Controlling travel costs

As the owner of a small business, there may be times you, or your staff, will have to travel. Naturally, the costs of your travels will be high on your mind.

If you must travel rather than do an online conference, consider buying package deals. These deals usually include your air fare, rental car and hotel accommodations.

For your employees who travel, set specific guidelines for how much they can spend. For example, set limits on how much they can spend on dinner. Meals can be one of the most abused expenses when it comes to business travel. Make sure they understand you’re not paying for their excesses.

If you have to travel at the last minute, you likely know that these costs can be very high. However, there is hope. There is a site called lastminute.com, for example. It may not be as cheap as booking your trip weeks in advance, but it offers an alternative.

Businesses that plan to expand typically have deals for companies they are trying to woo. In these cases, cut costs, and hunt for the best deals. For example, depending on the time of day, or day of the week, the trip could cost less.

Look into negotiating lower prices. Travel agencies may be more willing to negotiate with small businesses.

Remember – most business travel can be deducted as a business expense. That won’t save you up-front, but it’s important nonetheless.