The cost of business travel can really add up, especially when travel is a frequent part of doing business, and it can put a great deal of strain on tight budgets. Here are a few simple ways your small business can save money on business travel expenses without cutting back on trips:
Renting Cars
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See if your business can sign up for a frequent-rental program to take advantage of free rental days or rental discounts.
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Instead of renting cars by the well-known companies, such as Hertz, Alamo, or Budget, seek out the smaller companies that operate away from the airport or travel center. (Many of these companies may even provide a courtesy shuttle to the airport).
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Stay away from the “extras,” such as rental insurance, EZ Pass transmitters, GPS systems, and an advance fill-up of gas.
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Pay attention to the fine print for restrictions, such as mileage caps.
Food
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If you will be staying in a particular area for more than two nights then you should look into hotels that offer extended stay rooms. These rooms come equipped with a full kitchenette. You could head for the local grocery store and put together your own meal at a fraction of the cost.
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Take advantage of the free breakfast offered at many hotels
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Stay away from using the hotel’s room service to avoid paying unnecessary room service fees as well as exorbitant food and beverage prices.
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Where possible, bring along your own snacks to help stem a munchies attack.
Air Travel
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Save money on airline tickets by booking trips a month in advance. Where possible, schedule flights for the middle of the week (Tuesday- Thursday), and try to fly into alternative airports. For domestic flights, look into discount airlines, such as Southwest and JetBlue.
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The Internet is a powerful tool in helping small businesses locate low-cost airfare. To make your searches more efficient, go to Kayak.com. This site sifts through airfares as well as hotel rates, and other travel products from over 140 different sources. Choose the offer you want and Kayak.com will direct you to a site where you can buy the ticket.
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If you will be bringing a lot of luggage with you, then be sure to check the luggage fees beforehand and shop around. Where possible try to avoid checking in luggage.
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If you will be driving your car to the airport, then be sure to park it in a long-term, off-site parking lot to avoid an outrageous expense when you come home.