for lengthy, elaborate custom pages.

The Big Picture: 70% Savings Without Layoffs

After implementing these three tools within six months, here’s how BrightWave fared:

• Graphic design costs: down 75%
• Ad management costs: down 65%
• Landing pages: down 90%

Overall operating expenses decreased by 70%, and all 42 employees kept their jobs. By Q3 2025, profitability came back, as did new client contracts due to sped-up deliverables and increased efficiencies.

“It’s because of technology that we could lower costs without decreasing headcounts,” Sarah concluded. “Now we’re running more efficiently than before.”

What Can You Learn?

What Sarah did is repeatable in any business. Here’s how:

• Look at your biggest expenses. Find out where your money truly goes monthly.
• Use flat-rate services. Services like Penji will create predictable and scalable budgets.
• Automate everything. Services like Adaptify save time and provide better ROIs.
• Empower your team. Services like Flowpages help your employees do more without additional spending.
• Assess regularly. Sarah didn’t just implement constantly; she tracked success to keep focus on her goal.

Cutting costs doesn’t mean cutting people. With the right approaches to resources and strategy implementation, you can cut costs and maintain your workforce while creating a better company for the future.

Want to read more success stories? Check out OwnersMag.com for tangible tips and resources from successful entrepreneurs.

Believe it or not, networking works. If you want to grow your business, you need to connect with people and apply networking tips – whether in face-to-face meetings, hybrid events, or online meetings. And when you want networking to work for you, you must be pushy and assertive but polite.

Read here to know the ways to improve at networking:

1. Identify Your Goals

The first thing you need to do is to determine what you want to get out of the task. Ask yourself, what am I looking for? Once you understand your goals and objectives, it’s easier to identify which events to go to. This way, you can find which ones are better aligned with your business to get more productive results. This will also assure you that your efforts won’t go to waste.

2. Research the Events

Once you determine your goals and line up a few events to go to, do a bit of research. Try to get as much data about them as possible. It is also highly recommended that you get to know the people attending these events. If you see a company you’re interested in, you should find out more about it before going.

In 2025, research isn’t limited to physical events. Many networking opportunities now happen online or in hybrid formats. Before joining, check if the event has a digital platform or app where you can view the agenda, profiles of attendees, and discussion threads. Preparing your LinkedIn profile or digital business card in advance will make it easier to connect with others, even virtually. Taking the time to engage in pre-event online conversations or forums can also help you stand out and build rapport before you meet people in person.

3. Wear the Appropriate Clothing

They say, “dress to impress,” and this rings true when attending networking events. Choose clothes that will make you feel comfortable while suitably dressed for the occasion. You can wear bright-colored clothes for a casual event and be the ice-breaker. Or add an accessory that can be a conversation starter. This way, socializing becomes more effortless and you will get more people to network with.

One of the ways to improve at networking in terms of fashion is to focus not just on formality, but on authenticity and sustainability. Many professionals now prefer smart-casual looks that reflect their personal brand while also considering eco-friendly or minimalist fashion choices.

For hybrid or online events, remember that your on-screen presence matters too: choose solid colors that look good on camera, avoid overly busy patterns, and ensure good lighting. Dressing in a way that aligns with your values and professional identity will make you more memorable in both physical and virtual spaces.

4. Practice Makes Perfect

It pays to rehearse what you’ll say to people about your company. You can stand in front of a mirror and practice your pitch so you won’t have to forget an important detail. Remember to include your achievements to make them see how your business will help them improve theirs. A little bit of humble brag will go a long way.

5. Create a Killer Business Card

There will be exchanges of business cards at these events, so make sure that yours will stand out. There are many websites you can go to where you can design your own. Ensure that all pertinent data is on it, so people aren’t left hanging. In addition, make sure that your design will grab attention and won’t have the card end up in the trash bin.

These days, business cards aren’t just physical, but digital too. Many professionals now use QR codes, NFC-enabled cards, or LinkedIn QR sharing to exchange details instantly. Having a sleek digital business card or profile ready ensures you’re remembered even after the event ends. For in-person events, a thoughtfully designed physical card still makes an impression, but pairing it with a scannable digital version gives your contacts more ways to connect. This hybrid approach prevents your information from being lost and makes follow-ups easier.

6. Be Prepared

Also included in the best ways to improve at networking is to set yourself at ease and relax, especially if it’s going to be a long event. Get your socializing skills warmed up by getting a drink, if applicable. This can also set the mood for the event to help you start talking to people. Once you get the conversation going, you should engage in active listening. 

As much as you want people to absorb what you’re saying, you should do the same. Allot a time for each person you talk to and stick to that time. Then, excuse yourself politely to start conversing with other people. Hand over your business card and move on to the next prospect.

Don’t worry about offending people; many networking event attendees understand the transactional nature of them. Give them a promise to follow up and end the conversation. 

7. Follow the Best Practices

After you go to one event, analyze your moves and try to make a pattern of what worked. This can help you avoid mistakes such as wasting your time with one company and other similar situations. Also, think of the best lines that will quickly convey your message. Think of networking as speed dating, so arm yourself with the best pickup lines.

In 2025, best practices go beyond clever one-liners. Many networking platforms now use AI-powered apps that track who you’ve met, remind you to follow up, and even suggest conversation starters. After events—whether in-person or virtual—take time to review not just who you spoke with but also how you engaged online, such as LinkedIn comments, virtual chatrooms, or community follow-ups.

One of the most important ways to improve at networking is to focus on building authentic, long-term connections rather than just rapid-fire introductions. Documenting key insights digitally will help you refine your approach for the next event and create a more intentional networking strategy.

Fiverr vs Canva vs Penji – which one should you choose?

Strong graphic design is no longer optional—it’s essential for standing out in today’s competitive market. Skimping on design could mean losing ground to competitors who are investing in high-quality visuals.

The good news? Accessing professional design has never been easier. From hiring skilled freelancers to creating your own designs or using subscription-based services, the options are vast. In this post, we’ll compare Fiverr vs Penji vs Canva, highlighting the leading choice in each category so you can find the best fit for your brand’s needs.

Companies Overview

Let’s start our Fiverr vs Canva vs Penji review with a brief introduction to each company.

Fiverr

Fiverr is a freelance gig platform for hiring remote workers, like web developers, podcast editors, video editors, and many more. Graphic designers are also available to hire on Fiverr with a wide scope of services. On Fiverr, you can browse various design styles to find the right designer for your project.

Penji

One of the highest-rated design services, Penji is a subscription-based graphic design service. You can subscribe and request as many designs projects as you want on a rolling basis. With Penji, you get access to 120+ design types, including web and app designs, presentation designs, motion designs, and illustrations. Plus access to art directors or project managers depending on what tier you choose.

Canva

Canva is a do-it-yourself graphic design application that will help you design anything related to your business. You don’t need graphic design experience to use Canva. They offer templates to help you get started with designs like YouTube thumbnails or ads. Plus, you can edit those templates based on your unique branding.

Fiverr vs Canva vs Penji Features

Next in our Fiverr vs Canva vs Penji showdown, let’s check out the features of each to see which one reigns supreme.

Fiverr

Fiverr provides businesses with two ways to find freelancers. First, you can find them using the search bar. Type “graphic designer” and find available designers to collaborate with. You can narrow your search by finding designers based on your design needs. For instance, you can browse “logo designers” instead of graphic designers.

As you select graphic designers, you can see that designers offer various plans depending on your design project. Plus, they indicate the following:

• Number of designs they can create
• Number of revisions
• Turnaround time

Plus, you can also find reviews from previous clients to know their working experience with one of your top choices.

The other way to find freelancers is the Fiverr Enterprise platform. Fiverr specialists will help you find the best graphic designers, creatives, and other employees for your team. Plus, the platform includes onboarding, management, payment, and compliance.

Penji

Penji has many features to get you started, from submitting your first request to chatting directly with your designers. You simply click “Create” in the top right corner of the dashboard, submit your design brief, and get matched with the appropriate designer right away.

Here’s what to expect when subscribed to Penji:

• Request 120+ designs
• Get matched with the best designer for your project
• Swap designers if needed
• Manage multiple brands
• Point and click revisions
• Team collaboration
• Designer chat window
• Real-time updates

Canva

Meanwhile, Canva is a software loaded with many intuitive features to help you design your own projects. Features depend on the plan you choose. However, here are the basics:

• Drag-and-drop editor
• Access to 1 million templates, 3 million photos and videos, and thousands of design types
• AI-generated designs
• Printing and delivery

However, if you need more than that, you can access the following on the paid plans:

• Resize and translate designs
• Brand kits
• Remove backgrounds
• 1TB of cloud storage
• 24/7 customer support

Turnaround Time

Turnaround time for Fiverr freelancers depends heavily on the graphic designer. They will indicate how long the delivery date would be. Some designers are quick (1-2 days), while others will take weeks for more involved projects.

Penji guarantees a 1 to 2-day turnaround time on most designs. If you’re subscribed to the Agency plan, they can even ensure same-day turnaround. However, complex projects like web or app designs will take longer.

Of course, if you’re using Canva, turnaround time is simply however long the project takes you! Again, this can vary depending on your design skills and whether or not you find the design elements you’re looking for.

Fiverr vs Canva vs Penji Pricing

Fiverr pricing depends on what designs you need. But as the name suggests, Fiverr refers to the $5 starting point that freelancers can charge clients with when working with them. However, there’s always the risk of poor quality. It’s best to vet each designer carefully and choose something reasonably priced.

Penji’s pricing is simple because you pay a flat monthly rate for all design work. Here are the pricing options depending on what tier of service you choose:

Lastly, Canva has three pricing tiers, depending on your needs and budget.

• Canva – Free
• Canva Pro – $15/mo
• Canva for Teams – $10/mo (minimum 3 users)

Design Work and Production

Next, let’s see Fiverr vs Canva vs Penji in terms of design work and production.

Design work by Fiverr freelancers varies from experience level to design specialties. Many Fiverr freelancers produce decent work for clients, considering the rates they charge. However, not all design work from Fiverr is 100% the best. Considering Fiverr is the best for short-term work, expect one or a few design variations for a project.

For Canva, we can use templates as the point of comparison for design work. Thousands of creators submit their templates to the graphic design software. Many templates look the same because it is the trend or looks modern. Regardless, Canva templates look decent to use as the base design for your brand. However, you need to modify it to your brand to avoid using similar templates from competitors or other brands.

Finally, Penji produces highly custom designs for clients. Because the price point is a bit higher, their design team can take the time to ensure you get the exact version of what you’re looking for. Penji isn’t a freelance platform, so you may get the chance to work with the same designers again and again (especially if you prefer their work).

Competitor Analysis

One fair comparison to make is between Fiverr and Penji since both deal with actual designers and their work. Here are a couple of comparison points for these two services to help you narrow your options further.

• Design variations – Fiverr freelancers can create a few variations. Meanwhile, Penji designers can produce multiple variations since you can switch between designers.
• Work volume – Fiverr designers can produce a limited number of designs, depending on plan inclusions. Ideally, they’re a good option for one-off projects. However, Penji can produce more than 10+ designs, especially if you have a monthly volume of designs.
• Comfort – Penji allows you to sit back and run your company since it’s an extension of your team. Meanwhile, you need to browse and interview freelancers on Fiverr. Plus, you have to worry about payment and management.

But if we were to put Canva back into the equation, Canva has the upper hand in pricing. Plus, if you’re creative enough, you can produce great brand designs without the help of designers.

Final Thoughts

Graphic design work can be done and delivered in three main ways: doing it yourself, hiring a freelancer, or subscribing to a graphic design service.

As we’ve seen in this three-way Fiverr vs Canva vs Penji showdown, each has its strengths and weaknesses. The three services have different models, which could benefit users or subscribers in getting their designs. It’s up to you which is the best design service for your situation. Good luck!