Some Small Companies Grow As Large Firms Cut Costs

Ultradent started using Allegiance software in 2006 and estimates it saved about $330,000 in sales in the first year — and more every year since.

So while Ultradent, a company of almost 800 employees and more than $100 million in annual sales, has made significant cuts — including halting 401K matches, stopping subsidized lunches and eliminating the practice of cashing out on sick and vacation days — it has only had to lay off five people, Jones said.

Melissa Wegner, market research manager at Dallas, Texas-based Texans Credit Union, said all the company's departments were charged with cutting spending to avoid layoffs. So she began using Allegiance software in January, cutting her department's research budget by 60 percent.

"Economic times are difficult, we need to cut costs," she said. "We've avoided layoffs and plan to."