Chris Allison, Auditel Managing Director explains: "There's no getting away from it: businesses are expensive to run, and for organisations throughout the UK and Ireland, they are often more expensive than they could be. Many are paying much more than they should for their essential business costs."

Why? He continues: "Firstly, because it can sometimes be hard to know exactly where to start. Then, even when you do know where you might be overspending, many companies can't afford the time it takes to get those essential business costs under control.

"Most organisations find themselves relying on their office or accounts staff to audit and review their current operational overheads. But there are two major problems with this approach. Firstly, cost and purchase management isn't their core competency: the market is inundated with a vast range of essential business services providers - especially after the de-regulation in the 1990s. Secondly, the time spent hunting down a better deal is time that these people could be spending more valuably by focusing on their key areas of skill - helping the business make more money."

So many organisations turn for help to outsourced consultants like Auditel who manage expenditure of well over £100 million of essential services - communications, utilities, facilities management and premises costs. Savings can be huge and since franchisees usually earn 50 per cent of those savings, many are enjoying not only their work but also a healthy bank balance.

Allison continues: "Now the same de-regulated system applies in Ireland and we are very confident that with our decades of experience, our Irish consultants will be as successful as their UK counterparts."