WHEN A CASE of paper and a new toner cartridge can easily set you back $300, it's time to start looking for some cheaper alternatives.

According to Ed Wolking Jr., executive vice president of the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce, small offices spend anywhere between $30 and $40 a month per employee on everything from computer supplies to paper clips. That means, a firm with 50 employees spends as much as $24,000 a year on office supplies alone.

While buying office supplies is a necessity for many small businesses, overspending certainly isn’t. “Whether it’s in a print catalogue, in a store or on a website, business owners often make impulse buys,” says Wolking. “They don’t invest the time into researching what they’re buying. They just go with the brand name.”

For business owners that are ready to change their ways and start saving on supplies, here's some helpful advice:

Minimize waste. Do your employees really need three boxes of highlighters in an array of colors? Probably not. That's why it's important to take note of what's actually being used, and what's not, says David Clevenger, vice president of Cleveland’s Corporate United, a group purchasing organization that offers its member companies savings on everything from office supplies to consulting services. If you latch on to something that you and your staff can live without — for instance, leather bound day planners or desk calculators — drop it.

When it comes to office waste, paper is often at the top of the list. To conserve, Clevenger suggests implementing a two-sided printing policy or even a no-print policy for emails. Another helpful tip: Buy "high yield" toner cartridges that last longer.

Buy generic. Generic, or house-brand, products are often just as good as their high-priced brand name counterparts, says Tony Ellison, chief executive of Shoplet.com, a New York-based ecommerce site that sells office supplies. For instance, self-stick notes from 3M’s (MMM) Highland brand, which generally cost 88 cents for a pad of 100 sheets, are just as good as 3M’s premium Post-It note pads, which cost $1.06 for 100-sheets.

Comparison shop online. After Brendan J. O'Keefe, an accountant and financial advisor in Orleans, Mass., had a home-office addition built onto his home, he started shopping around online for a conference table and chairs. In his search, he checked out the sites of big vendors such as Staples’ (SPLS) Corporate Express and OfficeMax (OMX). “I found the exact same model at different stores, but the price range went from $600 to $1,200.”

Comparison shopping online is particularly useful for big ticket items, says Wolking from the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce. “That’s where companies are going to get their maximum return.” To help you find the best prices, visit shopping comparison sites like BizRate.com and Epinions.com.

Conduct keyword searches for discounts. When searching online, type in the specific item you’re looking for, in addition to keywords such as “promotion code,” “discounts” and “coupons.” Searching for products this way will often unearth special promotions or price discounts at various office supplies stores. “Whenever I’m making a large purchase, I’ll Google the store and ‘promotion code’ or ‘coupon,’” says O’Keefe. “That way, you’ll find a lot of savings.”

Buy in bulk. Just as they do at the warehouse clubs, office suppliers tend to reward those who buy in bulk, says Wolking. At Office Depot (ODP), for example, “orders greater than $150, might get a 1% discount,” he says. “For orders greater than $200, you can save 1.5%. But if my office order is greater than $300, I get 2% off.”

Further, Mark Braverman, a cost reduction consultant, at Alliance Cost Containment in Louisville, Ky., suggests buying items not traditionally thought of as office supplies, such as printing and promotional products, from your office supplies vendor. “The greater the volume, the lower your prices and the more efficient your process will be,” he says.

Join forces with other businesses. Don't need 200 letter openers? Combine your order with other small businesses via trade associations or local chambers of commerce. According to Wolking, more than 350 chambers of commerce across the country participate in an Office Depot program that provides savings of about 10% off its entire catalogue. Program participants may receive even deeper discounts (as much as 70%) when they order from a list of 195 oft-ordered, core items, he says.

For purchases worth more than $250, the shipping is free. But, Wolking says, real savings stem from the reduced price list. “The trick is for companies participating to keep their discipline and buy as much off that core catalogue list as you can.” While there's no fee to join the Office Depot program, there is a fee to join the chamber of commerce (fees vary depending on the organization and chamber).

Other recent smSmallBiz stories:

• Starting Up: Making a Mobile Business Work
• Stand Out: Celeb Wrangler Seeks More Than Just Talent