3 Ways for Your Small Business to Save on Travel Expenses

You know your business is really going places when you or your sales team is hitting the road to meet with clients, investors and representatives from companies that will make running your business easier. Maybe you’re sending entire marketing and tech teams to conventions and trade shows. Perhaps you’re scouting locations for opening a second or third or twentieth store or office. Whatever the reason, all of those hotel stays and flights or car rentals can add up and fast. If you don’t manage to keep your travel expenses under control, you’ll no longer be in a position to afford the travel, and that can have a major effect on your business.

Of course, the most budget-conscious small business owners look for discounts wherever they can, but it’s important that they don’t sacrifice quality in exchange. You and your staff won’t feel safe and comfortable if you make reservations at the cheapest, dirtiest hotel in the most uncomfortable part of town. Your staff will be more stressed if you force them to cram onto a bus that takes forever to get where they’re going. Look for ways to save money that will still ensure you and your staff’s comfort, and you’ll achieve that perfect balance between savings and productivity.

Suite Accommodations

Renting what’s basically a high-class furnished apartment is much more appealing than cramming your staff into crummy motel rooms. It’s far more affordable than luxury hotels, too, especially if you’re staying for more than a couple of days. Rent the place for 30 days or more if you and staff are going to be traveling back and forth, even if you don’t plan to have someone there each day, and it’ll still prove more affordable than hotels.

Secure suite accommodations for weeks or even months at a time when overseeing the grand opening of a new location, and you won’t have to pack up your entire house for an extended stay. The room includes all the furnishings you’ll need. You may even be able to bring a pet along.

Buy a Corporate Car

Upfront, it definitely costs more to buy a brand new car than rent one for a trip. However, if you and your staff are going to be hitting the road on a frequent basis, you’ll save money by buying and maintaining a vehicle or two that you can use while traveling. Oftentimes, driving is less expensive than flying to a place, so if you and your staff are willing to go by car, it makes sense to get a lot of use out of your company car. Even if you do fly, you might also purchase a vehicle for a location where you frequently travel and keep it in storage while you’re not in town; it’ll be cheaper than renting a vehicle for a month or more.

Join a Diners’ Club

If you’re frequently entertaining clients by taking them out to dinner, those bills will add up fast. Join a diners’ club that offers discount across the country or in areas where you spend a lot of time when you’re on the road. You pay an annual fee, but if you make frequent use of the discounts, you’ll save more than you spend.

The more you avail yourself of a service like suite accommodation, for example, the less you’ll have to pay. Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone and give someone your best salesperson pitch even when it comes to reserving a place to stay. The more business you offer to give a place in the long term, the more deals you may qualify for.

About the Author: Lindsay Martin is a small business owner and frequent traveler. She’s grateful for customizable suite accommodations when she travels, as it feels like she’s at home away from home, and it costs so much less than hotels.

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