3 Ways for Your Small Business to Save on Travel Expenses By Lindsay Martin

Plane tickets, rental cars, hotel rooms and restaurant tabs. All of these things might prove manageable if you go on one business trip every few months, but if you’re a frequent business traveler working on a small business budget, they get out of hand quickly. Look at how often you travel and see if you often travel to the same locations – if you’re meeting with suppliers or updating investors or attending trade shows in California, for example. Sometimes it makes sense to spend more upfront in order to save money in the long- or even short- term.

Establish a home base away from your home base if you or your staff is often in the same location throughout the year. It makes more sense for you to invest in things that will make traveling more comfortable and easier for you than to penny pinch and have a miserable experience in a substandard motel, just because it costs less per night. If you’re in a place long enough or often enough, those "deals" on one-night motel stays add up to far more anyway. Find a way to spend less in the long-term without giving up comfort so you and your staff can stay well rested when you’re on the road for business.

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.