Are Rising Costs Eating Into Your Practice?
October 15, 2026
Are Rising Costs Eating Into Your Practice?
5 Ways to Keep Rising Costs From Eating Into Your Practice
Inflation isn't the only thing getting more expensive. Sometimes, it's the journey from the warehouse to your practice.
Running a practice in dental, medical or healthcare has become an exercise in managing rising costs.
Staffing, rent, utilities, insurance, supplies and equipment all add up — and even when the price of an individual product hasn't changed, the cost of getting it to your practice might have.
The latest Australian data shows just how significant freight costs have become. In the year to June 2026, road freight prices rose 17.6%, while postal and courier services rose 10.8%. The ABS also reported that 36% of businesses in Health Care and Social Assistance identified freight or delivery costs as a reason their operating expenses had increased.¹
And sometimes, the reason for an increase isn't immediately obvious.
Consider dangerous goods freight.
Here's a real-world example we're currently seeing.
When certain dangerous goods are being transported, there are restrictions on which routes they can take. Restrictions around tunnels, bridges and other routes can mean a delivery has to take a longer journey to reach its destination.
For some StarTrack dangerous-goods shipments, we're currently seeing an additional $12.50 charge for every 5kg shipped.
That's a cost the practice receiving the order may not even realise they're paying for.
And it's a good reminder that the price of a product isn't always the true cost of purchasing it.
So, what can practices actually do?
5 practical ways to manage rising costs
1. Stop looking at the price on the bottle
A $50 product isn't necessarily cheaper than a $60 product.
Look at the cost per use.
Ask:
- How much product is required each time?
- How many applications do I get from one bottle?
- Is it ready-to-use or does it require dilution?
- How frequently do I need to reorder?
A slightly higher purchase price can sometimes represent better value if the product lasts longer or requires less per application.
Calculate the cost of using the product — not just buying it.
2. Look at your freight bill
Freight can be one of those expenses that quietly creeps up without anyone really examining it.
Look at your last few invoices and ask:
What am I actually paying for?
Is it:
- the weight of the product?
- dangerous-goods handling?
- fuel surcharges?
- small, frequent deliveries?
- oversized packaging?
- remote-area charges?
- multiple delivery fees?
You may find that the cost of getting a product to your practice is becoming a significant part of what you're actually paying.
And if you're ordering dangerous goods, ask your supplier how freight is calculated. There may be additional charges you're not aware of.
3. Consolidate orders where it makes sense
If you're regularly ordering the same consumables, look at whether you can reduce the number of deliveries.
Instead of:
Small order → freight → small order → freight → small order → freight
consider whether:
One appropriately sized order → one delivery
could work better.
Obviously, this only makes sense if you have suitable storage and the products have an appropriate shelf life.
But it's worth doing the maths.
Don't just ask, “What does this product cost?” Ask: “What does it cost me every time I order it?”
4. Audit your cleaning cupboard
This might be the easiest place to find savings.
Take 15 minutes and look at everything you're buying for cleaning and infection control.
How many different products are there?
Do you have:
- one product for cleaning?
- another for disinfecting?
- separate products for different surfaces?
- different wipes for different jobs?
- products that are rarely used?
- products that overlap in what they do?
This isn't about cutting corners. It's about removing unnecessary complexity.
Where appropriate, look at whether products can perform multiple functions and whether your cleaning processes can be simplified without compromising infection-control requirements.
And if you're unsure whether a product is appropriate for a particular surface or piece of equipment, check the manufacturer's instructions.
For more on what to look for when choosing cleaning and disinfecting products, see our previous article: What’s Really in Your Cleaning Products?
5. Ask your suppliers better questions
When costs are rising, it can be tempting to simply ask:
“Can you give me a cheaper price?”
Instead, ask questions that uncover the real cost and value of what you're buying.
Try asking:
- What's my cost per use?
- Are there more efficient pack sizes?
- Can my orders be consolidated?
- How is freight calculated?
- Are there additional dangerous-goods or fuel surcharges?
- Where is the product manufactured?
- Is there a more efficient way for us to use this product?
You may find that the answer isn't necessarily to buy the cheapest product.
It may be to buy differently, order differently or use what you already have more efficiently.
The Bottom Line
You can't control inflation.
You can't control fuel prices.
And you probably can't control whether a truck has to take the long way around because of dangerous-goods transport restrictions.
But you can control how closely you look at your purchasing.
The biggest savings aren't always found by cutting one large expense.
Sometimes they're found in the small things that happen again and again:
the extra delivery,
the inefficient pack size,
the unnecessary product,
the higher-than-expected usage,
or the freight charge nobody thought to question.
When every dollar matters, look beyond the price tag.
Because the cheapest product isn't always the cheapest product to use.
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